Pondicherry

This curious little town seems to have its own guardian sea, lashing the boulevard with froth and roars. The sea is deep blue and spotted with silhouettes of fishing boats that bring in fresh catch everyday to be served in Vietnamese, French, Indian and Continental cuisine.

Even though people try to play down the French connection, it is dominantly visible in all aspects of the town. The names of streets, monuments and even the kepis worn by the policemen - Pondicherry still has telltale signs of its colonial French past. Divided into two with a canal built by the French, the city has two distinct flavors - the old colonial charm of the French and the native colors of hinterland.

Pondicherry is the kind of place one never really wants to leave. It is the land of sages and gods, sea and surf, truth and search. It is where each finds his own little treasure, to keep forever.