When it comes to this picturesque destination, the Andaman and Nicobar travel guide is a must-read. Be compelled to pack your bags and go on a holiday.

 Andaman Travel

Why Andaman and Nicobar Islands Famous?

Discovering Andaman's pristine, nearly deserted beaches is the most thrilling aspect of visiting the island. Paradise is synonymous with sparkling crystal clear blue waters, a tranquil setting, and iconic sandy beaches. Well-maintained cottages and huts are available to make your stay memorable and fun. In addition to sightseeing, visitors on the Andaman may participate in a number of activities.

Apart from swimming, water sports such as kayaking, fishing, scuba diving, underwater shooting, and spotting saltwater crocodiles captivate you. There are also items that are reserved for offshore sports, such as walking along the beach while the waves caress your feet, sunbathing, and woodland trekking.

5 Best Places To Visit in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Among several stunningly beautiful beaches, we have handpicked a list of a few that should be on your itinerary during your next travel to the Andaman.  

1) Corbyn’s Cove

The crescent-shaped Corbyn's beach is famous for its coconut plantation. The mostly untapped beaches are perfect for a lazy afternoon siesta in a beach shack or sunbathing after indulging in water sports in the morning. Evenings can be spent luxuriously taking a stroll on the sandy shores or enjoying a boat ride. The calm, soothing environment makes you fall in love with yourself. 

How to reach?

It is just seven km away from the mainland. You can take a private vehicle, auto or even rent a car to reach there.  

A trip to Cellular Jail 

While visiting the island, a traveller can also visit Cellular jail. Standing as a mute spectator to the atrocities faced by Indians during the independence struggle, its testimony is sculpted in pages of history. The display of light and sound show fills the heart with passion and patriotism.  

How to reach?

You can reach the jail museum via Corbyn's Cove road. The distance is 5.8km and hardly takes 15 minutes by road.  

 2) Wandoor Beach 

The scenic beauty of the wandoor beach attracts tourists in droves. The picturesque beaches, pristine blue waters, and calm environment create an ideal location to spend quality time with your loved ones. The beach is popular among tourists for photography, riding in glass bottom boats and scuba diving.

How to reach?
It is 25 km from the airport by road. Apart from private taxis, you can take a bus to reach the popular destination.

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

One of the most sought place in the Andaman to visit among tourists is the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park. A park is a group of 17 Islands known for nesting sea turtles, breathtaking visuals of corals and marine life.  

Things to do at the park

The tourists can enjoy a range of activities at the park including;
Nesting for turtles and the race of hatchlings towards the water is a spectacular visual to witness. 
Indulge in an underwater sporting activity like snorkelling and watching the aquatic animals in their natural environment is a treat to explore. 
Scuba diving to discover the underwater majestic marine world is another high activity for tourists. Watching exquisite coral reefs is a visual delight and a big crowd puller. 
Enjoying boat rides and bird watching of both migrant and local species on nearby Jolly Buoy island is another fantastic opportunity to explore the Andaman Islands. 

3) Havelock Island 

The majestic Havelock island in the Andaman enchants the tourists with its beauty and is a treasure trove of small islands. 

a)  Radhanagar Beach 
It is adjudged as the seventh-best beach in the world and the best beach in India according to Time magazine. 

Famous For Sunset 
Tourist, often fall short of adjectives to define the beauty of the Radhanagar beach. Nature has garlanded it with golden soft sandy beaches, pristine clear blue water, scenic natural beauty and the most romantic sunset one can imagine. The sunset and sunrise at the Radhanagar beach become astonishingly more romantic with clean blue water caressing the shores. 

It is a perfect dream destination for honeymooners and for people with photography skills to wander around in the quiet atmosphere for that perfect shot. 

How to reach? 
The beach is around 10 km away from the Havelock dock. One can reach the beach via road transportation. There are buses, taxis available for the road trip to the beach. 

b) Elephant Beach 
The visit to Elephant beach is an enchanting experience for tourists. With proximity to mangrove forests, sparkling blue water and serene sandy shores, the beach is dotted with spectacular natural beauty. One can witness beautiful bright coral reefs at shallow depths in the surrounding waters around the beach.

Things to do 

~The beach offers a fun-filled adventure extravaganza for tourists. The tourists can enjoy swimming, scuba diving, underwater photography, fishing, snorkelling, kayaking.
~Trekking in nearby forests or meditating at the quiet beach is also famous among the tourists.
~The spotless beautiful paradise is also known for its colourful and exotic flora and fauna. 

How to reach?   
You can either take a boat from the main Havelock dock. The boat ride takes 20 minutes to reach Elephant beach. You can also take a but or hire a private vehicle to reach the beach. 

