A Journey Better than Daydreams- Frengina’s Andaman Trip with Thrillophilia
2024 has been a wonderful year because this year me and my partner fulfilled one of our year-long vacation dreams-
The Andamans!
On the flight, I bugged my partner continuously about what water sports we could undertake…irritated, he had put on his headphones. I resorted to my own imagination and daydreams.
With an ardent desire to materialise all her thoughts, I closed my eyes.
Thoughts Vs Reality
I had always wanted to go scuba diving, imagining that I would get to see mermaids and sea dragons. Yes, it might seem childish to the readers, but what is the harm in fantasising the fairytales when travelling to one of the most exotic destinations in India, if not the world?
But when I reached Havelock via ferry, I was already mindblown. The journey had been amazing- as the ferry engine roared, the ferry began to glide ahead. There were several passengers around us, some ready with the camera and some were biting on apples. We fell back on the railing and chose peace.
Gazing into the infinite blue waters, whose horizon blurred into the blue of the sky, we felt serene. The cold October wind blew at our faces, entangling our hearts like the roots of the mangroves standing at the banks of the island. I was overwhelmed.
This was better than any daydream I had.
After reaching the destination, I could not wait to just hop off the ferry and dive into the river….but that would be highly inappropriate and dangerous. Instead, I shared this thought with my partner, who, to my surprise, started laughing.
Yeah, it was funny in some way…now that I think about it.
It took us another car ride to get to the spot where we would scuba dive. And even one hour of training and instructions after, we finally jumped in.
From the time I went inside the water, I felt so light…as if I had entered another world. Here, the world was all about fishes and corals, but it was so much more beautiful and vibrant than our own world, and so much more precious!
Time flew like grains of sand in a thunderstorm, but for us, it was like a lifetime. Me and my partner posed next to each other and that is perhaps our best picture till date.
Oh, the reality was so much better than my imagination!
The sounds of sorrow
The waves crashed against the rock that we were sitting upon.
-Port Blair, Cellular Jail.
My eyes were still teary, and my partner sat in silence staring into the void. The crashes of the sea waves seemed to echo the screams of the past.
-Independence War of India Against The British Rule.
It was an almost unbelievable, unfathomable narrative. The guide told us about the cells and how the freedom fighters were treated.
God forbid it ever befell anyone else on the planet.
That very evening, we went to see the light and sound show which distressed us all the more. But, we also understood that it was history, and its role is to teach us lessons. We would surely admit that the entire experience was worth it.
It still raises goosebumps in my arms.
Anyway, to neutralise the mood, we decided to go to a bar.
The Charm and Spectacle
Our experience of Neil Island was something that I can make 100 postcards about.
During the evening time when we were taking a casual stroll on the beach where we encountered a charming stretch scattered with conchshells. Some of them were even alive, we could sense it while picking them up. It was as if I had found a new purpose in life, I started checking each one and sending them back to the ocean.
I had read somewhere that conch shells help sustain the biodiversity of the marine world, so I thought it would be helpful. The stories we heard about the Jarawas and other tribal communities in Andaman were straddling. Even our guide told us about villages situated deep inside the forest areas where people still never saw the light of civilization.
It was as interesting as scary. Although I did not wish to interact with them, I surely would love to see them. And with the scuba diving activity, I got very concerned with the condition of our mother earth. The instructor told us about the decreasing ratio of the corals and the rare species as the pH level of the ocean water was fluctuating, and also about the disposal of plastic affecting the ecosystem.
I wanted to contribute my part in helping reverse the harm done. Change begins from home, and it is the responsibility of each of us to spread the word and move towards a healthier lifestyle.
For the spectacle part, the Corbyn Cove beach was a hit!
We spent a lot of time there talking with each other. But the Kayaking experience on Neil Island was something spectacular! Neither of us had done this activity before and to float around the shores through the sea mounts was something magical!
The palm trees swayed and the sun shone bright. The wind was strong and we were having so much fun! Although careful to steer clear of the speed boats, this new experience rejuvenated us to the brim!
It might seem funny, but we also took the speed boat ride. It was so exhilarating, my god. I could never imagine that riding a speed boat would be so relaxing and refreshing, even the Bollywood movies made the activity seem like a dangerous task…but in reality, it was not that hard!
Thrillophilia had arranged for a beautiful itinerary and we never had any issues regarding any arrangements. So, with a 5-star rating, I conclude this review in the hope of another trip with you guys!
Read More: Thrillophilia Andaman Reviews