Bye Bye, Annamalai
Truth be told, the Annamalai hotel is not that bad. The bed was reasonably comfortable and you can access a few channels that play American movies, which kept me entertained. It is also the hotel where I've had my first full night of sleep, so I have to be thankful for that!
But then there is the lobby! The features of the lobby totally crack me up. The walls are painted in every color of the rainbow - enormous murals that depict storefronts. Faux balconies dangle from the painted-on windows, filled with mannequins in reverent postures. The hotel is constantly filled with droves of tourists, starting out or ending a day in Pondicherry, and the complimentary breakfast often features a lecture itself - which can be a good distraction from the cold rubbery toast!
I would have been content to stay here a few more days, but my host has suggested that I move to a hotel closer to the beach. After finding a cockroach on my bedside table this morning, I am happy to comply.