4) Neil Island 

The tourists are smitten by the turquoise sea water and remarkably white sand of the island. The island holds some incredibly fascinating beaches to lure tourists.  

a) Laxmanpur Beach

The Laxman Pur beach is one of those places that are still away from public glare. The white sand, coral reefs, shallow seawater coupled with picturesque natural locations are breathtaking.  

Things to do 

~Water sports like snorkelling, swimming are frequent here.

~Due to shallow water, collecting seashells apart from the photography of scenic beauty is another activity to explore.

5) Rangat Island 

The Rangat island is situated in the middle of the Andaman islands. The picturesque island is known for its amazing waterfalls and verdant greenery. Rangat is known for a string of islands under it, some of them are marked here. 

a) Amkunj Beach 

The beach is a popular destination among tourists. It has been developed as an eco-friendly beach with structures made of renewable material such as eco-huts and groves. 

Things to do

~It is a popular picnic spot, ideal for swimming, sunbathing and wandering on the shore.

~Nature lovers can witness turtle breeding during the season at the beach. 

The grey sand and clean greyish water are ideal for photography. 

How to reach? 

You can take a bus ride or hire a private vehicle from Rangat to reach the beach. 

b)  Butler Bay Beach  

Butler Bay Beach in the Andaman islands is a paradise for adventure sports enthusiasts. The beach is a part of Little Andaman. This less-frequented beach is perfect for the rejuvenation of body, mind and soul. The tranquil environment, blue water is encircled by lofty greenery, a piece of paradise. 

Things to do 

~Strong currents are perfect for surfing, kayaking.

~You can enjoy swimming but with a little caution.

~Sunbathing, riding an elephant, sightseeing, trekking is the other activities to explore.

How to reach? 

It is 100 km away from Port Blair. You can take a government ferry to reach the beach. 

Photos courtesy - Google 

Covid has been a stressful time for everyone, but it has been especially difficult for children. They are susceptible to stories of death and destituition since they have been confined to their houses.

 Crisis Underneath

I know the Covid pandemic is brutal for all of us, but the condition of children is particularly miserable. Can you imagine spending your childhood in a house with stale movies, music, and virtually no games and friends to play with? I'm not sure about the rest of you, but this is a nightmare scenario, in my opinion. To make matters worse, they are constantly bombarded with news reports of death and despair, which makes everyone nervous and anxious.

Today's children are growing up in a fearful and hopeless setting. Instead of meeting friends, causing mayhem during holidays, and wandering out, children may be suffering from emotional trauma due to a crisis they are not fully aware of.

I genuinely hope that the difficult times are over and that children will return to their natural habitats, parks and playgrounds. My thoughts and prayers are with those of you who have recently been through tough times, and I pray to the Almighty that the crisis does not leave a scar on your psyche.

Image Courtesy: Google

Winterlude festival, which takes place during the first three weekends of February every year in the Ottawa region, is one of the best ways to enjoy the Canadian winter!

 Winterlude Festival: Ottawa 

Lots of events in Canada can make you fall in love with the country. Exciting stuff to discover in Canada, includes International film festivals to Edmonton folk festivals, from light festivals to well-known food festivals. There is also a large bouquet of winter festivals that should not be missed while visiting Canada like Winterlude, the most famous and attractive winter festival. 

For first-time visitors,  Ottawa is one place that must be on the itinerary. Even if you dislike winter and are wary of the cold, dry weather, you may well be impressed by Canada's festive atmosphere that will make you fall in love with the season.

Winterlude Festival Activities

The great Winterlude Festival: In Ottawa, the Winterlude festival is a celebration of Canadian culture, a truly mesmerising experience for outsiders. You can participate in various events along with friends and family.  Activities like skating, ice and snow sculpture competitions, and many other types of concerts draw huge crowds to the fun-destination.

Started as a fun event in 1979, it is now organised by the Canadian Heritage Department. Winterlude brings the best out of every participant and encourages you to enjoy the magical wonderland of Ottawa. Unlike others, the Winterlude festival is completely free. The festival starts in February and continue for three weekends.

The sites of Winterlude include Confederation Park, Jacques-Cartier-Park,  and the Rideau Canal skateway, the focal point of the Winterlude festival.

Among other activities, ice sculpture making is extremely popular. The ice sculptures fitted with gleaming lights creates an aura of blissfulness. Enthusiastic participants showcase their talent using multiple shades of light. The festival is unique and acts as a magnet to attract tourist, who get to enjoy the enchanting season of ice and snow. A live music concert, an outdoor dance party, ice-carving competitions and workshops are some other features on display beside the opportunity to enjoy road trips in winter.

