Andaman Islands (Part 3) - Snorkeling

Click here for the most recent version: Andaman Islands (Part 3) - Snorkeling

We snorkeled at three locations.

One, Neil's Cove, is easy to get to as it is just around the corner from Beach #7. It is a beautiful little area, good for both swimming and snorkeling. It is best to go there when the tide is low as the tide goes almost up to the tree line when it is high. There is a good variety of fish in smaller numbers and some nice patches of colorful coral. We saw a school of Bump Head Parrot fish each day we snorkeled at Neil's Cove. Very cool. Unfortunately I do not have an underwater camera (although one could be a worthwhile investment), so here's a video link to these fish:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DiDnxWgDHA

One day we did a snorkel trip and went to South Button and Lighthouse. South Button is a 1 1/2 hour boat ride from the Havelock Jetty. We booked it through Barefoot Adventures and it cost 2500Rp/person. This included snorkeling at two spots and lunch on board the boat. There were 12 of us and 5 crew.

South Button is a tiny island. We jumped in the ocean, put our snorkel masks on and looked beneath the surface. There was a  wall of yellow fish - hundreds of them, maybe thousands - it was unbelievable. The water was clear and the coral was magnificent in all shapes and sizes. Alanna tugged on my elbow and we went to the surface, "This is sic!" she said. That's a good sign.

We swam around the island in about fifty minutes. The tide was quite strong so for the first half it swept us along. There were many fish, in numbers and variety, and lots and lots of healthy coral. Of course on the return trip on the other side of the island it was a bit more difficult to swim against the tide.

Once we all got back into the boat we had lunch, a good Indian buffet. We relaxed and enjoyed the ride until we got to our next location: Lighthouse, only about ten minutes from Havelock. Here, there were not nearly so many fish but there were some giant clam shells which were impressive. It was nice to snorkel twice but it certainly was not going to come close to South Button. The kids took to jumping off the top of the boat for fun - sometimes I think that's their favorite part of snorkeling.

Andaman Islands (Part 2)...the Good Stuff About Havelock Island

Click here for the most recent version: Andaman Islands (Part 2)...the Good Stuff About Havelock Island

We were on Havelock Island for six nights and stayed two minutes from Beach #7, rated Best Beach in Asia by Time in 2004. Well, if you like a white sandy beach lined with trees that stretches for 2 km. this might just do.

Add clear, warm, turquoise water - no rocks, no coral - wonderful for swimming and you might start to love it.

Throw in amazing sunsets everynight.

Add an elephant or two in the water, on the beach or in the forest - and you've got the wow factor.

...and that's only some of Beach #7. Let's explore other parts of the island and more of Beach #7 next post.

Andaman Islands (Part 1): Barefoot at Havelock

 Click here for the most recent version Andaman Islands (Part 1): Barefoot at Havelock

I guess I've been putting this off for a bit because this wasn't the perfect vacation. We stayed on Havelock Island which is gorgeous, full of trees, stunning white sandy beaches and some of the best snorkeling we've ever done. However, the place we stayed in was dark, dingy, hot and buggy: Barefoot at Havelock.

I guess I'll start by ranting and raving about the accommodation and save the positive comments and photos for later. First, in order to get to the Andamans we flew east to Chennai (1 hr), then out to Port Blair (2 hrs). The Andamans are way out in the Andaman Ocean, closer to Thailand and Burma than the Indian mainland.

We were greeted by Barefoot staff and driven to the ferry terminal, along with a few other families and couples. The ferry tickets were bought and given to us randomly. We handed our tickets over to the guy when we boarded and he did a double take. Each of our tickets showed that we were 30 - 32 yrs and all female except Craig. Yes, Michael became "Manisha" and we all had Indian names.

Two hours later we arrived on Havelock and again Havelock staff greeted us and off we went in a jeep for 1/2 hr to the "resort." We left our house in Bangalore at 4:00am and arrived at 4:00pm. Off to our two storey hut. It was a large, two storey thatched hut, quite picturesque with the jungle trees all about.

The bottom floor was dark, even with the (low wattage) lights on. We went up the ladderlike stairs to the second room and discovered that it was not enclosed, nor was there a door to the downstairs. There were mosquito nets on both beds, which means only one thing - BUGS. The upstairs area had slightly more light  but not much.

