The beautiful Andaman !

Andaman and Nicobar islands form a small dotted cluster in Bay of Bengal and are home to pristine white sand beaches, clear water, ancient tribes and tropical rainforests.

Let me show you the b'ful Andaman!

Whereas Nicobar islands are not open to tourists, Andaman has limited connectivity of 4-5 direct flights from India. With selective tourist spots spread over three main islands, Andaman offers a pretty standard itinerary with not much scope to explore beyond it due to either dense forest or deep sea.

Here's how we spent our 8D 7N !!

3N Port Blair (2 in the beginning and 1 in the end for airport transfer), 2N Havelock Island, 2N Neil Island

Cellular Jail

Port Blair-This capital city is the only entry point for visiting the islands and is home to iconic Cellular Jail, several museums and day trips to other islands.

Day 1- Like a typical tourist, we began the trip with the infamous Cellular Jail (kala pani) constructed by Britishers to exile Indian political prisoners. Its different sections reflecting the atrocities stirred a sea of emotions inside us.

We then proceeded to Marina Park in and around which are various beautiful photo spots like "I love Port Blair, map of India, statue of Gandhi Ji and flag point". Quick hopping in and out for the car for these photos was really interesting especially for our baby girl.

We visited Anthropoligical museum, aquarium and Samudrika - naval marine museum to get an insight into the history about indigenous tribes and marine life of Andaman.

In the evening, we planned to see the Light and Sound show (Hindi/english) at Cellular Jail but since it was closed for maintenance, we drove towards Marina Park where we enjoyed munching at the food trucks parked at the gorgeous stretch of road by the ocean that reminded us of Marine Drive, minus the crowd.

This may sound a lot but everything is close-by and can be covered in a day subject to your arrival time. If not, it can be divided on the next or last day.

Ross Island

Day 2- We took a boat to visit the small and fairly interesting Ross Island with a halt of 1 hour. Here we had a close interaction with deer and took an electric cart to see the remains of British settlement and Japanese bunkers literally wrapped by roots of trees. After a small walk, we reached the lighthouse and the statue which honours the people who served the country and captured it in our phones. 

North Bay - Submarine 

We later took a ferry to NorthBay of which's photo can be seen at the back of Rs.20 note. There are plethora of water activities to do but we just chose the three floored semi submarine which happens exclusively in Northern Bay of Andaman. The underwater view of marine life isn't that great but thanks to the nice cruise it is definitely an hour well spent. Those who don't want to take the submarine can skip Northern Bay as all other activities can be later enjoyed at other beaches. 

Chidiya tapu beach

To witness the splendid sunset, we headed to the beautiful Chidiya tapu beach (known as Mandu Pahar Beach) located 17km away from Port Blair. Enroute we made a quick stop at 1st flag hoisting point of India and spent 15 minutes at the lively Carbyn Cove where Tourism Day was being celebrated.

Since we started at 8am, we managed to fit in everything and reach at the Chidiya tapu beach before the gates closed at 5.30. It is not included in a standard itinerary but given the beach was as beautiful as the journey till there, it must be!

To unwind ourself, we took a dip in the swimming pool at our hotel "Symphony Samudra" which was hardly 1km from the sunset point.

Subject to your interest and time in hand, you may take a day trip (from 3am to 5pm) to Baratang Island which is famous for its natural wonders- limestone caves, dense mangrove creeks and mud volcanoes. Here you may have a chance to glance of the tribals (photography is a non-bailable offence). Since we were travelling with an infant, we chose to skip this one.

You can check out these good places to eat at Port Blair- Amaya at Hotel Sea Shell, Sinclairs Bayview Restaurant and Annapurna.

Makruzz

Day 3- We took the Makruzz jetty to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) - the most visited island in the Andaman Archipelago due to its pristine beaches and dive sites.

