Chapter 2 - Voyage à Pondichéry

After having one heck of journey through Bangalore, swaying through bumpy roads of NH 77 and having a midnight tea at road side dhaba, I reached Pondicherry at 6:30 AM. October is peak season for tourism in South India, as weather is pleasant with less humidity. During this peak season, hotels and buses are always jam-packed with tourists flocking around from Bangalore and Chennai to relieve from regular 9 to 5 office stress.

I had booked a seat in last row of state bus transport in a non-AC coach. I was awake that entire night, praying for smooth roads and no speed breakers. After 8 hours of intense butt workout and tearing my lumbar and sacral bone the bus finally reached Pondicherry. Although I am a 26 year old man, I am living life of 60 with regular back problems. With such bumpy and tiring ride I badly needed a good cup of filter coffee or as locals call it filter kaapi to relieve myself from all travel stress.

I saw a group of bus conductors, puffing their morning suttas who were kind enough to guide me to any local restaurant or a coffee shop. The bus-depo had one catering outlet where kitchen is active from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM. After ordering a cup of filter kaapi and steamed idlis with extra sambhar and chutney I was staring walls and billboards of various advertisements. The restaurant was very clean with proper handwash and lavatories. The order came and I took the corner table as I wanted to plan my day.

While having my breakfast and sipping coffee, I came to see billboard of Shaktiman capsules (fortified with elements of ginseng and ashwagandha). There was basic concept of 4P's in marketing that I learnt in MBA. One of them was Place i.e marketers should promote their product at places with more number of buyers. I got confused as to why such product is promoted in restaurants. Whatever the reason maybe I finished my breakfast, I bought a bottle of water and paid my bill. I decided to go to Rock beach to grab beautiful view of rising sun. I suddenly started feeling highly energetic, don't know if it was shaktiman capsules mixed with food or my journey ahead. Scuffing this joke off my head, I sat on beach enjoying the salty cold breeze swaying through my hair.

Morning view at Rock Beach, Pondicherry

(the story continues...)