So getting to the Andaman Islands isn’t as easy or a fluid as you might think. We flew to Singapore then to Chennai from Saigon. Had an over night in a hotel 5 mins from the airport in Chennai. Didn’t sleep so well as we had to be down stairs at reception by 7am. We got in last night at 11:30pm then time difference. Feeling a little weird today.
We are flying indigo a local budget domestic airline to Port Blair. But we are the only gringos in the airport. Like on little Britain and he says he is the only gay in the village. We are the only white people in the airport amongst all the Indians. To funny. It’s a nearly 2 hour flight over. Then we get picked up by this Indian guy that has the personality of a piece of cardboard. He drops us at some dodge hotel come restaurant says stay here for an hour, have some lunch as your ferry isn’t due until 2pm. Ok…. Picks us up, drives like a mad person to the dock were the ferry is, says nothing just points. Lucky there are heaps of military men around as Port Blair is a military base they point us in the right direction and get us through the Indian lining up to pass through to ticketing . I guess they are so use to pushing and shoving living with so many people all the time.
So we board the ferry finally find our seat . Sit down and watch these group of Indians run around like grown up 12 year olds super excited about being on the ferry. It was too funny to watch. We arrive at Port Blair they unload your luggage but all the Indian just stand so close you cant get past them to collect your bags, to funny really, again. We arrive at Jalakara and greeted by Mr super cool himself Mr Pawan the manager. Takes us up to our room. Which is a really nice room with a garden and outdoor sitting area. This is our space for the next 8 nights. NO internet NO phones well I think the phones do work but not really needed. Reading,eating. Relaxing is whats happening here. We aren’t near the beach but about a 20 minutes ride by jeep to lovely beach called Radanagar or No 7, soft sand no rubbish blue water I think we will come here everyday for a few hours in the afternoon. Or to another beach. Food here has been beautiful . There is only 7 rooms mainly the guests are from Germany and another couple from London and us. A group of 6 germans guys are on a fishing charter and come back each night with amazing fish they have caught and they cook them up for them.
This morning went down to the pool area for a yummy breakfast as usual. Came back went to our room go into the bathroom and Tony goes to do a wee in the toilet and there is a mini rat inside the toilet. Tony squealed like a little boy hahaha, the next 5 mins we are trying to coax ratty out of the toilet and outside. The bathroom is open air so ratty had very good opportunity to come in and grab drink from the loo. Note to selves close the toilet lid. Last night must have been bull frog mating night. We have a pond in the garden it was the place of meeting your new mate, so loud never quiet, heard such a noise. Nature…
Yesterday we decided to go out snorkelling it was quite expensive but we thought a little adventure under the sea would be fun. You have to get a permit with your photo on it as the water we are snorkelling is in a national park area. We are taken down to the harbour in the local jeep taxi thats an experience in itself with some Bollywood Indian music cranked up. The harbour is quite busy with boats carrying supplies in for the island and ferries collecting and donating people back to the island. We get on this tiny boat for a short trip out for 4 hours of snorkelling. The water is so warm its like you are in an aquarium with so many different species of fish swimming in large schools. Did see Nemo, well a family of Nemo’s that was great to see, swimming with its best friend the anemone . I loved watching them for a while telling any interested fish that would swim by just to move on this is my space, my anemone . It was a fun 4 hours. Tony cracked me up while we are snorkelling, I made this comment how big are the sea slugs or sea cucumbers he was calling them sea sausages , well he was pretty much right they did look like huge black sausages . The sea wasn’t like snorkelling in the Maldives were the coral has so many colours. But it did have a lot of fish. The best thing was no plastic floating in the sea or nestled in the sea bed.
When we got back showered and went down for drinks before dinner as we would every night a beer or GnT still not convinced its actually gin. Beer isn’t to bad Kingfisher beer. We met some new guests from the Guernsey Islands nice couple. Some more germans have arrived too. Dinner was yummy as always but Naz the chef who had trained under Gordon Ramsey was out selling his food. We had the yummy Calcutta street food first Panta Puri which are these crispy balls that you break a hole in the middle then fill them with potato and tomato chutney, spouts and nuts then a small dash of tamarind juice. One mouthful. So tasty. Next he suggested momo dumplings with lobster in the middle they were made from squid ink you dip them into spicy tomato paste so tasty. Tony had a wonton soup with noodles some vegetables he said it was so tasty I asked Naz to make up something for me as I was getting full so more momo dumplings with salad, perfect dinner. Another night we had a lobster that you order in the morning and it was grilled Indian style with spice it was ok but a little dry and tough not like our lobsters at home not that I ever eat them at home very often, way to expensive. We have also had a yummy fish curry with papaya. Lunch time we have these kanti roll with fish or veg. So yummy like a yiros but made with roti with a yummy spicy filling. The staff are so lovely so polite and gentle Especially Ujjal he is a Ghurka from the Himalayan state of Darjeerling his village made quinine for the very first tonic water. One night they had food from his village so we had momo dumplings again but a different sort and style but super tasty, a veg soup, stir fried veg noodles with a stir fry of fish with this incredible sauce. Seemed so proud presenting his local village food. It was the best.
Last day to day we have one night in Port Blair due to our flight and ferry don’t really flow to well. So I am a little worried what that will be like. Then tomorrow fly back to Chennai and on to good times in Sri Lanka for 15 days. It has been so lovely to really chill and not be distracted by your phone or netflix or whats going on with the rest of the world. We have both read a few books each, went to the beach and just swam and laid around sleeping when you felt you needed it. How awesome is that. Played back gammon chatted with the other guests the ones we could. Ate tasty healthy food, pretty much all the time. I worry that Havelock Island is going to get too busy as when you are taken to the beach there are quite a few small resorts being built. One thing is guaranteed is that No 7 beach will never be built right on the beach so it will always remain so beautiful. It was voted the best beach in Asia. Also we have noticed that it is honeymoon heaven for the Indians they are all so super cute.
Lets talk about leaving Port Blair first step security ties on bags then one around our bag all have been through the screener.Next step through to departure area. In India there is the women and men seperate areas to pass through so put my carry on and back pack through screener two. Then I am personally scanned. but wait they seen something in my carry on. Open your bag lady, from a female soldier. Thinking what’s in there?? Ok a mirror I bought in Singapore airport that has a light and it magnifies. Get it out, they ask what is this, so fascinated with it. That it had a light and you could see yourself really close. Showing it to there other soldiers men and woman. Funny moment number 2. Tony was had it worse had to just about empty his whole bag. We carry this portable safe thing we keep our money etc in. Tony had to open show them what it is. Show them every charger cable. Port Blair is a military airport so security is very high. But wait we have more screening to come just getting on the bus to get to the plane looking in my bag then an another body screen. Tony had to unpack his carry on again. I guess it’s better safe than sorry. Just not sure what you might get in the departure lounge when there was nothing there to get. Same thing happened in Chennai airport, fascination for my mirror. I could have sold quite a few going through security, they loved it.
By the way the hotel in Port Blair was really good. We had a few beers before dinner watching Australia defeat India in a one day cricket . Of course again we are the only Australians in the hotel so we are the novelty to stare at. Food was really good for dinner and breakfast curry ,curry yum……
Next adventure Sri Lanka. Love Sri Lanka the people are so nice and the food OMG….
tonyandsharon 