I wish I know Pondy and Mel Ville more before planning this trip, so I can stay longer. Two nights are just not enough. Arup and Mehak are among the best hosts I’ve ever met considering more than dozens of countries I’ve visited. The accommodation is meticulously clean and comfortable. Tucked away in a quiet corner, just 15 minutes walk to the nice beach promenade. We had a quiet night and were still able to enjoy the morning walk and sunrise over the Bengal Bay leisurely. However, the best of Mel Ville, in my opinion, is the home-cooked foods Mehak prepared. We ended up having almost every meal at home (2 breakfasts and 2 lunches, no repetition.)! My mom is a typical 65-yrs-old Taiwanese woman who has cooked and eaten Chinese food all her life. Even she can’t stop praising Mehak’s excellent preparation. Not only cooking, she has a roof-top garden (you must visit!) where fresh vegetables come from. As a good host, she generously shared stories of the family, ingredients, foods, local shops and more!!!!! Arup gave us great help in organizing local transportation, offering advices about French Quarter and Auroville, and coordinating with the very elusive Indian bus company we booked for Pondy-Thanjavure trip. He even insisted on the auto driver to make sure that we got on the right bus and checked if we arrived safely! To make the story short, I can’t ask for a host better than Mel Ville. We love the homey atmosphere and super yummy foods! In addition to the double room we stayed, Mel Ville has two three-bedroom full apt., which we definitely would like to try next time in the family trip.