What Happened to Us in Andaman Islands in -- 5 Days Craziness of a Travel Story.

Islands are something completely magic. You can immediately tell when you skate off the plane and the smell of the salty sea air fills your nose that you are leaving the noise of the mainland behind. And such was the case when we arrived at Andaman Islands. We did not know what was in the next five days- unwanted surprises, water wonders, and things that would cause us to completely fall in love with the life on the island.

                               

This is our full 5 days story of the Andaman Islands- crude, authentic and memorable.

Day 1: The Unwelcome Welcome in Port Blair.

                                  

We began our trip by plane to Port Blair in Chennai. Everybody was talking; the sky was the limit. It was a postcard of an Island, turquoise water, small patches of white sand, and green forests all around. However the adventure in truth struck sooner than we imagined.

The moment we landed the weather turned the other way round. In some minutes, clouds unleashed and the airport was drowned. Our initial Andaman dive had become a wet walk as we had initially planned to go to Corbyns Cove Beach immediately after the check-in. Nevertheless, as we stood in the shade of one of the palm trees with our bags, and listened to the waves crashing on the black rocks, it was 100% island magic.

As the rain had finally dissipated, we went to the Cellular Jail to the light and sound show. It was in that open air theatre where we had goose bumps listening to the stories of the freedom fight in India. It was not a monument, but a feeling. We made a final stop at a local restaurant by Aberdeen Bazaar where we ate seafood. Fresh fish, in which case we would be grilled, island spices, just enough to show that we had arrived

Day 2: Sea Adventure will start at Havelock Island.

Day two started early. We took a ferry ride between the Port Blair and Havelock Island- now Swaraj Dweep- and the ride itself was already something. The water was so transparent that you could even see the fish in it. As we flew into Havelock, we saw white sands beaches with coconut trees and we knew that we were going to paradise.

The resort was a short skip over, and smack in the midst of dense trees. Our breakfast was followed by us renting scooters and going directly to the Radhanagar Beach, one of the most beautiful in Asia. We were so struck dumb when we first beheld it. The shore was infinite, the water blue as a crystal and the sun set painted the sky with orange and pink.

But the best of all was to come--we leaped out into the waves like children, and lost all idea of time. We laughed, splashed, and attempted to take those ideal jumping-into-the-sunset photographs--although, I must say, the majority of them were awfully bad.

Our first beach dinner was by the sea with music and lights under the stars by night. The island atmosphere was taking effect- slow, easy and completely tranquil.

Day 3: Scuba Diving and Moment of Fear.

It was a special day that we had planned to go scuba diving. Honestly, we were nervous. No one of us had ever been under water. But the teachers helped us feel at home, having everything explained in a very slow manner.

We got into the sea near the Nemo Reef after a brief training. It was something unimaginable that we saw under water. The underworld was beautiful, serene, and supernatural. We were surrounded by corals of all shapes and colours, and little bright-coloured fishes passed between our masks. Our own breathing in that silent blue world was unreal.

In the middle of it, one of our friends was panicking a little, and his mask was full of water. But the teacher soon managed it and demonstrated how fear can be overcome by calmness. Then, when we all emerged we cheered like champions. It was not a simple exercise, but a life experience that we would never forget and it was something that made us change on that dive.

At night later, we were able to relax in a cafe on the beach. They all spoke about what they were watching under the sea one had watched a clownfish, the other had watched a giant coral. We were blessedly alive that evening when the waves were rolling and the wind was rustling through the palms.

Day 4: Crazy Boat Ride and Elephant Beach.

On the fourth day it was time to be adventurous. We got up early in the morning to go to Elephant beach which is a water sports place. In order to get there, we had to ride a small speed boat and it was rather an exciting ride. The waves were high and at one stage, our boat was leaping so that we screamed and laughed simultaneously. The driver only smiled and replied, Welcome to Andaman rollercoaster!

Elephant Beach, we have done it all snorkeling, banana boat ride and even sea walking. Snorkeling provided us with another glimpse of the world of the ocean. The sea was not very deep but it contained colorful sea animals. The piece of sea walk was the best, however. It was like in a different planet walking on the ocean floor with such a heavy helmet, and surrounded with fish.

We used our afternoons lying under the palm trees, drinking coconut water and talking to local sellers. They narrated to us how the beach acquired its name and how the tsunami several years back altered their lives. Hearing them we understood how powerful and optimistic islanders can be.

We went back to our resort fatigued yet content. We spent the night in the dark forest close to our cottage the fairy lights of nature. It felt unreal.

Day 5:Extensions Neil Island Goodbye and a Promise to Return.

Our last day was emotional. We went on an early ferry to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep), which is a smaller and less bustling island and home to natural rock formations and transparent lagoons. The atmosphere here was less hectic, more relaxing - ideal to put an end to the trip.

We hired bicycles and rode through the Island. The adventure saw us riding on narrow village roads, green coconut farms and secret beaches with no one in sight. We visited Laxmanpur Beach where we observed the natural rock bridge the most attractive structure formed by the sea centuries earlier. It resembled the art work of nature.

When we sat there and watched the waves going through the arches of the rocks, there was no sound. It was our time of looking back five days were as a dream. Rains in Port Blair, sunsets in Havelock, fear underwater as well as laughing at the beach, each and every moment had its own story.

We left by promiseing each other a little that we would be back some day. The Andaman Islands had not only provided us with memories, but with a new vision of life, simple, slow, and beautiful.

We took the ferry back to Port Blair and as we took off, the islands were slowly lost in the horizon. We were sad but our camera reels were filled and our brains were full of stories to share.

The Things we learned on Andaman.

Travel does not necessarily mean the marking of destinations on a list. It is sometimes what passes with you in the process. We were taught in Andaman to drop our plans, laugh when things failed and to absorb all the moments we spent without thinking about perfection.

We were taught the ocean has its language one that teaches calmness. We realized what it means to live slow and not in a hurry to get to the next thing. And above all we found out the power of friendship when it is strengthened by salt water, sunsets and making impromptu plans.

In case you are making an Andaman trip, here are some of the few tips that you can get in a flash:

1.Install waterproof bags and light clothes 24 hours you have been caught by the rain on the island.

2.At least once taste local seafood. It is fresh and flavorful.

3.You can not afford to miss Radhanagar Beach and scuba diving at Havelock they are worth every minute.

4.Interact with locals. Their lives give color to your trip.

5.Put your phone aside and occasionally just go out and experience the breeze and that is where the magic of travelling occurs.

Epilogue Why Andaman Changed Us.

I can say that five days in Andaman Islands were not a vacation, but it was an experience that made its imprint on our hearts. Our memories contained sun-kisses, salty hair, and inexhaustible laughter. Life is much easier on the island, as nature makes you much lighter and you can be happier in the most basic things like watching a sunset, holding a coconut in your hands or even running around barefoot on wet sands.

Anything wrong with us in Andaman?

We found out the mad exultation of the unknown, the serenity of the sea, and a side of us we had lost the side that is free and laughs at nothing.

And that is what makes travelling worthwhile, my friends.