After three and a half months backpacking across India, Carrie and I finally treated ourselves to a slice of paradise on Havelock: one of the Andaman Islands.

 

Havelock Island from the air
My first view of the Andaman Islands in India

Why Choose Havelock Island?

We selected Havelock, since it was known to be a traveler’s haven that had a little more infrastructure than some of the other Andaman Islands.

 

These were the boats that we rode to go scuba diving in the Andaman Islands
These were the boats that we rode to go scuba diving in the Andaman Islands

 

Yet another development...coming soon to ruin the pristine land
Yet another development…coming soon to ruin the pristine land

Some Background on Havelock Island

From the good folks of Wikipedia:

“Havelock Island is the largest of the islands with an area of 113.93 km2 which comprise Ritchie’s Archipelago, a chain of islands to the east of Great Andaman in the Andaman Islands. Havelock is situated 57 km North East of Capital City Port Blair. The population numbered 5,354 as of the census of 2001.”

 

The road in Havelock could be dangerous at times
The road in Havelock could be dangerous at times

What did we do in the Andaman Islands?

While on Havelock, we took time out from relaxing to go scuba diving, enjoy a bike ride, eat lots of amazing food, barely celebrate St Patrick’s Day and relax some more.

 

I'm always amazed at how people use trucks in India
I’m always amazed at how people use trucks in India

 

An ant outside our guesthouse room on Havelock Island, India
An ant outside our guesthouse room on Havelock Island, India

 

Even the water buffalo like to relax on the Andaman Islands
Even the water buffalo like to relax on the Andaman Islands

Stop Sucking My Blood!

Perhaps my biggest complaint about Havelock was the massive amount of mosquitoes that came out ever day at sunset.

Without fail, right as the day came to a close, Carrie and I would have no choice but to retreat to our mosquito-net covered bed and watch a movie to avoid a body full of bites. Even the copious amounts of lizards that inhabit the island couldn’t control their population.

 

This iguana was kind enough to eat the mosquitos on our guesthouse front porch
This iguana was kind enough to eat the mosquitos on our guesthouse front porch

What follows is an excerpt from my original Havelock Island, India, blog entry:

In between all these activities, we did find some time to kick back and relax. A lot of time was spent eating or planning when to eat next, as meals tend to take at least an hour to prepare. We made some good new friends with other people at our guest house, took local buses or walked everywhere, enjoyed a sunset at Beach 7 (original name, I know), attended the most low-key St. Patrick’s Day party of all time and, most importantly, recharged the batteries for the next leg of our trip.

 

Sunset over "Beach 7" on Havelock Island, Andaman, India
Sunset over “Beach 7” on Havelock Island, Andaman, India

The Boat Ride to Havelock Island

Even getting to Havelock was a fun experience, as we had to take several types of transportation. First, there was a plane from Chennai to Port Blair, then a long ferry ride to the island. During the trip, Carrie was learning how to play her new drum with her new tutors: the ship’s crew. Below are a few of my favorite pics from that boat ride.

 

Oil drums on our ferry from Port Blair to Havelock IslandOil drums on our ferry from Port Blair to Havelock Island
Oil drums on our ferry from Port Blair to Havelock IslandOil drums on our ferry from Port Blair to Havelock Island

 

 

Our ship to Havelock Island was very large
Our ship to Havelock Island was very large

 

The boat to the Andaman Islands was quite dirty
The boat to the Andaman Islands was quite dirty

Get Me a BCD!

For your parting shot, here is a scuba boat that we took to check out the amazing coral and fish of the Andaman Islands from below sea level. Someone get me a regulator and BCD, I’m ready to dive!

 

One of the boats we used to go scuba diving on Havelock Island
One of the boats we used to go scuba diving on Havelock Island

And for your real parting shot…your moment of zen.