Hello again, we’re back! There is very little internet on the
islands and phones don’t work well either, so its been a really relaxing time!
We arrived from Chennai to Port Blair in the Andaman Islands
and Jet Konect were efficient, early and with a spanking new 737. We had a meal on board ,breads and a spicy lentil dish, with coffee gateaux. Himself
oinked someone out of his seat as he requested the window, then after ½
an hour of chatting to the elderly Indian gent and his wife, we found out it was
the first time they had been on a plane
after working for the government for 60 years!
She seemed very disappointed, so we all swapped seats, which was the
gentlemanly thing to do. Himself told
the old guy that we had to lean to the right when the plane banked he seemed a
bit confused, then himself said “only kidding”
Our first night in Port Blair was at the Captains House,
and we were greeted by Dinaz and welcomed into her home. Our room was large and airy with an ensuite
and sitting room, so we thought we had done quite well. The view from her roof
terrace over Port Blair was stunning.
She cooked dinner for us and an Irish couple who were on their way
home. We retired early to find the bed
was infinitely harder than a park bench.
The night was very eventful.
Himself made a
note of the following events:-
10.30 baby next door started crying
12.00 baby stopped whinging
4.15 Islamic call
to prayer from local mosque
4.20 Dogs started
howling with the wailing, obviously Muslim dogs
This in turn woke up the cockerels who joined in
Then the birds started the damn dawn chorus
Dogs then started barking
Cats started meowing and a big fight broke out
This in turn started the crows off.
We gave up on sleep at
about 5am it was bedlam. Note to
self ; must find somewhere else for on the way back!
We departed Port Blair with 208 Indians and me and
himself, on a huge hight powered “Super-fast” catamaran that sped between the
islands. The Indians were all ho, ho, ho til we got to open water ,then probably 50 %
turned green. Himself and I are both
good sailors so no problem for us. On
arrival at Haverlock Island we had an autorickshaw which took us to the Emerald
Gecko. If I tell you its like Robinson Crusoe Island,
with aquamarine sea, cloudless skies, white sandy beaches it would not be a
lie. Sunsets and sunrises to die for.
Our accommodation is a bamboo split level beach house not 15 feet from the
sea. We have a sitting room, upstairs terrace and bedroom
with a ceiling fan, outside bathroom and shower. The air conditioning is by means of raising the rattan blinds and
letting in cool sea air. We are in house no 6, and there is an airy restaurant
called Blackbeard’s bistro who serve
fish I have never heard of, but is delicious.
All the rest of the properties have no bathroom and use communal showers
and the “squatters”. There is only hot water from a big boiler
which is heated by a fire underneath at 8am and 7pm.This makes fascinating
viewing, the boys trying to light the fire from driftwood and I think a slosh
of paraffin causing much hilarity and jumping about! We have noticed that:
Brits don’t bother , just showering with the cold stuff,
French go in their underpants to the communal block
buckets in hand
Germans get there early and nick all the hot,
Americans check out!
A Japanese contingent arrived last night, obviously
staying in one of the huts and duly formed a line with their buckets (5 gallon
variety) to do there ablutions.
The Andamans only have 3 bars all of which sell out quick! This has caused a minor panic in the Herself
and Himself household. The wine shop, just the one on the island, is open
spasmodically causing mayhem. Himself
went by autorickshaw on three occasions only to find it shut or sold out. Today he went at 8.30 a bit of a struggle but
a successful mission. Just in case, he
bought a couple of bottles of Gin (£2) and beer, which we haven’t seen for last
3 days. There is a big fridge in the Bistro for guest use which says STRICTLY
NO ALCOHOL and it is absolutely full of wines, spirits and beer!
PS Hello to all our family and friends, we're still spending the inheritance xxxxx
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