DAY 5:
KALPENI ISLAND
DAY 3:
OF LAKSHADWEEP CRUISE – KALPENI ISLAND
After
sailing overnight, we reached near Kalpeni Islands.
Just
like the previous day, after breakfast we disembarked on small boats and headed
to Kalpeni Island in small boats in batches. As we landed on the island we were
taken to the resort in SPORTS arranged vans and mini trucks. As such the
landscape & scenery of Kalpeni was quite different from Minicoy. We could
see a couple of small islands on our way to resort. We were again welcomed here
with coconut water. It had started raining and therefore we were asked to wait
at the resort. A little away from the resort, in the sea we could see two
islands.
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| Sunrise |
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| The Two Islands |
Once the rain subsided, we were taken to one of these two islands for kayaking and snorkeling. Just like Minicoy this island also had clear water. There was not much of a beach here and whatever there was, was filled with dead corrals. The water bed was also filled with sea cucumber.
We
all tried our hands at snorkeling. A long tube is used for breathing, the
open end of which is always above the water surface while the other end,
equipped with a rubber mouth needed to be bitten tightly between your lips. One
had to breathe in and out through mouth like scuba diving. The purpose was
similar; it allowed one to see the underwater world. But because you didn’t
carry oxygen cylinder, you could go only about 4-5 feet below the surface,
otherwise the open end of the tube would go below water and saline sea water would
go in your respiratory passages. The advantage is that you can do it alone but
in shallow water. We saw the corals, sea cucumbers and loads of colored fish.
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| Snorkelling |
Since
there were lot of tourists keen to try their hand at snorkeling and limited
equipment. Hence we snorkeled for sometime and then gave the apparatus to the
waiting tourists. Post this, I had the most fascinating time in water. I was
just lying flat in water with the entire body under the water with only my
nostril above the water surface. The life jacket kept me floating without me
moving an inch of my leg. It was super cool ;)
We
again went for kayaking, because we had some experience of it in Minicoy this
time it was fun.
Once
everyone was through with snorkeling and kayaking we were taken back to the
resort in small boats. Back in the shaded huts, we had our lunch in open air
and sat to relax.
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| Kayaking & North Point |
A
folk dance was organized by “SPORTS” authorities. About ten to twelve men right
from their teen to 70’s wearing colour coordinated dhotis and tshirts danced in
circles to the tune of local folk music. There were no songs being played on CD
or something. They played their own instruments and sang their own song. There dance was similar to the dandiya /
garba dance.
Post
the folk dance we visited a coconut factory which produced dry coconut powder,
coconut oil and laddus made from coconut. This was followed by a visit to the
cotton hosiery factory. The factory produced nice cotton tees with coconut
trees on it and Lakshadweep printed on it. The cost of the tshirts was also
very economical but soon we realized that none of us was any money and
therefore we couldn’t buy any t-shirt.
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| Folk Dance |
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| Sea opposite the coconut factory |
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| Nikhil, Me, Preeti, Taashi, Parth, Pramod |
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| North Point of Kalpeni |
After watching the beautiful point of the island we headed back to the resort to have our evening tea. Post the evening tea we bid good bye to Kalpeni Island and headed to our ship which was waiting for us in the open sea. It had become dark and we boarded the last boat to our ship. Though dark, our ship was well lit and easily visible at sea. It had started drizzling and thus the sea wind has become chilly.
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| M.V. Kavaretti in the middle of the sea |
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| Getting on the boat to go to M.V.Kavaretti |
We
enjoyed the island a lot – it was a good mix of water sports and beautiful
views. After the dinner we again watched a Charlie chaplin movie and then dozed
off.
Points
to remember:
- We went to Lakshadweep Island through Lakshadweep Samundram Package which is a five day cruise to visit the islands of Minicoy, Kalpeni and Kavaretti by ship M.V. Kavaretti. The package is arranged by The Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports (SPORTS), a Government undertaking. The island tour is organized during the day with lunch and refreshments ashore. Nights are spent on board the ship. M.V Kavaratti has 150 Diamond class accommodations. Swimming, snorkeling and other water sports are arranged during the day tour. Children from 1 year and above up to 10 years will be treated as child.
Package include:
- First class cabin accommodation
- All 3 time meals [breakfast Lunch and Dinner] morning and evening tea or coffee
- Welcome drink at the island.
- All 3 island sightseeing.
- Water sports Kayaking Snorkeling and glass boat 1 time
- Entry permit and Entry Ticket
- Compliment T Shirts and Caps
- All the Government taxes.
- Our personal assistance on the ship and Island
Please note scuba diving is not
included in the package. You can avail scuba diving by paying at the scuba
diving center.
- There is no mobile network on the ship and on the islands except of BSNL. So, say goodbye to facebook, watsapp, twitter or whatever else that you are hooked to. You might find network on Kavaretti Island.
- If you get sea sick, kindly take your medication along.
- Foreigners are not allowed in Lakshadweep, except on Bangaram Island.
- Lakshadweep is a no plastic zone. Please don’t litter.
- You are not allowed to carry corrals. It’s a punishable act.
- Expense Details of the day:
Expense
Particulars
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Amount for 4
people
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Amount per head
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--
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--
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--
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TOTAL
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