NH4 road drive one road, which connects entire Andaman. It is 340 km from south to north. Chiriyatapu is southern most of Port Blair that’s where NH4 Starts and end at bottom saddle peak, which is Lamiya bay. Out of 340 kms we have covered 311 km. The remaining 29 kms is from port Blair to Chiriyatapu. Every one knows about other national highways except NH4.
DAY
2: 26/04/2017
Got up and went for run. Nice beach for run. Later had
breakfast with Alex family, they are really welcoming.
Then we went to Rose and Smith Island with Alex family. It
was 15 min boat ride and then we went into seawater and enjoyed. Played volleyball.
And walked on the sand bar which connects Rose and Smith Island. We were on
Rose Island a big one and smith is a protected area so we need to take another
permit to go there.
We didn't have a chance to go there, as we were tired from
playing in sea water. Water was so warm and good to sit on seabed and have a chat.
When we took permit to Rose Island police will check for
alcohol as it is banned on islands to protect the place.
Followed by we had nice lunch and he'd back to room.
We spoke to Selva hotel manager about tomorrow's saddle peak
trek, he said he is going to give us packed lunch and water and guide to go up
tomorrow.
We had some coffee and headed into town to pick up some
supplies for tomorrow's trek.
While we were in town we popped into local market, it is
very good and much more neat and organized than ours. we came back and had dinner and got out packed by breakfast
and eggs. Went to bed.
Saddle peak trek. Started at 6 am, reached the starting
point obtained permits and started walking @ 6:20 am.
Trees here are so big, a type tree called moovati in local
language grows only next to sea.
After 10 min walk we crossed ranger office house on left.
Route is well marked with arrows.
You will see sun and hear the sound of waves. So amazing
to hear, which you don't get to see everyday.
Later we crossed a stream and came to sitting and viewpoint.
We could have taken a route next to shore as tides were big we couldn't do it.
But we have shore in our sight. We come across beautiful things like a tree,
which opened its stem like wings as it has taken a lot of pressure from stream
water. But still survived, nature at its best. Saw some creatures which are
local to island. A hermit crab (see pictures).
Red arrow marks are painted on trees to point the route. Forest is so thick and dense that small lower and small
trees and plants get less sunlight. So they creep on to bigger trees and climb
higher by jumping and creeping on to near by trees and reach high to get
sunlight.
We heard a loud and disturbing noise from trees and realized
it was a small insect size of butterfly and it makes use of tree barks to echo
there small noise. I couldn't take picture because they are fast and ran away. I tried to record the noise. So much background noise of waves dominating
it.
We saw an Eagle, so big in wingspan. There are two native
eagles, one lives in jungle with small wingspan feeds on chicken and mice and
other stuff. Another lives on sea with much bigger wingspan, it feeds on big
fish and other birds.
Later we stopped to collect water from stream. Water is so
fresh and sweet, and cold. It runs all year. That was three km mark. We got 5 km to go.
Tired pooji ha. (Look picture).
(Playing with natural swing)
We are off from coast and picking up gradient. Sweety was loosing her motivation I had kept my promise to
not loose her hand in tough times. We finally managed to reach summit.
We finally reached and Sweety got some sweet smile on
face. Then we sat on porch and had sandwich and drink. Enjoyed the views and
started our way down.
Sweety says she loved it and would love to do it
again.
We reached summit at 9:45 am, we started at 6:30 am. So it
took us 3 hours 15 min.
Started back at 10:30. Reached down by 13:20. So it took
us 2 hours 50 min. We would have been a bit early; as it was Poojis first walk
we took it slow and steady. She got a blister as she wore wrong foot ware.
(Natural waves)
Reached pristine, stretched our muscles took hot shower,
hot food and rest. Later we came out for coffee then we slept.
People are so nice here nothing
compared to anywhere in mainland India or anywhere in the world. They are not
bothered about money they don't ask you money. They wrote it down and ask you
at the end. I was worried and asking them to pay the bill. But they were so
laid back and keep on telling me it's fine we can sort it later.
They say comfort first and enjoy
and money comes later.
Elsewhere when people talk to
you nice that means they need something back from you mostly money like for
tips and stuff. Where as here people talk to you so nice warm and welcoming but
they never expect anything from you. Don't even see a single thing ok their
face to ask for money, the only thing you see is smile and warm welcome.
I hope everyone behave like this
and hope we can learn from them. Food is so delicious everything
was made to order and fresh from their organic farm. We had a tour of kitchen
it was neat and tidy. They showed us the fresh fish "Spanish
mackerel".
My Journey continues in Part 3.
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