VJ Juhi Pandey tells you the 10 must-sees on your vacation to the Andamans.
Relax on the beaches: There are two main beaches one should go to in the Andamans — the Havelock and Radhanagar. Even in peak time, the crowd will never be that much. And there is no litter.
So one can enjoy some of the cleanest and quietest beaches here. There are several stretches of beach that are secluded. You go on to any one of them and it’s yours. The Andaman Islands is also a place to relax and rejuvenate along with some water adventure sports.
Go suba diving/snorkelling: I get creeped out by slimy creatures of the sea but people travel from various countries like Germany and Austria just love to dive in. I met some of these folk and they told me how beautiful the sea life was here. So if you are a water baby you just have to go diving. I also did some snorkelling and for those who are not gung-ho about scuba diving, take my suggestion.Try your hand at snorkelling — it’s quite an amazing experience!
Eating at dhabas: Don’t expect some exotic restaurants in Andamans, you won’t find any. Instead, there are small dhabas which serve you lovely Bengali and Tamil cuisine. Try the grilled fish — it’s yummy! There are also no beach-side shacks here, like Goa. We would just pack our lunches and take it to the beach. There are also several dhabas on the way to the beach. You can simply give your order and then go take a dip and come back to eat at the place.
Get a suntan: Most beaches are secluded, so you just pick a book to read and relax on the sand. Just apply some sunblock cream, your sarong and get wasted. You can also go on the beach in the night and watch the stars — that is one of the most beautiful and pristine things I have ever seen.
Ride along: Rent a bike here so you can move about easily. There many tiny stretches of the beach and you can bike around and stop wherever you want. Do also give the local autos a shot. They are cheap and convenient. I also think that travelling by local transport can give you a better insight into a place.
See the sunset: Andamans definitely has the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen. Each of the sunsets that I saw in the 15 days that I was there, was absolutely spectacular!
Watch the moon rise: We were sitting at a restaurant at the Havelock beach when suddenly the lights went off. Everyone began to rush to the beach, so we ran to the beach too. And what I saw was the most beautiful sight ever!
The moon had just arisen out of the ocean. It was orange and I felt like I was watching a sunset in the dark. I had never ever thought that there could be something like a moon rise and I was completely taken in by the beauty of the scene. A once-in-a-lifetime experience for sure!
Buy T-shirts: There is nothing much to explore in terms of markets for there is no ‘Andaman-specific’ material here. But I did buy six T-shirts with the word Andaman written on it. It is a good memento to take back home and it will remind you of the lovely island.
Get cut-off: You don’t get network at many places on this island so be prepared for that. I thought it was the best thing to happen. I was quite happy to be cut-off from the rest of the world and enjoy my vacation completely.
Check out an eco-hotel: There are some very modest hotels here — very basic yet comfortable, so don’t expect luxury. You must go and check out some of the eco-hotels here, even if you don’t stay in one. They are eco-friendly places and they use only natural products. Fun!
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