Andaman Visit

I have returned from four days trip to Andman and Nicobar Island. Though I am not a keen traveler yet this trip was overdue. I do not remember when I and my wife last went on a holiday trip. This trip too would not have been possible but for one of my colleagues having agreed to accompany us with his family. We had an early morning Go Air flight from Delhi to Kolkatta that was to take us to Port Blair after a brief stopover at Kolkatta. 

We were at the Airport in time. The flight was on its schedule. I have flown many a times before but every time I fly, I feel as if I were flying for the first time. Travel by air is not my first choice. I always prefer train over aeroplane. The romance of journey by train has no comparison with that of by an aeroplane. One may accuse me of being biased being a railwayman but this is the truth. Journey by air, according to me, has only two advantages over journey by train - one is time and other is the breathtaking view of the sky that one can have while travelling by air. However, there are a few travelers who avail the second advantage. I had a window seat. As the plane gained height, the world below got disappeared. Early morning sky was spread all over, with its so many colors. The rising sun was adding many hues to its beauty. Bunches of clouds in different colors were hanging against the clear blue background. One pure white cloud came near my window over the plane’s wing, as if challenging me to catch it. It amused at my helplessness and passed by. As I looked down, a large number of cotton balls were spread below. The Sun had risen from the east and was distributing its bounty generously. I took pity on the person sitting behind my seat who was snoring loudly as he missed this beautiful view. Cabin crew were selling snacks, oblivious of the natural beauty spread outside. For them, it was a routine. We landed at Kolkatta Airport. 

The Pilot, Capt. Avinash Dogra, was an experienced one, as the take-off and landing both were silky smooth without any thud. The co-pilot was a woman. I thought of the male chauvinists who look down upon women as an object. To-day, women are excelling in all the fields and are no less than men. This very thought amused me. 

After a brief stay and with some new persons on board, the plane again took off towards Port Blair. As it went up in the air, I thought of the vast sea of Bay of Bengal over which we were to fly for the next two hours. The very thought of no earth down below sent chill down my spine. The weather was rough on the way and plane was shaking. But soon it settled. 

As we approached Port Blair, the plane descended. Down below was spread vast sea and lot of greenery that was now visible from the window. Soon it landed at Vir Sawarkar Air Port of Port Blair. The outside temperature was 28 degree Celsius as against 14 degree Celsius at Delhi. The car was waiting outside that took us to our Hotel. The rest of the day was to be hectic as local sightseeing was planned.