Friday 28 March 2014

All good things come to an end

28-03-2014

After five blissful days at Neil Island, it was time to leave. Leaving was hard and we kept wishing we could stay longer. A week in the Andaman's is not enough but it was all we had. Nonetheless, I couldn't be happier that I had a chance to experience Neil Island. Memories were made here and so were friends, friends who became family. Neil Island brought us together from different parts of the world.  Our Neil Island family was huge; Erik and Marcella (Germany), Simon, Avitel, Guy and Dan(Israel), Mik, Alexy, Allan (Switzerland), Dvorah (Russia) and Harish and Utpal (owners of BreakWater).

If we thought our last day at Neil Island would be slow and sad, it was not. 1 hour before our departure we learned that that the ferry that was scheduled to take us to Port Blair broke down and we were to board the earlier ferry!! We (Erik, Marcella, Ashok and Dvorah) rushed on our bicycles to the jetty while we sent our luggage in an auto rickshaw. But when we reached, the ferry was already full and was leaving. We then had to wait for a replacement ferry that was sent from Havelock. The boat was late by two hours but we didn't really mind. We got to witness a beautiful sunset from the jetty. Later we boarded the ferry and stayed on the upper deck and enjoyed a smooth ride to Port Blair.

Bidding farewell to our friends was emotional, but we were happy we had had a chance to meet. All good things come to an end, but with it comes the hope of more good things in the future.

Giving back to society

26-03-2014

Our two friends who had been staying at Break Water, Erik and Marcella had decided to collaborate with a local school and organize a beach cleaning drive on two beaches, Beach No. 4 and Beach No. 5. I thought it was an exceptional idea, for we as travelers needed to give back something to Neil Island. So at 9:00am, Erik, Marcella and I headed out on our bicycles to Beach No. 4. Gosh! The beach needed cleaning up and I’m glad we could play our part in it. Around 40 students and their teachers were present. Beach No. 4 kept us really busy but we did all we could and then headed to Beach No. 5. Two other travelers staying at Break Water joined us on the way. Beach No. 5 was largely clean but we still managed to get a fair deal of plastic bottles and bags and we were delighted by our work. The school teachers later invited us for a sumptuous lunch at the school. We felt very happy and proud of ourselves as we had contributed to keeping Neil Island clean. We have a social responsibility as travelers and we are hoping that we have set a precedent for other travelers and local authorities. Neil Island is majestic and beautiful and the people so charming and friendly. We owe the land and its people.

Para-para-paradise

25-03-2014

The third day at Neil Island had a big surprise in store for us. We rented out bicycles and decided to search for Beach No. 1. The Beach No. 3 had been fantastic the first two days. Heading to Beach No. 1 was a long, hot and dusty ride. We initially couldn’t find it but then we asked a villager and he agreed to show us the way to the beach. We had to walk through a couple of fields and then a palm orchard which looked more like a forest. However, we weren’t prepared for what we were about to witness. Suddenly before us was the most magnificent beach I have seen till date. It’s really difficult to describe it but it seemed out of a fairy tale. In seconds, the tiredness and the heat were forgotten. We had reached paradise. The next one hour we spent in the water and it was hard to leave the place. Only hunger could get us out of there and it did. We had seen paradise and our day had been made

Total Bliss

24-03-2014

The first day at Neil Island has been nothing short of delightful. Cut off from the modern world of internet and telecommunications, coupled with meeting travellers from all over the world, I couldn’t have asked for more. We’ve been staying at Breakwater, beautiful little huts in a coconut grove, two minutes walk to the beach. The beach is beautiful, rocky but calm and the waters so clear. After a delightful swim we sat late in to the night chatting with other travelers. So many interesting stories to hear and the open mindedness of our new friends is like a breath of fresh air.  Its been simply wonderful and I have felt so relaxed, its unreal

Saturday 22 March 2014

Humiliation.....but shit happens

So this is really hard for me to write. I didn't have to hug the Chelsea teddy bear but instead I had to wear the Chelsea jersey and have a smile on my face!! Yes, Arsenal were humiliated 6-0 by Chelsea. But hey, I at Port Blair. This is a holiday! I'm in the Andaman's and besides...... shit happens!

The Lounge Experience-Calcutta

So, I've never been in a lounge at an airport. However, courtesy Ashok, I finally get a chance to be in one. The three hour wait doesn't seem long when you have a buffet and drinks at your disposal and internet as well. Of course, I've never minded a wait at an airport. There is something about an airport that lifts my spirit! Maybe its the promise of travelling! So yes, my first lounge experience was great, so great that we were the last to board the flight to Port Blair!!!

Thursday 20 March 2014

EPL weekend in the Andamans?

So even before Ashok and I have set out to travel the Andaman islands for a week, we already have a bet in place. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit scared about it. My favourite EPL football club, Arsenal will be taking on Chelsea on the 22nd of March, in the English Premir League, a crucial encounter, which is coincidentally our first day in the Andaman Islands. Ashok, being a huge Chelsea fan made me accept a bet I was quite unwilling to, but I did accept eventually. If Chelsea beats Arsenal, I (a massive Arsenal fan) will have to swallow my pride and have a picture clicked of me hugging a Chelsea teddy bear soft toy and it will be posted on facebook. But if Arsenal wins, Ashok hugs the Arsenal teddy bear (which incidentally he gifted me)! Either ways, the picture goes up on facebook and would be fairly humiliating to either one of us!!

 Well, we haven't figured out what happens if the teams draw!

But nonetheless, it should be an auspicious beginning to what promises to be a delightful trip to the Andaman islands.

Just two days to go! I can't wait!

PS: Stay tuned for the result