First things first, we visited Radhanagar beach renowned as Asia's best and world's 7th best beach. Its white sand, clear water, beautiful sunset, swimming friendly one long stretch of beach with no hotels or shacks directly on it makes it ideal to spend quality time.

Later that night, we had a lovely dinner at "Something Different" which provides a pick- drop facility from the hotel. It had a nice playful vibe, delicious food and trampoline to keep kids entertained. I absolutely recommend their pizza and almond pudding.

Day 4- We started with scuba diving at dive master which included 15 min training and 30 min of underwater where we saw corals and fishes and relived the moment from movie "Zindagi na milegi dobara". The plus point is that one doesn't even need to know swimming for it. If you feel confident, I would suggest to take dive from the boat option rather than shore for better view.

We went next to the Havelock Island Jetty and took a 10 person sharing speed boat which gives a fixed 3 hour time at Elephant beach that is widely popular for aquatic adventures like sea walk, parasailing, banana ride, jet ski, snorkeling, glass boat etc.

If time permits, you can also enjoy for a while at Kalapathar beach which is popular for clear blue water and black boulders.

After a long exhausting beach day, a cold shower and a cup of hot tea, we later went to Havelock Island beach resort for dinner which had great ambience but extremely poor service. Alternatively based on reviews, I would recommend eating at Barefoot, Amaya and other cafes namely Full moon cafe,bonova cafe, cafe salt water and Anju Coco restaurant.

From the port of Neil Island

Day 5 - We boarded an one hour Makruzz jetty for Neil island (Shaheed Dweep).This exquisite island is famous for its serenity, unparalleled biodiversity, endless blue water, white sand beaches, abundant coral reefs and dense tropical forests.

Natural Bridge

We then went to the natural bridge (Laxmanpur beach no.2) which is a naturally built coral bridge built over thousands of years. We reached there at 4 pm- the ideal time in terms of sunlight and low tide to witness this natural wonder by a 45 min-1hour walking tour with the help of a guide. Opportunity to witness the clear water, endless corals, marine life like sea snake, eel, sea cucumber, oysters, urchins,etc. in natural water makes it the most popular tourist attraction of Neil Island. I personally loved being here and found it to be the most beautiful place of Andaman.

Laxmanpur Beach No.1

Then we went to Laxmanpur beach no.1 where we watched the sky change into all shades of blue, yellow and orange while bidding good bye to the sun. This is the only beach that has small local kiosks selling refreshments with table-chairs to sit at the beach and enjoy waves hitting the shore.

Restaurant Dugong

The day ended pretty well with dinner at Dugong- the restaurant at Hotel Sea Shell. Despite having only handful vegetarian options, the live music, great taste and a lovely ambience totally made it a great place to dine.

Day 6

Bharatpur Beach

-We spent 1 hour at Bharatpur beach where we made sand castles, did jet ski and bought local souvenirs.

After five hectic days, we chose to spend the remaining day at leisure by ordering in food for Shakahari restaurant, enjoying the hotel's swimming pool and sleeping in well.

When in Neil Island, people often visit Sitapur Beach famous for its turquoise blue waters and breathtakingly beautiful sunrise. Since it requires getting up at 3am, we decided to skip this one.

Wandoor Beach

Day 7 - We took the Makruzz jetty for Port Blair, grabbed lunch at Annapurna restaurant, checked-in and headed for the famous Wandoor beach by 3.45 pm as it is a 45 min drive from the city. This is a quiet and picturesque beach, however, you can’t enter the water because it is crocodile infested. We enjoyed sitting under the groves and taking plenty of photos. If you wish to stay longer, I recommend going to Sea princess beach view resort which is a five minute drive and offers great sea view as you sip and munch. 

Bay Island

We ended the day with a sumptuous dinner at Welcomhotel Bay Island. Based on reviews, you may also eat at Vibes and Dives, Kiran Restaurant, etc.

