Havelock Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
Thursday, September 25, 2014
We arrived in the rain - not a good start - and the usual paper work to sign and our permits to show we are allowed to be here, but at least the reliable tuk tuks were there waiting to meet us from the ferry.
Havelock island is much bigger than Neil Island so there is more accommodation to pick from and our tuk tuk driver took us along th coast road while we hopped in and out checking out the rooms. We ended up at "El Dorado" no kidding in a bamboo hut just a short walk from the beach for £6 a night - including our own bathroom & toilet!
All was well here until in the night there were lots of little noises and the second night we discovered what was making those noises.
Cockroaches
WOW oh WOW!
Urrrgh!
Even though we felt protected by the bug net over the bed, we just couldn't stay and went further down beach number 5 and found “The Emerald Gekho”. we have to admit when we first walked down the path it looked a bit “rustic’ shall we call it but with a warm smily welcome from Sanjay it felt much nicer. He showed us to the bamboo huts and were a bit skeptical after the last 2 nights but we saw it through and checked one out.
We entered into an empty room and we both thought oh no - where’s the bed but then we saw the rickety stairs.
We went up for a peak and were very pleasantly surprised. There was a bamboo martin floor on which was a mattress and mozzi net, but all around were bamboo blinds which could be rolled up so we could be sleeping outside if we wanted to. It was very pretty.
Off the main room we had entered was a sink and shower - but no loo
our hut
It was back to posh camping and having to visit the toilet block in the night but for £8 a night it was a bargain AND Sanjay promised us no cockroaches!
Our time on this island is mainly centre red around the tide - when its in we want to be in the water, it is so warm it’s like taking a bath.
No hotels have wifi here but there are two internet cafes though. They get a signal through satellite and charge £3 an hour for it. You may not think that is very much but it’s all relative here. An evening meal with drinks is only £4 and don't forget our room was only £6. The cafes always seem to be full of Israelis too wherever we go they are everywhere - smoking and doing whatever they want with complete disregard for everyone around them or the local laws and customs. They com in such numbers though we think they are tolerated because they bring a lot of money to the Islands.
One day we hired a moped out and went to the other side of the island to beach 7. Over that side the sea was just stunning. The waves were large but not so large you couldn’t swim and the colour of the water was just mesmerising. There was no underlying coral to skag your feet and legs on either so all in all it was paradise
oh dear - no swim today then B!
Apart from the hundreds of fully clothed indians in the water! They had changing rooms there but all they did was hang from one full length saree to another and the men still in their shirts. It is very funny how even on holiday they don’t relax their dress code.
We walked along the beach to find a quieter place to swim but were a bit put off by the “Danger - Salt Water Crocodiles” signs. Oh well back to our own beautiful beach 5 then.
Bryan went diving one day and said how beautiful it was here for doing that. You can see his separate entry about that.
Overall, if you ever get the chance to visit the Andaman Islands, - Jump at it
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