JAN 2, 12 .. ARAMBOL BEACH
Last Friday .. December 30th .. Cyclone Thane slammed into the southeastern coast of India below Chennai with winds approaching 135 km/hour .. as of today India news services are reporting 42 people dead and power outages are widespread as is a severe water shortage .. transportation is chaotic .. in short .. a real disaster has unfolded along the southeastern coast of India..
Since the inception of this trip .. I have planned to visit Pondicherry (Puducherry) .. which is located just south of Chennai !
In fact .. in November when I was in New Delhi to book a trip .. it was almost literally a ‘coin toss’ as to whether to go first to Pondicherry or to Goa .. the railway reservations agent in New Delhi suggested I first go to Goa and later to Pondicherry .. and so the die was cast .. for no other reason than the opinion of the ticket agent ..
I came to Goa NOT to Pondicherry ..
BECAUSE OF THIS STORM DISASTER .. FOR THE TIME BEING .. I AM NOT EVEN CONSIDERING GOING SOUTH TO CHENNAI AND PONDICHERRY ..
Over and out for now.. I am due to leave Arambol and Goa this coming Wednesday the 4th of January .. going to New Delhi and then south to Agra Cantt ..