Now when I look at the Barefoot website I can read between the lines. "Experience the rare gifts of nature" really means "there will be bugs of all types and sizes in your room." And when they say "opens on three sides to the rainforest." it means you have no walls or windows and the bugs are coming in. "Mezzanine floor with low roofing" really means "this place is dark."

Anyway to make a long story short the place was dark, dingy, hot and buggy (hmm did I already mention that?). We had a turbo upright fan and a ceiling fan both of which we needed on because of the heat. Sounded like we were in a helicopter the whole time - so much for listening to the crashing waves or the sound of the birds singing.

The restaurant food was good but service lacked in all aspects of the "resort." Three of us would get our meal and finish eating before the forth person even got theirs.
All in all this was a backpacker experience at "resort" prices.
Had we taken a smaller A/C room our experience might have been better as they are sealed off from the outdoors - they have walls to the ceiling. The kicker was that Michael asked when we booked if they recommended A/C - and they said either would be fine, fan or A/C.

Barefoot at Havelock bills itself as eco friendly, and true I wasn't scared of the frog living in the bathroom. But did it really want to be trapped in there living in the sink console (we spotted it twice but didn't realize that was it's home til the last day)? What about the hundreds of ants on the toilet and all over the upstairs tea cup and desk that ended up dead? Or the big flying beetle bug that Michael stepped on accidently and killed - that wasn't pleasant for either of them.

OK, so that's my ranting and raving, next on to much better aspects of the island - beaches, fish, coral and elephants!

Bangalore Days

Went back to see the Orthopedic specialist at RxDx yesterday (250Rs). As expected he just recommended resting my hand for 10 days. I was kind of hoping to get a decent splint from them but what he did was tape my 3rd and 4th finger together with that really sticky pink tape. He recommended coming back to see him in 10 days to start physio - ummm - probably not. Then they proceeded to charge 250Rp for the three little pieces of tape. That was strange. A consult with an Orthopedic specialist is the same price as three pieces of tape?? Oh well. First thing I did when I got home was take off the tape and reapply my own homemade splint.

I did ask the Dr.if I could do yoga and he said yes. So I got back into it today as spring break is over and the kids are back at school. I have to admit the headstand and handstands are a little taxing on the fractured fingers. Maybe I shouldn't do that for a couple weeks? But the good news is another spot has opened up on Fridays and so I will be doing yoga Tues. and Fri. It is so great!

Today is our 19th wedding anniversary and the doorbell rang at 7:00am. We ignored it the first two times but we figured they weren't going away by the third ring. Michael got up and it turned out to be someone from the restaurant in our complex wishing us a Happy Anniversary and inviting us to a free dinner tonight. Quite humorous actually.

Although it is tempting (especially for a Ukrainian) to take up an offer of a free meal just steps from our house, we are going to go downtown to the Taj to a recommended Vietnamese restaurant. Perhaps we can send the kids in our place for the free meal?

Tomorrow we have to go to the FRO office to extend our visas. I went down last week with Rohith (from Michael's work) who knows the people and helps us fill in the proper forms and get into the right lineups. Then we were given forms to take to the police station to verify that there are no warrants for our arrest. Tomorrow all four of us have to go and sit in the office while Rohith does all the work.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to All! We got up early and went for 7:00am mass at the local church. The church was full and it was a nice 1hr mass. They have a small choir and the priest speaks English well. It is a fairly simple church but colorful, especially with all the ladies wearing their colorful saris.

Came home and had one of my favorite breakfasts - fresh coffee and a fresh croissant. Michael bought the Italian Roast Starbucks in Beijing and I must say it is one of their better ones. We have the fresh croissants delivered from Chez Mariannick.

Then unfortunately Alanna and I were off to RxDx, the health clinic to see the Doctor. Alanna has an ear infection from all that wave jumping in the Andaman Islands. I have a slight fracture in my 4th and 5th fingers from a little accident I had when building with Habitat for Humanity. Alanna is now taking antibiotics and ear drops. I have to go back tomorrow to see a specialist.

RxDx is close to where we live and has a good reputation. It is clean, proffessional and they were quick to see us. The cost for the initial visit was 300Rp ($6.50 Can.). My xray which was done right away (and I keep it) was 250 Rp and Alanna's prescriptions 250Rp. A grand total of about $17 Can.

We were planning to go to Olive Beach for brunch but it's a bit far away with Alanna not feeling well. So we will go to Toscanos for their brunch.

Happy Easter, we are thinking of all our family and friends back home. I'll post soon about our Andaman trip!