Indian archipelago in the Bay of Bengal: Day 4 & 5

For the previous part, please visit:

Indian archipelago in the Bay of Bengal: Day 2 & 3

Day #4 at Andaman: 10 March 2017

The fifth day was for returning from where we started this beautiful journey. On our way from Mayabunder, we visited the secluded Panchabati beach. It was more like a stone covered seashore. There was a wooden resting area. The view of the sea from that wooden open hut was magnificent. The roaring sound of the sea, bright sunrays on the water, color change of the glittering sea made us greedy to take some photographs and videos. Here, I would like to mention about the rough edges of the stones. If you want to go to this place, try to avoid slippers and go for some safe shoes.

We returned to Baratang Jetty and had our lunch there. This was not the right place to eat in terms of hygiene and food preparations. But we had no choice. In Andaman, you will hardly get any luxury place to dine in. but then, it was all about the trip and the natural beauty of the place.

We again took the Jarawa forest to return to Port Blair.

This time, we got some good air-conditioners equipped rooms in the same hotel in Port Blair. For information, the weather of Andaman Islands is very hot and humid in March if you are not staying just beside the sea.

Day #5 at Andaman: 11 March 2017

We were waiting for this day with so much anticipation. Our plan for the 5th day included visit to the Ross Island and North Bay Island. We were earlier informed that we could do different sea activities in the North Bay Island.

We waited at the Rajiv Gandhi Water Complex for our permissions to get done. We were first taken to the Ross Island.

We had to buy our tickets at Rupees 30/person. It was more like a maintenance fund. We were glad to give that as this place was maintained with high quality and cleanliness.

Ross Island was the Administrative Headquarters for the islands, before an earthquake rocked it in 1941. The island has scenic beauty and attracts adventurous crowd and History admirers due to its historic significance.

Ross Island

It had everything a market area, bakery, stores, water treatment plant, church, tennis court, printing press, secretariat, hospital, cemetery. Today, everything has become ruins except some buildings, which housed some of these landmarks.

Ross Island

There is still a bunker depicting the past administrative values. We got to see the lighthouse from the highest point of the Ross Island. We understood the fact that this place not only a place of history but also some animals such as, deer, peacocks, and some other birds. We were very happy to meet one woman who could communicate with these animals. For her cooperation, we could have a closer interaction with those animals.

Ross Island

After having an impressive visit to the Ross Island, our next stop was the North Bay Island. Our tour guide informed about all the sea activities. Some of us went for Scuba Diving at a cost of Rupees 3500/person that included the main event, a certificate and soft copy of the photographs and video of that experience.

I, personally was afraid of scuba diving where I had to manually work for my breathing. We, husband and I, went for the Sea walk activity at the rate of Rupees 3000/person. In this event, we were taken to the mid sea and we had to wear a big helmet before jumping into the water. With that helmet, the water level was up to my chin. The sea walk expert took me to the sea bed and initially I walked on the sea bed with his help. Later, I could walk on my own and then with my husband. we fed the fishes, saw sea clams, corals, different kind of fishes, sea anemones.

Sea Walking

Initially, I was afraid of going into the water but then I was unwilling to come out of it. We were given a cd of photographs of this experience. I am more than elated that I chose to do this activity. This experience was for a life time.

To Be Continued . . . .