Page 16 - TSB ebook

The Island and the Resort

Agatti island is hardly 5 kms long and 800 meters at its widest part. The Resort is located next

to the airstrip. One has to walk down the 100 paces to the resort. The rooms were right on the
lagoon. The distance between the door and water was 20 paces as counted by us, never stayed

so close to sea. Being the lagoon, the effect of tides was negligible, the water as blue and clear

as one can imagine, and absolutely calm like a lake and shallow. The non-swimmers like me can

have a great time in such water. The lagoon side was so attractive that even the newly wed

used to spend most of their time under a thatch on beach chairs, contrary to our expectation
that they will spend most of the time indoors. The kids used to have a gala time in water with

the resort staff making them play around.

The resort offers a range of water sport and scuba diving, on payment. The corals could be viewed

either through scuba or snorkeling. Kayaking was complimentary. Paid motorboat trips to
neighboring islands are arranged by the resort. Bangaram resort can be seen enroute and other

islands are not inhabited, but worth a visit for the grand view of corals and crystal-clear water.

While riding between the islands, the seabed was clearly visible. The food was exotic and an
unbelievable range in buffet spread, considering that the supplies came twice a week from Kochi

through sea. After every meal, the Chef would be called by the ladies and the recipes were gladly

shared by the Chef. The staff was extremely courteous and helpful. Wife still recalls the luxury of

being served morning tea on the beach recliners.

There were no newspapers, no cellphone connections and no TV in the rooms. After sunset, it

would be only the sound of waves at a distance and the open sky for company. Looking back, I

feel that such places induce talks with your companion. I and Wife used to talk well past midnight

on the beach recliners. Son in fact wondered that how come we had so much to talk about, even

after we talk daily.

We also went around the village of Agatti with a population of 5000. There were 3 schools, one

of them a high school. The small shops had everything that one would require in that middle of

nowhere place. There were fair price shops and even shops selling dresses. One wondered that

in the age of Malls and Hyper markets, the life continued to be simple and contended over there.