My first-hand advice-

• Carry your covid certificate as they are mandatory at arrival in Andaman

• Most of the monuments in Port Blair are closed on Monday

• The sun sets by 5:30 and it gets pitch dark instantly, so plan all your days accordingly

• Hotels don't have wifi, cellular network is very limited, make necessary bookings and downloads before-hand

• Check in and out timings significantly vary at each island

• Given the unpredictable weather, carry an umbrella, glares and cap

• While visiting beaches, carry an extra pair of clothes and packed food as there are nil/very few options at the beach

• Pre-book the jetties due to low frequency Makruzz/Nautika and arrive at the port at least 40 minutes prior to departure for a comfortable check-in

• Best time to travel is october to march

• Baby food for infant below 2 years can be availed complimentary

• There are neither app based taxis nor a 24 hr taxi at disposal, hence, it is important to preplan and pre-book the taxi for pick and drop either by agent/hotel. The ones we booked and recommend are-

Aakash at Havelock-

Shekhar at Neil Island- 95319 58125, 99332 48223

The rates are same for all taxis as it is decided by the driver association

• Only 2 litres mineral water bottle is available in the market, so it would be convenient to carry your 1 litre regular bottle to keep it handy

Andaman is definitely not an alternate to Goa as if you seek to sit by the beach at pretty shacks serving good delicacies and dance your night away, you can strike it off your bucket list.

Andaman is like Maldives of India. It is clean, picturesque and ideal to travel with family. If you are looking for natural beauty and serenity, fond of beaches and water activities, comfortable with a holiday wherein you start early, finish everything off by 5.30pm and relax at the hotel thereafter, you will return with post-card perfect pictures and happy memories.

Happy holidays,

Shruti 

Perfect Parenting…. Fact or Fiction?

Mishika and her parents

A baby is the most precious gift that we plan, make and give to ourselves. One package wrapped with bundle of emotions- inexplicable love, rollercoaster 9 months of wait, the fusion of excitement and anxiety of a lifetime change. From feeling completely ready to being absolutely clueless, from feeling that this is all you ever wanted to oh god, what have you done, a baby magically brings out the best and worst in you !! 

I believe that the journey from conceiving, delivery, post partum, breastfeeding, baby weaning, potty training, getting into school and so on can be a bit challenging for first-time parents. However, with the standard belief that everybody does it and you can do it too, very few of us actually talk about nuances of parenting.

A baby is like a piece of your heart right in front of you. When you every now and then, see your child in pain with teething, infections, cold cough, fever, adjustment to all first seasons and what not, despite knowing that that it is common in children, you are still very worried and constantly on your toes. 

Play time = Mess

There is a running to-do list all day every day and so many invisible tasks that take up mental space. You are suggested to sleep when baby is asleep but then that time gets used in necessities like bathing, eating and other basic chores. 

As quoted by Matt Walsh, parenting is the easiest thing in the world to have an opinion about, but the hardest thing in the world to do. Usually your parenting choices are questioned and your methods are judged. I for example mostly end up showing phone/TV to my daughter during her meal time because in true honesty I have tried all other ways before giving in. So dear mommies, instead of falling in a mom-guilt trap, you must evaulate whether that was the best you could have done and if yes, then stop expecting others to understand because only you know your circumstances. However as first timers, it is wise to listen to elders with experience but filter unsolicited advice that drags you down. Listen to your gut as somehow parents innately know and want the best for their children.

Avatars of Mishika

The kids will throw tantrums but just when you feel that they have pulled the last string of your patience, they will give you the sweetest kisses and cuddles that will melt your heart right away. My daughter Mishika purposely throws something on the floor, analyses my frowning look and comes running to me and says sorry as she hugs me and all I can say back is "I love you baby, please don't do it again"!

We can’t and we shouldn’t stop them for being kids. The best we can do is celebrate their milestones, express your love, soak in their warm hugs, enjoy their innocent talks, cute walks, non-stop blabbers, crazy dances, those kisses and cuddles. 

