Day Four was all about Neil Islands. We again stayed at the Holiday Inn here, it gave us a pool just at our door step. Our first destination was Sitapur beach which to our surprise was less crowded than any other beach. After roaming on the beach we left for coral point where I picked up dead corals, remembered where I was when the tsunami came in 2004. Kept the tradition of taking thousands of pictures alive. And returned back to the hotel to eat dinner, which by the time had started tasting same like anywhere.
We went to Chidiyatapu after coming back to Port Blair. Man! what mesmerizing ride it was till there. And once we were at Chidiyatapu we roamed around for a while and then took some hundred pictures yet again.
In the evening, though our cabby dropped us near an emporium, but honestly the last thing that I want to talk about that night is of Annapurana cafeteria. Our taste buds thanked us for eating there that night. Amazing food at reasonable prices. And the following morning we were flying back to the humble abode.
And since that time till now there are only two things which come to my mind. First, if Andamans would have been anywhere except India, we (a) probably would have been paying more, and (b) would have been going crazy to visit it like any other international destination.
Secondly, I don’t know when will be he next time when I’ll walk on these shores again.
PS – There’s a good news about the first thing though . Click This.
Remember, under water, there’ll be immense pressure, so don’t forget to equalize the pressure, ” said our instructor before our first dive. One of the greatest one line philosophy, that, I shall be using on my peers after every fourth drink.
This potato wasn’t made in 2016.
The next morning after an awesome visit to cellular jail I realized not only sun goes down early on the islands, but also rises way too soon for my lazy ass. Especially after moving into a new house and going through three weddings, I was, and somehow I still am, glued to the bed. But all the tiredness went away as soon as I saw the rising sun.
So, on day two we went to Havelock Islands through Maccruz Cruise. The cruise had wonderful ambiance, helpful staff and a fairly priced canteen. But what was awaiting us at the other end was even more breathtaking than the ocean currents. Swaraj Deep.
Same Same
But Different
As I’m writing this blog, I’m realizing I’ll need to refer the list of adjectives more than ever before. White sands, blue oceans, and unreceptive cell phone are truly a blessing. We clicked pictures and moved to the Holiday Inn resort beach, which gave us an amazing stay, provided beach side bars and a conversation which probably will be a part of my autobiography.
We started our adventures on Havelock Island with Scuba Diving and even my chronic sinuses could not stop me from acting dead under water. If only I could have written something like Farhan Akhtar, but still I reminisced those lines and we came back to our hotel to get ready to reach, as Times magazine would call it, one of the finest beaches to visit in Asia, Radhanagar Beach.
PC to the sweet who selflessly clicked her picture.
who knows if i wanted to pee, the water was already salty
We passed through semi naked old men, drenched aunties and couples making heart in front of the setting sun. The thought which is more unsettling till now is that how tourism suffers badly not only because the government is not that willing to blow some life into it, but also because we as Indian have to go through the evolution of manners.
I found a pamphlet for candle light dinner for couples and we decided to visit a Havelock island beach resort for the next night. Post that we made our way back to the hotel and ended our night by getting drunk on the beach.
Day 3
Elephant beach provided us more opportunity for water sports and guess what we did them all, snorkeling, jet skiing, sea walking and not boat riding because guess what we shared a boat while coming to Elephant beach. The only thing which disappointed me was that there were no elephants. I mean, what’s the deal with elephants these days why have they become so hard to get. I feel like Cersei. When you’ll get there you’ll know that there’s no bargaining and any water activity on any island will cost the same.
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After spending our thrilling time on the Elephant beach we took our tired bodies to Kalapatthar beach. We dragged our broken bodies and happy souls on the wonderful beach which got closed till the time we reached there.
So, remember kids, if you want to visit Kalapatthar beach, do it well before 5 pm or you can get some lessons from random beach security aunty. But this thing also came as a blessing in disguise to us, it gave us enough time to refill our energy for the amazing candle light dinner we had later that evening at Havelock Island beach resort where we had amazing food and liquor and encountered a water snake.
How everything has become easy these days? You Google what you need, you get numbers then you tell people what you want, they customize your wants and Voila! Next thing you know is that you’re on a flight to Andamans! (Thanks Flynote.)
So I, or rather, we were on islands for four nights and five days. Two days in Port Blair, Two on Havelock Island and one day on sweet Neil Island.
We had an early morning flight from Delhi to Port Blair via Calcutta and even after being excited about the vacation we slept till Calcutta. Our lazy ass realized the fact we were going to one of the most beautiful places on earth only when we saw the breath taking aerial view of Sunderbans for the first time. And before we could make any plans to jump, we were flying over glorious blue water of Bay of Bengal and slowly the entire “…water water everywhere nor any drop to drink” made its way into our discussion.
And in two hours fifteen minutes from Calcutta were recording the mesmerising view of Andaman Islands. Man! What beauty!!
And as we put our feet on the ground we gained the most important piece of information about the island and all the jokes that I had ever cracked on BSNL till then were laughing on my face. Catch is, island expects you to detox yourself from the digital poison only if you’re using any other carrier than BSNL. ONLY BSNL PROVIDES 3G THERE. Imagine a planet where YOU are SUPERMAN!!! Though you get decent Airtel and Vodafone signals but they are only good for making calls to tell your mom that you’re having fun.
So after making calls and relaxing a bit at hotel, we found a car waiting for us outside which took us to not-yet-so-spoiled Corbyn Cove Beach. Jettys were there, some ok-ish eatries and our fellow uncle citizens taking the dip in salty water with their one nipple hailing for freedom from their white ganjis.
And after taking some two hundred pictures, which believe me is not sufficient to soak the beauty of this rocky beach, we moved forward to Cellular Jail.
Cellular Jail, is popularly, and not lovingly, known as Kalapani was built by the Engländer which is a German word for the Britishers. Every single brick of this infamous Cellular Jail tells a story. Stories of how we were oppressed, how the wights were always a problem (Game of Thrones anyone?), and how much courage and pain does it take to convert a piece of land into a glorious nation, if only we can keep the true spirit of our Constitution and Independence alive. This empathy was followed by an amazing light and sound show.
We finished our day with an amazing dinner at hotel.
P.S. Special shout out to the uncle selling kachhi kairi outside Cellular Jail.
Who calls it unripe mango. The wights?
Expanding The Horizons 