A Coral Paradise
As everyone luxuriated in the clear water, Abu, the swimming instructor from Lakshadweep Tourism announced that snorkelling was the first item on the days agenda. Armed with a pair of goggles that magnified vision and a J-shaped breathing tube, we submerged our heads in the water. And the magic commenced.
We had entered a mesmerising underwater world. Blue, white and golden fish glided past our noses. A sea anemone stood poised on the sea bed in all its glorious red, white and blue. A snow white coral enticed a variety of exotic fish to it. There were pinkish white, blueish white and greenish white corals too! It was like entering a giant aquarium.
Back on land we were treated to our first island meal of some delicious fish curry, tasty vegetables, salad, rice, and curds followed by fruit salad. After a quick siesta under the palm trees, a group of islanders performed a Kalpeni dance to the beat of indigenous percussion instruments and sticks. The lead singer acknowledged the connection with the mainland with a Rafi number in his nasal Kalpeni tone!
The evening began with a visit to the islands only hosiery factory where the islanders proudly exhibited their well-maintained machines and products. Impressed by the low cost and high quality of the cotton T-shirts, some of us in our greed purchased enough to last a lifetime.
We spent the night on the boat that had transported us to this fairyland, the Tipu Sultan. The boat sailed through the night so that we woke up at our next destination, Kavaratti island, the next morning. Kavarattis USP was the glass-bottomed boats. The glass helped magnify the sights below the wonderful corals and the variety of marine life on the seabed. It was like being 100 feet underwater. Cameras of all shapes and sizes jostled for space on the glass surface, trying to capture this rare glimpse of marine life.
In the afternoon, we walked the streets of Kavaratti, making friends with the islanders. These devout Muslims are of Malayali stock. They are devout almost to a fault the moment the local muezzins voice crackles over the ubiquitous loudspeakers, they drop their conversation to bend down in prayer!
History has it that an Arab priest, St Ubaidullah, came to the islands in the seventh century to propagate the faith. He is believed to have lived and died on these islands. His tomb on Androth island is a focal point of worship.
The women on the islands adorn themselves with an abundance of gold, especially in their ears. They wear a combination of intricately embroidered blouses with colourful lungis, and use a piece of plain cloth to partly cover their hair. The men, like their Malayali counterparts, wear white shirts with white lungis.
The last on our itinerary was Minicoy, the second largest and the southern most of the islands that constitute Lakshadweep. The cultural distinctions between the northerners and southerners is fairly visible. The Minicoy men have traditionally been seafarers. And their close proximity to Male has ensured that the people here speak Mahi.
The waters around Minicoy defied description they seemed to glow with every conceivable shade of blue. There was sky blue, navy blue, midnight blue, ultramarine, aquamarine, electric blue, steel blue and plain azure. We looked down the many-blue hued expanse from atop a lighthouse that dated back to 1885 the perfect spot for the landscape artist or photographer.
We were invited to see what was described as a typical Minicoy house. It was spotlessly clean. In Gujarati style, a swing adorned the drawing room. The colourful bed covers were handmade. A large dish antennae atop a shop on the street outside jolted us back to present-day reality. It sure has made for a smaller world.
The same evening our steamer, the good Tipu Sultan, puffed its way back towards Kochi leaving the islands behind. A lot of us sighed at a wonder witnessed but now lost, while others articulated our resolve to come back.
This five-day Coral Reef package, which includes boarding and lodging, cost us Rs 6,000 per head. This entitled us to an airconditioned two-seater cabin and very wholesome food on board. The tourist class cost Rs 4,200. The only problem there is that one has to spend the night in airline-type chairs. Lakshadweep Tourism has also started a Silver Sands cruise, which enables tourists to stay three nights on the Kadmat island in comfortable cottages.
The waters around the island of Minicoy glowed in every conceivable shade of blue.