ALLURING ANDAMANS - DAY 4

25 Feb Elephant Beach, Singing Competition ....

We continued with our routine of waking up around 5.30, enjoying coffee prepared in our cottage followed by a walk. 

We decided to enjoy the sunrise at the resort's pristine beach. But what met us at the beach was a horrible sight! 

The beauty of the beach was lost due to the low tide which exposed giant rocks and mud lumps along the beach. Disappointed, we decided to come back later in the day when it would be reverted to its beauty.

As we were returning to our cottage, we enjoyed the trees and foliage all along.

Returning to our cottage, I called up room service for two buckets of hot water. (The point I want to make is the place is a small place and might appear medieval but that is precisely the charm of the place.) It arrived in half an hour - and I had the luxury of having both the buckets 'half-filled-with-hot-water' as my husband prefers a nice cold bath. 

We reached the restaurant at 8 for breakfast - there was a hearty spread to cater to all palates - from cereals / toast to veg burger to idli-vada with chutney and sambar to chana bhatura with fruits, juice and coffee and tea.

Today we were to visit Elephant Beach - with mild water-sports activities. So we were asked to pack an extra pair of clothes and a couple of our snack packets as we'd be back for a late lunch. Not to forget a bottle of water.

We left the resort by bus and after the ten minute ride, reached the jetty at 10. 

Our boat was to leave at 11.30, so we settled ourselves on the sands of the beach under shady trees. First Kaustubh conducted a couple of games for all of us - it was fun as everyone including the 80 plus lady participated enthusiastically. Interestingly both of us ended up winning in different games. 

After this my husband regaled the audience with anecdotes and then .....

I conducted an informal Quiz session - the brain teasers were such a hit that friends craved for more!

Our group boarded the speed boats in groups of 4-6 as per their capacity. Our boat was 'Krishna' - a five seater. The enjoyable 15 minute speed boat ride to Elephant Beach was bumpy at times.

The beach was yet another small beach, neatly maintained as usual. There were a couple of fruit vendors right there.

We undertook the glass-bottom boat ride for 15 minutes for Rs. 300 per person. Being our first time experience, we went ga ga over the corals / fishes we saw underwater as the boat took us around.

After this we were treated to delicious fresh fruit platter from the vendors.

15-minute snorkeling experience was offered free on this beach by our speed boat owners. 

My husband tried it out, pretty successfully. I abandoned the idea at the last minute. As my husband joked, I had trumpeted to my children about snorkeling included in our tour and it would be a shame if neither undertook it; he had managed to save my face!

We returned by the same boat to Havelock, and returned to our resort.

We were famished, so little wonder that we stuffed ourselves full at lunch. And we needed a siesta. 

After coffee and a little practice, we were ready for the get-together at the resort's hall for the informal 'Singing Competition' at 5.30. 

The hall was above the Reception area. What I noticed was these resorts used locally available materials for that earthy look and cool effects as well as to economize. You look around and you will notice that the walls and roofs and aesthetic decorations are of wood / bamboo / coconut leaves - bringing an old world charm to the place ......

Also the employees were mostly Bengalis ...

After a cup of tea, the program started .....

Nine of the guests including both of us participated enthusiastically. 

After this there were complimentary songs / presentations by everyone. After the two-hour program, all of us decided to check out the beach ...... 

... the sky was dark but beautiful as the orange moon played hide and seek with the clouds.

We returned for dinner at the restaurant and then retired to bed after watching TV for some time.

The next day we were returning to Port Blair via Neil Island.

ALLURING ANDAMANS - DAY 3 - HAVELOCK ISLAND

24 Feb - Havelock Island - Radhanagar Beach

Waking up at 5, we finished our morning rituals including morning cup of coffee prepared in our room, we left our big bags outside our rooms to be collected and locked in the resort's cloakroom. We returned our keys at the Reception of Rose Valley and boarded our bus with our little bags at 6.30 am. We were handed packed breakfast of vermicelli upma and juice. Only Kaustubh was going to accompany us; Ulka had to stay back for another batch of tourists. I wondered whether he would be able to single-handedly manage all the 28 sixty plus guests including a couple of 75 plus guests. He did and pretty well - with care and concern. We reached the jetty at 7.15. 

We showed our I card, waited in the queue and boarded MV Makruzz - a luxury mini cruise with ...

plush seats with pull-out trays as in aeroplanes ...

a mini restaurant, huge LED TV .....  Those who carried big bags could check in their bags and collect them at the destination - just as on planes. None from our group needed to check in our bags.

We settled down on our seats for the 1 1/2 hour cruise to Havelock Island which started at 8.10. We also got to watch a nice documentary on Andamans which familiarized us with the numerous islands and landmarks there as well as the history of the place. 

We reached Havelock at 9.50. Before we disembarked, we celebrated the anniversary of one of our tour-couples with cake-cutting. Then we disembarked, boarded our waiting bus and in minutes we were at Symphony Palms Beach Resort. 

Symphony Palms beach Resort

While Kaustubh was completing the formalities and collecting our room keys, all of us walked down across the road to the resort's private beach. 

Such a beauty! So calm and relaxing as well as shady. 

We enjoyed on the 'chair-swing' and hammock and the waves. 

Then we got our keys and occupied our cottages. 

Ours was 29 - the greenery in front was pleasing. 

The room was spacious, again mostly wood, the latch reminded me of our home in Kerala 50 years ago! These rooms did not have geyser but we could get hot water for bath in 15 minutes after calling up room-service. 

We went to the restaurant around 1 pm. Buffet was a lavish spread from soup to 2 desserts. As we gorged on the food,we couldn't help noticing some guests who were making the trip on their own, look up the menu card and choose a 'biriyani' and raita / vegetable - it was a pretty expensive affair.

After a good rest, we were ready for the 30 minute drive to the famed Radhanagar Beach - the best beach in Asia as per a recent survey. 

One thing has to be admitted about all these beaches - they are pristine, with clear water and peach-colored sand. Small beaches resonating with the tourist crowds. But the authorities kept a strict vigil to check littering - Modiji's message was seriously practised there. 

We enjoyed the sand and waves and breeze till sunset at 5.30.

Once again a glorious sunset! After that we enjoyed our tender coconut water followed some minutes later by tea.

On our way back, our bus had a minor ailment and could not make the uphill with all of us on board. So 17 of us were transferred to a Tempo Traveller that had been summoned (we never realized any trouble in the offing). We made it to our hotel at 7, relaxed and enjoyed dinner at the restaurant. We slept early - soon after 9.

The next day it was Elephant Beach.