April 2009 - May 2009


I thought I had died and gone to heaven -

Nope its just the heavenly Andaman islands....

It's no secret that I love the beach - although that may sound rather shallow it is what it is -

I am not however satisfied with any ole piece of sand and water - oh no !!

And if there is a chlorinated pool or some rowdy burnt bellies or even a sniff of burgers and chips I turn into Beach snob from hell.. no no no my glorious travels have left me with high expectations when it comes to beaches - I don't mean i need champagne and infinity pools (although they don't get turned down if on offer) no, i am a simple girl at heart - but i do require space, i do require clean sand, i do require beautiful views and what tops it off for me is nature - i am not a roadside beach sort of girl...

OK! So, with all that cleared up and with me feeling quite proud of my snobbishness...... I am proud to say the beaches of all beaches has been been found... Ladies and Gentleman I give you THE ANDAMAN islands..

The easiest way to describe them apart from the obvious adjectives like glorious, amazing, beautiful, stunning, paradisiacal etc etc is they are an amalgamation of beaches from the Caribbean and the Indian culture (and yummy food!).

Put that way what could be more perfect????? I honestly have found my own private haven - and so a brief trip turned into 1 month there taking the sun and visiting a few islands..

You can reach The Andamans from Calcutta or Chennai via the sea or by plane - it all depends on your budget and timings.. (as always) I arrived by plane from Chennai after my glorious Sadannah community moment. You arrive at Port Blair 
 sort out a visa and hop on a boat for your chosen island.

I spent the first 2 weeks on Havelock island


 - found beach cabin heaven

 had a surprise visit from the lovely Lucy 

and of course met and hung out with the unforgettable Nimi and our sweedish mates..

Havelock introduced me to a whole new world of diving - without a shadow of a doubt the BEST dives i have ever done in my life - I also drove my own motorbike and just lived a wonderful life...

Then Lucy and I booted off to Neil Island where bicycles

 were the only way and beaches were a plenty.. i found a real groove with getting up cycling to the beach... 


coming back for a snack and siestas until the sun chilled a bit then some more bike fun with a cycle or two before i headed back for some parota dahl 

and hammock swinging snooze.... wow heavenheavenheaven....

The Andamans are a mission to get to and a must -i cannot recommend them enough... you work for them and they reward

And unfortunately that was that - it was time for me to head back to Mumbai and get myself home - 6 months had flown by and I had absorbed Mother India back into my heart..... as most will say you either love it or you hate it - I clearly love it this being my second visit and I know it will be place i will visit time and time again ( i am already planning my next trip!)

So i swung by Bangalore and visited my dear friend Andy and his lovely family (Becks and little Maya and Lily) who were based there on a work secondment...

I hit Mumbai like a local and shopped until being over weight with my baggage was a laughable inevitability.. then in a blink of an eye I found myself banking, in a British Airways Boeing, over the River Thames and Richmond Park - straight into Mumalina's arms!!! with India sewed deeply into my heart! WOW what a journey ... what an amazing experience - i cannot recommend her enough - through all the madness (which i love) there is so so much beauty - i met so many amazing life long friends, the people are some of the kindest I have ever met, the food is up there as my clear favourite (mmmmm dhosas) and the variety of things to do and see makes Mama India the best holiday destination in the world!!!!! and on top of all of that the cliche exists for a reason, I can't say I found myself but i definitely walked away from India a little closer to me too!!

So now for some Europe time, I write this entry many months after returning as Euroland ate me up swirled me round and now she has spat me out (18 months later) and I find myself catching up with my stories and photos and getting ready for my next adventure - but more about that in a little while xxxxx