My Trip to Andaman

My trip To Andaman

On 17^th May 2011 we reached IG Airport by 8.30 am as our flight was scheduled at 10.30 by Air India from Delhi to Chennai.It was my first visit to Chennai. The Administrative Officer, Madrass Institute of Development Studies , Gandhi nagar ,Lane –2,Adyar had send car to the Chennai Airport to receive me. The Driver  Sh.Gangadharan became very happy when I did hello in Tamil and Malyali  and started laughing with great surprise for him hearing southern language from a northern person. On the way to MIDS we took the root via Gandhi Madapam, Anna University Adyar.We - me and my wife reached MIDS by 2.30pm where  I met with Rosy the Receptionist {with whom were picking up phone calls and connecting the lines with the concerned officer of the MIDS in connection with the Institutional Doctoral Fellowship programme of the ICSSR.}, and the administrative  officer as well as Accounts officer Mr.Robinson and Mr.Periyanigam.We got a very warm welcome from all the employees of the MIDS . After getting fresh in the Air-conditioned room booked for me in the Institute, the driver took me for lunch as well as for outing. We took south Indian lunch at Hotel Sangeetha the famous Hotel in Adyer. During lunch I asked to the staff member of the MIDS who was giving me company, to help in purchasing Tamil-Hindi alphabet primary book for me . On finishing lunch we visited good book shops of the surrounding area but I could not get the desired book. Then he took me Mailapore  the area is famous for marketing for all  sorts of goods and this is an important place because of the most holy temple of 16^th Century “Kapaleswar”- Shiva Temple .

When we reached the temple the Lord Gasnesha was taking bath with milk, later with water. We attended the Arti of the lord. Then we proceeded to the main chamber of Lord Shiva where the same ritual was going on. One pilgrim told me you are very lucky person that you have come here and at the right time, as he had recognized me a new visitor. There is a lovely deep pond covered a big area behind near the temple, surrounded by busy markets. I purchased a Tamil alphabets book from this market of Mailapore and proceeded towards Marina beach via Vivekanand Library,Ram kishan Math, old Secretariet, Annadurai Smarak. The Marina beach is the 2^nd longest beach in Asia.

As usual, inspite of my wife’s advise, I could not resist myself without taking bath into the sea. My wife Smt.Madhu had taken number of photographs of the surroundings and me. I purchased Begam Palli Mango Just to have taste of this variety of mango. In the evening Prof.K.Subramanian had invited me at Diner at Hotel Sangeetha. The coffee of this hotel is marvelous.

Early in the morning on 18^th May, we were ready and waiting for the driver to drop me Chennai Airport as our flight to Port Blair was scheduled at 5.30am.He came at sharp 3.35am . As usual , early in the morning the traffic was very thin and so the appearance of the city was very clear and beautiful as sharing of attention was limited. We reached Air Port by 4’O Clock. The flight was 15 minutes late, so we had sufficient time for reporting. Our plane took off  at 5.40am and landed at Veer Sawarkar Air Port of Port Blair at. 8.35am..

I had taken a photograph of the runway of the Air Port where the luggage from our Aircraft was being unloaded with the luggage of the passengers and immediately the security guard given me caution to do not do that. I enjoyed this childish mistake at the age of touching sixty.

The Port Blair Air Port is a small Airport surrounded by low altitude green hills a beautiful with beautiful pictorial scenery. The Eternity Tour & Travel, Gurgaoun , had arranged tour package for three days and charge Rs.10,100/- per head from 18^th –20^th May  at Andaman. The travel agent of Andaman sent AC car to receive us at Airport and to drop me Hotel Sentinel. This is a very good hotel.

Its garden is small but well maintained with a nice swimming pool. Tall coconut trees of different verities surround this hotel and mango trees the full greenery can attract to any nature loving person. The main attractive point for me was swimming pool. 

The agent had booked for us (me and my wife) the Air-conditioned lovely furnished room in advance. The staff at the Reception of the hotel was well behaved. the I could not recall the name of the receptionist of the Hotel to whom I had presented a published monograph of the Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Lecture –2004, delivered by the then President of India , Honorable Dr.A P J Abdul Kalam.

The manager of the Hotel ,Mr.Aswary, who joined the Hotel on the same day (shifted from Hotel Hayat, Delhi) had become friendly to me and I availed his curtsey offer of tea and coffee two three times during my stay in the hotel. It is my habit or nature that I like to live like a person being homogeneous with the people as well as with their habitat. The cooks and waiters along with the other staff were paying me regards as a part of their profession. However I always try to be friendly as it is unpredictable when we will meet again. After taking breakfast at 10.30am the driver of the car came to pick up us for city tour as well as to visit Viper Island. We left the hotel at 11.00am on our first day at Port Blair the 18^th May 2011. At the end of the lane of the Sentinel Hotel there is a building of Hindi Sahitya Parishad. At the left hand of it the way is to Airport and to its left Towards main city. The owner of the hotel Sentinel belongs to Delhi ( as I came to know his name is Sardar D.P.Singh) has a chain of hotels in Andaman at different islands. The spoken language in the Andaman is Hindi. However mostly the people, origin is Bengal and little percentage is of Kerala and rest of the population belongs to other states of India.

