Trip to the Andamans- day 3 -16th May

Today, we were going to Havelock Island.. this island is about 54 Kms by sea from Port Blair. It takes about 4 hrs by ship to get there, so it's a total of 8hrs journey, to and fro.
and we had to get up pretty early.. well, it's all a part of the trip, and you can't complain too much about missing a few hours of sleep, when there's so much to be seen..
So, we all got up at 4:00, and left the hotel by 5:00. when we reached the harbor, it was 5:20. i told you, everything in that place, wasn't too far away..and these 20 minutes, was the most we traveled by road.









it was so beautiful, the sun was just rising. and keeping the last 2 days in mind, i was imagining another ferry ride. and 4 hrs on a ferry wasn't so much fun. it was so cramped, and wet. it was quite a surprise, when our driver, and guide, took us to this ship, M.V. Ramanujam. it was so exciting, this trip. i mean, i get to travel by air, land, and sea!
well, we got in, and there were beautiful couches, and seats. we took a couch near the entrance, on the first floor. except for my dad, the rest of us have never been on a ship before, so it was a new experience. my dad, has sea sickness, and it's always a problem, when he travels on anything that's not solid ground. it was the same when we flew to port blair, and it's the same every time we take a boat ride. so he took an Avomin ( that prevents you from throwing up), and lay down in his seat all day. and my mom kept him company, in case he should need help. my brother and i on the other hand, went exploring the place. i mean, we had 4 hrs at hand, and nothing much to do. so we went on to the top deck. ours was a relatively small ship, so it had just 2 decks for passengers. we were on the top one. the top most deck held the bridge ( captain's command room) and a lot of viewing space. it was super cooool! all that wind that rushing up on your face, blowing your hair flying so poetically, it was a completely new feeling. when the ship took sail, there were a lot of co-passengers on the top deck. but as time wore off, they got bored of standing, and went below to their seats. but me and my bro just couldn't get enough. we found places to sit and enjoy the view.















there is something so lovely about traveling by sea. first of all, there's no one, no life around you. all i could see was a trail of islands on both sides. but apart from that, there's no one. and it gives you the sense of being alone, although you know that there are a lot of people aboard the same ship. then, there's this feeling of self- awareness. all thoughts go blank. and there's this sudden emptiness. and it's a silence that is most welcome. i'm not talking about the silence on the outside. trust me, a ship is quite noisy. even if the engines were quiet, the sounds of the ship's bow hitting the waves won't stop. although that's not counted as noise, it's still a sound. so that doesn't count for silence. the silence that i'm talking about, is the silence within. when you have nothing to think about, when there's no talking going on inside your head, that's silence. and for a talkative person like me, it's very rare.and i loved this silence. i could see the waves rise up, and be hit by the ship, breaking it down into white foam. i could see the dark green islands, floating on the blue sea. the sky was clear and bright, unlike the past 2 days. the warmth of the sun, against the chillness of the breeze, was so soothing. the ship sailed gracefully, like an English Lady, wearing a lace frilled dress ,walking across a blue marbled ballroom. [and just in case you dint understand, ship= english lady, foam=white frills, sea= blue marble].
the view that sailed past us, wanted me to be a writer, a painter, or maybe even God!
God! that guy sure has some taste. it's true that man has created outstanding creations of his own. but it's these natural god made ones, that evoke most inspiration.
the silence, and sheer simple beauty, makes you loose interest in talking. i just sat there speechless. and i sat there for the entire journey. i just dint have the heart to miss all this, and go back to my seat. i was thinking, that this place, was a great place to write a book. because, here, there are no distractions, and you think clearly.
well, we were even given a chance to go see the bridge. we went in and saw the ship's captain, first, and second officers at work, with maps, and navigational instruments. and this was the first time that i saw the helm (ship's steering wheel). we spoke with the second officer. it seems that he's been aboard the vessel for the past 3 months. and he says that life's a bit dull aboard the ship, and you begin to miss land, and home a lot.
well, we reached Havelock island at 10:00 am. we had a van waiting for us, and we drove straight to the Radhanagar beach, which was the main attraction of the island. it was a 14 km ride to the beach. it was refreshing to see so much greenery. but the place, although it was a tourist attraction, was very remote. there was a shack near the beach, or should i say the only shack. and you don't walk in and have lunch. you order, go to the beach and have fun, and only then will your lunch be ready. it was almost home-like. just the feeling. not the food. well, that's for later. anyways, we had a tender coconut before we went into the beach.. it was so sweet and heavenly.. i did notice, that the coconuts in the Havelock, were like those in Hawaii.. not that i've been to hawaii.. i'd love to go thr sometime..*sigh*...they were black, as opposed to the brown ones in india.. and they were huge.. the size of the coconut in havelock, after the fibre being removed, was as big as the indian ones with the fibre. thats big, and thats a lot of water to drink. so much, that i dint feel hungry for a long time...
well, the beach, in all, was a little dissapointing.. just that it was lush green, and the view of the beach while standing in the water was amazing..

well, the beach was strewn with coral bits.. not like the beach in North Bay Island... this was comparatively sparingly strewn. the water wasn't visibly colourful here.. or maybe it was too cloudy to be seen.. but the.. the waves were better than elsewhere, and totally it reminded me of the Marina beach back home.
well that was it.. we stayed in the water for sometime.. and then went back to the shack.. it was called the 'shore restaurant', though it was anything but a restaurant. the food wasnt too good.. but we were famished anyway... ate, and then drove straight back to the harbor. boarded, and started home. the journey back home was slower, and rougher than the journey here. that was because, in the morning, we were traveling with the wind. so it was faster and smoother. but now, we were going against the wind. so we were slowed with the wind resistance, and the ride a little rough. so much, that the captain, came out of his cabin, and personally asked us to go back to our seats, and not come outside..
so i dint get to sit in the top deck, and i missed it.. but couldn't sit in my seat for long.. so went out to the balcony, to the ship's rear. it was nice.. totally, enjoyed the ship journey, best of all, in this trip.
we reached Port Blair at 7:00 pm.
went back to the hotel, and only after that did i realise, that all the rocking on the ship, has tired me, even though it wasnt uncomfy at all. so after we got back, i got sick. sick meaning, had a fever all night. and severe body ache, that i couldn't get up next morning at all..