Chennai, aka Madras, has the international airport bit Puducherry, aka Pondicherry and three hours south by bus, has the charm. It was once a French colony and the old part on the Indian Ocean shows it. It’s beautifully restored and very clean and relaxed, which more frenetic Indian cities aren’t.

Old trees line narrow streets, people relax at the long beach (which is really a packed dirt promenade), and nobody is in a hurry. A very pleasant!l start of a three-week vacation!