The most popular market of the Port Blair is Aberdeen Market where one can find out every thing of his choice. I entered in a tunnel type market the dense where the small shops of all sorts of goods were available viz shoes, cloths , cosmetic, rice, pulses, spices, frits and vegetable shops. I Purchased dry SAME seeds( @ Rs.80/-only)which I have not seen in the market of the  north. My wife Madhu liked the taste of Emle and purchased half Kg. Of it. This market is just near the Ghantaghar. The roads of most of the markets are joining Ghantaghar. After crossing the Ghantaghar we went Andaman water Sports Complex , Tsunami Memorial. From Mahatma Gandhi marine National Park, Wandoor we went to VIPER Island by Steamer by steamer of the capacity of seventy passengers. The ticket of it was Rs.180/-.This was all inclusive in the package except personal purchasing and lunch.. It was a run of an hour. Just about a distance of one kilometer from the coast there is Ross island the first capital of Andaman The colour of sea was varying with respect to the distance from the steamer. The different shades of blue colour and at some places the appearance of water was blackish Navy blue. Before the formation of Cellular Jail the VIPER island was the place to keep prisoners as well as to hang according to barbarous British Rule.

                                                                      Viper jail
Cellular Jail was completed in 1906, its foundation was laid down in the year 1896.

It was my first adventurous sea journey. 

On returning from VIPER around 3’o clock, we had to go to Celular Jail  to see light & sound program and for that we had sufficient time. So, I asked to our driver to take me some other tourist place nearby the area so that we could reach at the light & sound program at the Jail. The weather became quite pleasant and we moved surrounding Rose Island to MadarPad village ,Snake Island and then reached Scorpian Island..

Me and my wife enjoyed the scorpian beach for half an hour and then rushed to Cellular Jail. 
This Jail now has become a National monument ”Natioal Memorial Cellular Jail” and kept very neat and clean and well in order like a secret place.

                               This is the Cell of Cellular Jail where Veer Savarkar was kept.
The entry fee is Rs.10/-. We have seen here how the coconut oil was being manufactured  by the prisoners manually and realized the same barbarous administration of British Jailor Beri  by hearing and watching the light & sound program . we  have seen and spent few minutes in the cell where Veer Savarkar was kept and taken few photographs of that place.

                                             Double door cell where Veer Sawarkar Was kept

The driver drop me at Hotel Sentinel around 7.30pm   asked me to be ready around 9’o clock in the morning on  next day the 19^th May 2011. In the evening of 18^th May I asked the receptionist whether the swimming pool is OK. She said that the cleaning process is going on ,it will take one more day. I have become very friendly with the staff of the hotel either belonging to Administration or kitchen. I remember the names of few waiters viz..Negi from Uttranchal, Ghanshyam from Bihar were enriching my knowledge of the Andaman. The manager Mr.Aswary was also very nice and he was offering me some time tea/coffee as curtsy. On 19^th May, we took our break fast around 8.30 am at hotel Sentinel and gone to the lobby of the hotel downstairs which was surrounded by beautiful gardens of different types of coconuts i.e. the coconuts of light yellow ,orange and green in colours,

                                                                          Hotel Sentinel

                                        

  We were waiting for the driver who have to drop us Directorate of Shipping Services, A & N Administration from where We have to take steamer for Havlock at 11.30 am. I had presented a copy of monograph of the lecture delivered by our former President of India on the occasion Vikram Sarabhai Memorial lecture –2004 to the receptionist of the Hotel . The diver Jannu (From Faisal tour and travel, Andaman) a very nice human being, came around 9’o clock and took me towards markets near Ghantaghar and beach which was very near to this place. After spending half an hour we went to the port – Directorate of Shipping Corporation for Havlock.

Our Steamer started at 11.30 for its journey. Me and wife were allotted seats in the cabin. Many passengers were standing due to non-availability of the seats. However it is different that many of the passengers were not sitting on their allotted seats and were roaming on the Ist  and 2^nd floor of the steamer to enjoy the scenery of the sea. I went in the cabin of the captain and asked how do you find your way to reach destination. That gentleman described about an instrument the magnetic compass and the map mentioning the degrees of latitude and longitude of the place.It is difficult for a person like me to describe about the beauty of water of the sea! Only a poet could describe it.

