The Andamans

I find the vastness of nature and its silence overwhelming, and somewhat comforting. It reminds me how insignificant, or small, I am. During the evenings and early mornings in the island of Havelock, as the tide recedes, there is no sound of any wave, and all one hears is silence. Maybe the truth is overwhelming and comforting, and that’s why I find comfort in feeling small and barely significant. In our lives, we try to associate ourselves with people we care for and/or who care about us, but in truth, besides maybe a few random acts of genuine kindness, and perhaps parenthood, we all actually only feed on each other's needs, and sugar coat it with what we like to think is affection. At least based on my experience, this is what I think is true.

In search of a little solitude and remembrance of this, my perceived truth, I went to the Andamans for a week. The sea in the island of Havelock is more turquoise than turquoise, and inland, the forest is greener than green. I was surprised by the size of trees, their hugeness and their enormous presence. I kept thinking to myself, this is how I picture Madagascar to be. I have never been to Madagascar, but I would imagine it exactly like Havelock, except on a larger scale. I cycled and rode a motorcycle across the island, from end to end, and the road just stops at random places or extremities, and then one can either find a forest, or the sea. I swam, read, snorkeled a bit (with a prescription mask, so I could see clearly for the first time) and swam again.

I saw 2 sunrises. :)

Link to pics      

ps: What's waiting for me back in Pune. Friends who send me messages such as these when I travel:

"Important stuff to remember on an important journey:
1. Do not, I repeat do NOT put hands, legs or any body part out in the openings of the mode of transport you have alighted, unless well, you are explicitly asked to get out, no matter how useful or vestigial the part is.
2. Strangers are mean people. You can talk all you want to them, but remember they are MOSTLY mean.

3. Always keep change, pay and eat with your right hand and rest of the stuff, like beating up people can be, should be done with the left hand.

4. Do not eat the stuff that mean people called strangers give you. They have given it to you not out of love but mostly because it's spoilt. Make sure you deposit it as manure to the nearest  happy tree.

5. Pay attention to all the sign boards and rules that are randomly visible and also given as free advice. You may not necessarily follow them,but listen to the good samaritans. Pay attention to the signs in your brains too, like psychic ones.

(You are requested to follow all the abovementioned points to the T. Or, else you don't want to know what the travel inspector would do (not very pleasant). So keep these 5 rules on your fingertips and yes, unsaid rules, clean underwear, please.  

I'm lucky.