Avial : I would attempt to define it as a bizarre combination of many items that are not supposed to go well with each other, but in the right medium, they some how manage to put up a surprisingly pleasant performance.

I do like avial –the vegetable side dish. Would prefer it more if not made in a coconut oil medium and has that right degree of tanginess ( is it the correct word to describe its taste??).

The culture of people at Andamans reminds me of avial. The island consists of Tamils, Keralites, Andhrites & Bengalis in good measure. Most of them can speak all 4 languages along with English and Hindi. The festivals of all these regions are celebrated. PB should be having the largest number of holidays with all year long partying.

Portblair ( PB) is a mountainous string of islands 1000 Km from both Chennai and Kolkatta in the middle of the ocean. It is for this reason that the wicked British saw the beautiful island as an ideal unescapable prison.  The prisoners also provided free labour in exploiting the teak wood forests.

In those days (2002-03 ), there was only a sole jet airways flight –once a day. Bearing this the only way to reach there was the weekly once passenger ship from Chennai and Kolkatta and monthly once from Vizag.

SCI – that has been mandated with the task of operating the passenger ship has gone out of the way to prove the inefficiency of the government. All the dreams that I had of a cruise ship vanished within 30 minutes of boarding the ship. Even in my first class ticket, I was privileged with a rationed break fast and an unpalatable lunch and dinner and the small TV screen showed only 2 movies a day at fixed times The only solace for all the passengers was the open deck as SCI could not destroy natures beauty – the sounds of the powerful waves & the gentle breeze under star lit skies.

Port Blair is an eye opener to many things we take for granted in mainland India. Never in main line news, I wonder whether any one remembers it is a part of India.

The entire string of islands is run on pure DG power . There are large diesel powered generating stations after every 3 to 4 streets. All machines in factories are also run only in this power. Diesel here is subsidised by the exorbitant fares we all pay.

Everything – from busses, lorries, cars, river sand, matches, salt are taken from India on ships. During Unfavourable weather conditions, there is a island wide shortage of some thing or other like matches, salt etc. In Summer, even drinking water is shifted in ship from Indian mainland.

Dairy farming is not done in PB. I saw big ad hoardings for Nestle milk powder (10 Kg / 25 Kg bags) at many places- something not seen in India. Just like bus stops, you have jetties in PB and in various islands adjoining PB. Boat & Ferry are the main means of travel. Even busses with passengers are taken on ferries.

There are no cinemas and trains in this island. Even to this day you can see the original settlers roaming about PB with not a piece of dress on them. ( No expenses on dresses-great!! ). There are 2 local English dailies for the small island, Even if I sneeze, it is news- &   printed the next day,

Main beach  is too small and is a joke to call it a beach. The foreigners prefer other islands for sunbathing. The cellular jail is worth a visit. The more than abundant August rains, ocean, greenery are refreshing.

I enjoyed snorkelling wherein the entire marine world on sea bed came alive with vivid colours. Even the star fishes were colourful  Not sure why God has kept some of his most beautiful  creations below water. If it is on purpose to preserve the beauty, I wonder why I was also not created as an underwater creation.  Probably  God also forgets at times. E&OE.