You may be happily surprised how life takes a turnaround as kids slowly creep into your heart and become the love of your life. As new parents all you will talk about is babies, enjoy shopping for them, beam with pride on your child's achievements and have a desire to fulfil their every want.

Birthing and raising a child is a demanding job that isn't much acknowledged. Every child is different yet so similar. Each and every parent (with no exceptions) has had struggles, be it of any kind, any time or any magnitude. It is an irony that all you see around are happy mommies and never the struggles they go through. So, don't fall into the trap of ideal parenting as on social media as it doesn’t show the true chaos behind the scenes. 

Deciding on the no. of kids, having a maid to help with the babies, whether to be a stay-at-home mom or when to resume work leaving the baby behind at home should be your personal choice and not manipulated by what the world expects you to. Get rid of guilt and fear of bad parenting, make and capture memories to be cherished forever. 

Sometimes you will wish infanthood to get over and sometimes you will beg it to stay. Each exhausting day and sleepless night may seem long, but years will pass by in the blink of an eye and then you will long for them to be little munchkins again. 

Bringing light to our lives!

Parenting is rewarding and hard. Not enjoying every moment of it doesn't make you a bad parent, it makes you human. The baby is new to the world and you are new to parenting, so adapt and adjust with time. Nurture your baby with unconditional love and keep yourself happy as you can't pour from an empty cup. As said by Sue Atkins, "There is no such thing as a perfect parent, so just be a real one!"

With love from a first-time parent,

Shruti Sethi

https://instagram.com/talesofmishika

2021 : A rollercoaster ride

2021 was a rollercoaster year that went by too quickly.. There were moments of extreme happiness that would make me shed tears of joy, instances of a mental breakdown, being appreciated and acknowledged beyond my imagination and yet sometimes feeling that I am not good enough.

This year was majorly about being a new mommy with other things just revolving around it. As my daughter just turned one, I hesitate to admit that as a new mother, I was very harsh on myself. With post delivery mood swings, mom-guilt, recurring body aches and non-stop judgement, motherhood didn't come easy at first. It was only later when I filtered the unsolicited advice and trusted myself as a mom that I began to be genuinely happy.

I have always loved taking photos and penning down the memories so that they can be cherished forever. So, this year was entirely about celebrating all the milestones of my darling daughter Mishika. Be it celebrating all her monthly birthdays, her first festivals, capturing her photographs of first tooth, annaprashan, dressing her up as a bouncer, judge, gandhi ji and what not, I did it all. Not only I enjoyed to preserve these moments for my little girl but I am moved by the tremendous outpour of love and blessings that people have bestowed upon her.

As much I love being the mom to my daughter, I sometimes felt the strong need to love myself because my mantra is that only a happy mom can raise a happy child. So 2021 was about pushing myself a bit harder to fulfill my priorities of taking uncompromised utmost care of my daughter, teaching french and studying law alongside household chores.

Though this year I wrote only two poems which were both dedicated to my daughter Mishika, I chanced upon the opportunity to be the content writer, i.e. the chief-editor of JITO Jaipur Ladies Wing magazine with publication of 500 copies. The journey from writing one piece at a time to writing for the full book was indeed satisfying.Even though I was struggling with my hands-full, I was quite excited with my new role as the treasurer of the prestigious JITO Jaipur Ladies Wing.

2021 was about gratitude for my french students who patiently waited for my available time and adjusted their schedules according to mine. It makes me feel wholesome and thankful for their trust in me as a teacher.

I will remember 2021 for the inexplicable first year of motherhood, for the love and appreciation that Mishika and I received, also for those who pushed us up and for those who tried to pull us down.

Well....this year I sure did injustice to many of my duties, but in 2022....I pledge to walk a new road, make a roar and correct what went wrong. I would strive to be more active, manage time efficiently, work towards a healthy body, give Mishu the best I can and love myself just a bit more.

Thank You, 2021 for everything that you have been!!

Hey 2022, Lets' live, love and laugh !!