 Due to sun shining the water at a distace was looking like a golden strip over the sea , near the steamer the colour of water was navy blue and at a far distance its colour was z black in appearance. At randomly my wife observed few fish are flying in the air and going into the sea. Then I also observed it. Some time these were large in numbers about 15-20 at a time were taking dive into the sea. These were not fish , these were doll fins. The ripples of the sea were not that much turmoil, these were comparatively calm. The reason of it may be the number of islands in the sea of Andaman.

               

                         

The most exciting scene was the white track formed by the turbines of the steamer to move forward.

The first stoppage was Neel Island. As the Island was coming nearer the colour of water was changing fast from dark navy blue to blue and then converting into the sea green when we reached to Neel Island.

This is a beautiful Island. With shining sand at the coast was forming a lovely boundary of the Island.we got down at island along with the passengers of that island just to touch it and enjoy the surrounding for few minutes.

From here we thought that we will reach Havlock within 20 minutes as the distance between the two Islands was not much . I felt the steamer was not moving towards the coast of the the sea.However It was moving. The steamer took about forty minutes to reach Havloc Island port. However it was not very far from the Neel Island but the port was at a far distance after crossing a long boundary of the Havlock. The reason maybe due the thick forest the port might have not been built nearer. We reached Havlock at 2.30pm where a driver Kuldeep deputed by our agent to take care of us was waiting. He asked me whether e would like to go Hotel first or for sight scene straight away. I said that we would love to go for sight scene first latter move for hotel. The drive took me towards Radha beach. On the way everywhere was only one colour the green, green of green trees only. I observed that villagers keeping the petrol and diesel in the blue big containers for sale it to travelers. Two wheelers were available for tourists on hire basis. There is no petrol pump in Havlock. We reached Radha beach car parking at 3.15pm. there were few shops saling bananas, as well as tes and biscuits in huts and two three hawkers were sealing coconuts (dab). We enjoyed dabs and purchased bananas. In 20 Rupees we got more than dozen bananas which we could not dream even in Delhi. The specialty of these bananas is that these are ripped on the tree only without using any chemicals as in the cities. The villages were telling we listen on TV news but we do not know about that chemical.

After enjoying talk with villagers /shopkeepers we reached to the Radha beach. It is a lovely beach crystal clear sea green water the pictorial view.

                                                                  Radha beach

One tourist family was enjoying water. I also could not resist my self without going into the sea. It is a lovely beach and some huts of tourism Department are also available for the tourists who want to stay there and for this tourists have to book it in advance.

After enjoying Radha Nagar Beach for about an hour, we proceeded to Hotel Symphony .This hotel is situated on both sides of the main road. On one side it touches the sea beach and other side of the road the hotel ends near the forest. It is a unique Hotel. On both sides of the orchard of coconuts the  rows of beautiful hut cottages gives a very unique look.

 The cottage of the Symphoney Hotel, Havlock Island are well furnished air-conditioned and the beauty of these are slant roof covered with wood and wall are plastered by Teak wood and some special wood ( I do not remember the name)which is found in those islands only. Our room was on this side only.

                                                          Bar at Symphony Hotel
The opposite wing on the other side of the hotel which touches the sea beach has different type of garden with more natural form.

The beach of Symphony Hotel in Havlock is the most beautiful, I  ever have seen. 

However it needs a little bit development only. Otherwise it is superb and the main reason of it is the quality of sand which settles down just like a mixture of plaster of pairs and sand and so it  is not sticky as in other sea coasts. At symphony the sea gave me a beautiful piece of wood eaten by insects in the sea. I admired the beauty of the same and I have brought it Delhi and with my own hands I cleaned it and done sprit police. It has become a beautiful unique decorative piece. I love nature.

The chain of this Hotel in Port Blair is Hotel Sentinel. This is also a very good hotel.

Its garden is small but well maintained with a nice swimming pool. Tall coconut trees of different verities surround this hotel and mango trees the full greenery can attract to any nature loving person. Port Blair has developed in such a nice manner viz lovely markets, systematic traffic system good law and order and smooth well maintained roads that this place should be known as 'Sunehra pani' rather 'Kala pani'

On 20^th May 2011, our driver came to Hotel symphony around 2.30pm to pick up and drop at the Havlock  port. On the way there is a mini market consisted of a Hall of vegetable Mandi , few shops of all the necessary goods surrounded to this vetable market and few hawkers cooking Pakoras and Jalebies etc. I asked the driver of our car to stop at this market for short a while as I wanted to have a cup of tea ( specially for my wife as she is very much fond of taking tea, I love coffee) and purchase bananas. The quality of bananas available in Havlock is not even available at Port Blair. Out of Rs.20/- we got about two dozens of bananas. We were so happy as in Delhi these were worth of Rs.80/- at least. We reached the port around 3.00pm and the departure was scheduled at 3.15pm.

