The waterhouse – highlights of Andaman Part I

Near the beautiful city of port-blair, in the serene backwaters of the Indian Ocean, there lies a huge rock – a mini island in itself. Now you would ask me what is so special about it? Well, nothing really, except that, it has a nice, cozy, humble house built on it, with really nothing – or in a completely different context everything you need for a solitary, relaxing vacation.

It was our last day in Andaman, and our hostess – Dinaz – had agreed to unveil two special assets of her to us – the organic spice farm on her private island and the water-house, on the way to island – or I should say – on the water-way to her farm. “We got to start from here at around 11/11.30. I have checked the tide-chart. If we start by 11.30, we would get nice 2-3 hours to see the water-house and the farm.” If you want to go to some special, offbeat places in Andaman, and you are going to travel in the small fishing boats, you always have to check the tide-charts you know.

We had to take a small trail to reach the point from where one of Dinaz’s farm-workers was to pick us up and take us to the Island in his dungi. It was also the point from where we could get the first glimpse of the water-house – something we could never forget. Here we were, on one bank of the back-water, on port blair, we could see the Noble Island on the other bank, and then there it was, the cutest, cosiest house on a rock awaiting us, right in the middle of the backwater.

First glimpse of the water house from Port Blair

She wanted to come with us to Noble Island

“The water here is bottle green. There is a typical marine specie which glows, when disturbed and you can see the sea sparkled up if you come here on a new moon night. It is extremely pretty”. “I wish it was a new moon’s night!! But on a new moon’s night, we would not be able to enjoy the view”, I consoled myself.

The moment we reached the house, I ran into the room inside to the window and well!!! The view rendered us practically speechless – for next 2 hours. From the window, we could see the dark green backwater smoothly confluence into the blue, emerald green waters of Indian ocean, the colours changing so beautifully.

Can you see the crab? It had camouflaged itself so well, that it was difficult to capture

The small porch where the steps of the water house lead to,offer the mesmerizing view of small hills on each bank hiding behind them the blue, clear sky, and the beautiful curves of the backwaters running through them, disappearing in the wild, dense green mangroves – the little plants telling us that you can find life anywhere, only if you have the spirit to look up, you just need to rise a little up and you can breathe.

Water everywhere

Another view from window

It was all quiet, peaceful. We could hear occasional sounds of little fish swim to the steps of the water house, sight some of them jump out of the water to reach there destination.

Perfect place for meditation

View of the noble island on the other end. There was a small walkway to the island where you can see the ropes. It got washed away in 2004 Tsunami

At last, our hostess reminded us that it was time to leave the little house and get back. With a super peaceful soul and fully energized mind, we bid good by to the water-house and started for the “Noble Island”. More on that in the next blog!!