Trip to Andaman - Day 3
5:48 PM
The third day started off at 8
something. It was our last day of stay at the hotel in Port Blair. After
vacating our rooms, we had time to kill before the ferry at 12 something to
another island called Havelock. After another breakfast buffet on the house, we
started off to the local science museum. Apparently having arrived early, we
loitered around the spot. The museum was atop a hill and it steeps down to meet
the sea. Rocks were put in jagged and menacing parallel rows facing the sea.
There were migratory birds flying around. A soft drizzle appeared and the
coconut trees swayed towards the sea. Shrubs had been erected and dried bamboo
was used to protect it from grazing animals. We could see the Ross island
through the fog on the other end of the sea. The museum finally opened and we
spent an hour or so there. It was a small museum that housed practical models
of basic physical laws and couple of ocean models of se wave formation and so
on. A proper school kid kind of museum.
When it was time, we started to the
Directorate of Shipping Services where passenger and cargo vessels were docked.
Tickets had to be pre booked. Our vessel was named M V Strait Island. It was a
magnificent three floor/deck ferry. It could accommodate 74 people in the main
passenger area and 20 more below. We entered into the passenger area, complete
with AC and rounded windows that let us glimpse a little of the sea. The ship
started sailing and pulled slowly away from the ocean. As the ship moved, it
carved a way in the sea for itself and pulled it away from the beautiful
sketches and landscapes. A perfect Nat Geo motion picture was running in 3D. We
went up to the main deck, and inspite of the drizzle that clothed us, we stood
there excited. My sister got a little high and started dancing to her own
tunes.
My parents fancied seeing a
submarine and clicked pictures. After having had recorded ample snaps and
video, I retired to get a good noon nap. Havelock was only 38 km from Port
Blair, but it took us 3 hours to reach the place. It also stopped for a while
at Neil Island in between. A little while later, we docked into another forlorn
white sand beach where people where waiting at a bridge to board the ship. They
were going back to the main land.
My tryst with a hill town. Havelock
was far less adequate in infrastructure as compared to Port Blair. The roads
had potholes for one; people depended on generators for electricity, and we had
a jeep for a ride. Oooh, sexy it was.
After a 20 min ride we reached
our resort. Yes sir, beach side ones. Perfect landscaping, rows of cottages,
green and brown splashed up; it was brilliant. Refreshing ourselves, we started
off to Radhanagar Beach; which was actually due the next day. We simply thought
we could grab some other event the next day. Everyone claimed the beach was
Asia’s second largest beach. It was a long stretch of white sand. There was a
turtle hatchery but I guessed it wasn’t season yet as there were none in it. My
parents went on to wet their legs in the slow waves that gushed ashore. My
brother and me wanted to check out as far as we could before the beach could be
closed at 5:30. Yes sir, no lamps, so it warranted the need to wrap up before
sun down.
There was a small lagoon sorta
lake nearby. Clear water that harboured many a tadpole and several marsh living
shrubs. Close by there was an outpost that resembled ones in AOE. A high rise
bamboo structure looked a perfect romantic spot if only the sun had gone down
and there was a little stubborn lighting. Nevertheless, we spied our parents
from atop.
Beside the outpost a eerie one
stretch road snaked its way between trees and a forest farm. We went as far as
we could, it was lonely a bit and then the excitement died down. So we turned
around and came out to clear the place for now. There were hawkers nearby and
my mom quenched her never dying thirst to shop for her sisters.
And it was thus for the day. We had a scrumptious dinner and sat by the chairs by the beach and swung in a bamboo chair hung to a tree. And that was another account of another beautiful day.
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