Day 24 - Wednesday - Pondicherry

I awoke numerous times throughout the night with bites and itches on my feet. At eight not being able to take it anymore I got up and went for a walk. As unexpected as meeting the Pope who do I meet walking back with a bag of shopping, but Peter. Remember its 8am. He sees the surprise in my face and smiles. His reason for being out so early is a good one. Toilet paper. We agree to go for breakfast together so I return to the Qualithe with him. As I'm waiting, swinging away in the hammock, Greg gets up and agrees to join us.

We head off in the direction of a market I had seeing the previous evening. We find a stark white cafe on the promenade by the name of Le Café. The place is impeccably clean with black marble floors and chairs and tables laid out on an arched veranda style affair. The premises is surrounded by green lawns and two hammocks. We sit down and order a collection of croissants, pain au chocs, coffees and teas. One thing about this country is that it never fails to surprise you. Sitting there munching away on our beautiful breakfast the last place in the world we looked like we were was India.

By the time we returned to the Qualithe we had purchased a small circular wooden travel chess set and a lovely wooden travel backgammon game. With opening prices at 900rps we charmed the guy down to 300rps a piece. The rested of the lads headed off with our new Norwegian friend Lisa for breakfast to some fresh bread and pastry place in the town. Greg and Peter headed back to bed and I sat swinging away in my hammock reading my book.

The rest of the day was a day of rest. We sat around chatting. Caught up on some internet. Rested some more. Its hard work all this resting, I tell ya. That evening we agreed to go for dinner in some fancy restaurant that both Lisa and our Rough Guide had recommended. By ten we all arrived. The setting was truly something else. An outdoor garden with an array of beautifully dressed, candlelit tables. Our party was 10, including S, E and ?. We ordered a selection of steaks and sauces. I decided on a lemon soda instead of the beer. The Kingfisher just didn't suit my pallet. The company was class and the dining was rather fine to say the least. As usual with the Irish wherever we go, we were the last to leave. I'd say they were close to kicking us out as the whole place had emptied, tables cleared, lights turned off and we sat around chatting and laughing.

As we headed back to the hotel we dropped into Le Space and picked up a box of beers. Nine of us arrived back, as Lisa had headed home early. We spent evening playing, guitars, philosophising, swinging in the hammocks and getting to know our new found friends. It was fantastic night/morning. Greg hit the sheets first and I took up second at around four, leaving the gang to burn the midnight oil.