I woke early to explore the beach and backwaters that were close to the hotel I was staying at just outside Pondicherry.  Paradise beach is next to an extensive network of backwaters. It was great to arrive just as the sun was rising and the mist was clearing from the backwaters.  Locals were out fishing and the estuary was teeming with birdlife. I watched a beautiful white bearded kingfisher diving into the water just next to where I parked the bike. A large fishing community stretches along the beach.  I watched as the last of the night fishing boats arrived back on shore and observed the other fishermen prepare their…