Port Blair.

After four days we finally made it to Port Blair arriving at about 00:30 local time. 02:00 boat time. There is a 90 minute time change between Phuket and Port Blair so we kept boat time as Phuket until we landed. One last marine sighting happened before sunset on our last day. It was a pod of whales. WHALES. When we first sighted them they were quite a distance from the boat and I thought that we would only see their expulsion of air as they came to the surface. We counted at least five maybe six. As we continued along the pod split and two went lateral to the boat while the remaining members continued along their course. Take a look at what happened.

 

Longer videos exist but I haven’t had a chance to process them. I’ll post when I do. It was amazing. The video does not do the experience justice. The whales were so close to the port side of the boat they almost hit it. Turns out they were corralling squid. How do we know that? Well a few of the squid ended up on the net of the boat and both Larissa and Alex were hit with squid ink. I think the whales were pissed at us for getting in their way of having calamari for dinner.

Coming into Port Blair left the imagination racing as it was dark and we could only see outlines.The imagination version is better than the reality. So far.

A lesson in patience occurred the next morning as we had to officially check in. Even though visas were pre approved for all on board and we had hired agents to liaise with the several departments we still had to entertain multiple officials that exist in Port Blair. The harbour master directed us to anchor in a certain location which, was directly across from the naval station here in Port Blair. So the first visit was from a  Naval PT Boat. They came alongside only to inquire what we were doing and where we were from. No problem. Getting the answers they wanted they drifted off. We then were told by the harbour command that Shawn had to bring in the paper work. Not five minutes after that the coast guard hailed us on the radio and said they were coming for an inspection and for all of us to remain on the boat. A message we relayed to the harbour master. The three Coast Guard officers that boarded had the women on board a bit excited. All very handsome young men. After they departed Shawn called the harbour master to say he was coming in and took off in the dinghy. Halfway in he was met by a boat carrying the customs and immigration people accompanied by our agents. The customs and immigration people came out to us because it was getting close to their lunch and they wanted to get something done with us before lunch. So they left telling us to report to their check in office after three as they would be back from lunch by then. After they left another Coast Guard vessel had been circling so we were boarded again by three more CG agents. These guys were serious because they wore camo. After they departed Shawn had to transport what was left of the Customs guys and our agent back to shore. To get officially checked in we leave the boat at three. Meeting one of our agents at the dock. Turns out we have a few and a driver. The dinghy is left with a dock attendant. Sort of like a parking attendant in Detroit before a Lions game. We were told the price would be $200 Rupees but that doubled when we returned to the dinghy after dinner. That’s another story. Immigration knew we were coming but we were delayed for at least 45 minutes outside of the complex because it was too busy to be let in. Once in we had to individually attend the counter and present passports and have fingerprints taken. The fingerprint machines didn’t work that well and it took quite awhile. I got up there and was all ready to present my fingerprints but was told it was unnecessary as I was 70 years old….An Indian Immigration seniors discount. 

Dinner after all that and then back to the boat for the night. Port Blair is not a place where beer purchase is abundant. The restaurant only had a blueberry cooler and a Cab Sauv from a winery in India. Served chilled. Oh well different countries different customs. 

All the best. Thanks for reading and safe travels. 

Love