This time I was very much excited because of the opportunity of enjoying journey in the

evening time too. Sun was moving down gradually, the beauty of the sea was speechless. Meanwhile my wife told me “ look, how the fish is flying in the air going into the sea. Then I given attention on it and observed number of times I enjoyed their this game. These were not fish actually these were dolphins, which were looking like fish from a far distance. Time came when the sun was setting in the sea. We took picture of this lovely scene. We reached Port Blair in the evening and we had still sufficient time.
 We asked to the driver to take us coral beach but he refused as his employer the travel agent did not make him clear in our eternity and on the other hand he advised that it would be not worth wile to go there as in the evening/night the boats are not available. I argued to the agent and became annoyed as the driver of the car Kuldeep at Havlock made us fool did not take us coral beach there . However the diver Jannu at port Blair was very nice and courteous. I shouted on the agent and asked to compensate that by moving somewhere else. I preferred for Scorpions beach again because this route is beautiful as it takes almost full round of Rose Island. On the way to the beach there was a traffic jam for few minutes as some procession was moving as cricket team of this village won trophy with other teams of the city. We enjoyed their dance on Punjabi songs. Here people are very fluent in speaking Hindi. Around 7.00 pm we reached Scorpions beach . A Bengali Hawker was preparing tea. I asked to the driver to ask the hawker to prepare three cup of tea and three plates of Chatpata ( the Chola Chat). We enjoyed that beach for half an hour and moved towards hotel Sentinal. My wife wanted to do some purchasing  for our son and for my daughter as well as for her family members. We purchased some traditional items generally available at the coastal areas. On reaching hotel I given instruction to the driver to come in time in the morning as our flight for Kolkata was scheduled at 8.30am.

The staff at reception became very happy to see us .I asked Vinay the evening shift in charge at the reception whether the swimming pool was ready by that time. He said yes. I became so happy. When I came with my clothes for swimming, the manager Mr. Aswary offered me to have some drink. As I never take hard drink, he arranged lovely coffee and he enjoyed coffee too with me at the swimming pool.

In the Andaman the land is very costly. Even in the village area 100sq.yards is of minimum Rs.10Lacks.

Next day the 21^st May, We left Andaman for Kokata with Air India Flight at 8.45am. and reached Kolkata at 10.45am. My next connecting flight was 5.20pm. so, we had sufficient time to roam around Kokata. I came two years back to this place with my son Mayank and visited up to Gangasagar. It was first visit for my wife to Kolkata.. I hired a prepaid taxi at the Air port giving instruction to drop me at the Dum Dum Air port one hour before the departure time. I paid Re.1,350/-. The driver of the taxi was really a gentleman. He told me to visit the outer part of the city would be better as there would be probability to get stuck in traffic jam if we move towards old city. We ourselves did not want to take risk. From Dum Dum Air port  we taken a route Raja Hat, New Town, China Park  circle , City Center Mall, Nawabpur, Srachi,Axim Bank, DLF Flats, Salt Lake,Sukhant Nagar,Chingari Hata Talab,, Silver Arcade,, Science City,China Town-

Toposhiya,CharNumber Bridge, Tram Park Circus Depo.M G Lines, A J C Bose Road and then towards Victoria memorial>Mohan BaganStadium, Dalhouji Bhawan,Eden Garden, Victoria Memorial

                                                                      Victoria Memorial

, Shakespeare Sarani, Jawaharlal Nehru road,,Camac Street, Medilton Road. After this we stopped at very famous Fulnny Bakery at Park Street

as by this time we were feeling hungry. Because the breakfast served at Air India flight was not good and so I could not eat much. .

So non stop we were moving the city except at park street we had purchased bakery items, few fruits (mango, Leechi, Jaamrul which I tasted first time) and had Paratha and tea at one stall of a Sikh Sardar. The Paratha was fantastic which may not be available nowadays in Parathewali Gali in Delhi.

My wife desired to purchase Kolkata Roli (Bindi) and Alta( used for decorating feet with red colour at the time of particular festival viz. karva Chowth).The driver was so good he gone to the market near Punjab National Bank and purchased the things from his own pocket. However I paid him the money later.

Then we moved towards Chowrangi Road, Chingari Ghata,Villy Ghata, Netaji Subhas Stadium, Kada Parda Lake,Ulta Tanga fly over,Lake Town,DumDum Bus Stand,Keshro pur, Bagoi Hati Temple and then reached Air Port. About 4’o clock after noon.

So non stop we were moving the city except at park street we had purchased bakery items, few fruits (mango, Leechi) and had pratha and tea at one stall of a Sikh Sardar. The Paratha was fantastic which may not be available nowadays in Parathewali Gali in Delhi. 

Dr. Vijay Nath Sondhi

9899102826

22.05.2011