Fun Festival Winterlude

Canada is replete with many entertaining festivals giving you an experience of a lifetime.  There are also lots of interesting events and fun-loving activities designed for children. Giant games, kiddie zone, the Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques Cartier Park are some places that become a playground in freezing temperatures. 

People spend hours with children who are taking free lessons for snowboarding. If you love skating and ice sliding, the Rideau Canal Stateway is your ideal location. You might get lucky to experience adventurous skating there, however, it would be best to inquire about the place as the canal is in poor shape. Besides skating, the Ice dragon boat race also adds charm to the festival. Where else you can enjoy a boat-race competition in the middle of winter?

For youngsters, the nightlife in Ottawa presents exciting opportunities. Relishing with friends in an outdoor dance party, enjoying live band music and if you like Jazz, Winterlude is the place to be. Apart from this, Spark street offers Kickoff party, various live events and other light festivals. 

Beyond that, The Byward Market is a foodie's paradise. Your family can join you on this adventurous food trip. From free Wagon rides to Winter food tour, the place is brimming with energy.

Winterlude Packing Guide

 In February, the weather in Ottawa is unpredictable.  It is advisable to pack with caution as harsh winter may greet you. You can enjoy the Winterlude festival only if you are properly prepared with an extra pair of warm clothes, gloves, woollen socks and other basic necessities. If you enjoy skating, good quality boots should be packed. Different other accessories like scarf, hat,  sunglasses, cream and lip balm are some other items of need.

Extraordinary events organised at Winterlude turns it into a magical wonderland. It is a place to make your memories for a lifetime.  You also get to experience and participate in other unique Canadian cultural events fire festival. This festival offers the best in Canada,  its culture, lifestyle, and a marvellous opportunity to experience all of it for some days.

Photo courtesy: Google

With so many hurdles ahead of us, such as Covid, a website dedicated to keeping a record of events, fittingly called 'Is 2020 Over? No, it does not!

COVID-19: Glimmer Of Hope In Dark Times (Part-3)

Positive Impact of Covid-19 on Human Life

1) Green Shoots for Startups 

Amid global lockdown, the internet has emerged as the last hope of survival, an alternative solution, and a coping mechanism for companies and government. While companies are encouraging their employees to work from home, the unprecedented business opportunity has been beneficial for Indian startups companies.  

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Services offered 

Many startups are adapting to the situation and working together to leverage technology in driving solutions required to the customers.

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Some of them are working with the government to develop apps like an application for citizens to report symptoms of COVID-19. A healthcare app helps the citizens carry out a self-assessment test for COVID-19 and seek help from the government if required. 

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Some other startups, like Zomato and Cloud Kitchen, have helped the authorities to feed the poor and needy in these challenging times.

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Even startups performing religious rituals live from places of worship on a virtual reality (VR) platform that is in high demand during the lockdown. The trend is likely to grow as people are becoming conscious of not visiting crowded places like temples.

Some others deliver essential commodities like groceries, fresh fruits, and vegetables to the people at their doorstep. At the same time, the government has also supported the initiative by bringing them under essential commodities. 

Future of Startups 

The Indian startup ecosystem has played an active role in easing the hardships faced by the general population and going forward, the tribe of startups will only grow. There was a gradual shift among the young generation towards the digital world, but the COVID-19 lockdown has accentuated the process.

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While lockdowns enabled startups to expand, it also allowed individuals to reorganize their lives. People are learning to reconnect themselves with loved ones, besides adopting positive lifestyle changes.

2 a) Family and Social Bonding 

One significant positive outcome of lockdown because of coronavirus is the opportunity for individuals to reconnect with their families and friends. Today people have the time to focus on their health and tend to the needs of family members, friends, and community.

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The hectic schedule and the urgency to meet deadlines have taken a back seat because of lockdown, which will help heal individuals both externally and internally.

 

b) Hygiene Conscious 

Another positive outcome is the government's mass media drive to maintain hygiene, a welcome change, and seems to be everlasting. People have also realized the necessity to manage not only personal health but also around their dwellings.

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The habit of covering one's face during sneezing or washing hands frequently after touching something is lifestyle changes and is everlasting.

Conclusion 

When the planet is amid the COVID-19 pandemic, countries across the globe that are directly or indirectly impacted are suffering physical, emotional, and economic casualties unmatched in modern human memory. It will take the concerted efforts of all nations to tide over this crisis, which will hopefully be over soon. Humans are resilient and have been through various challenges before, too; this will not be any different.

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Let's hope this pandemic will have much needed positive repercussions for our age and the future generation because there is a silver lining in every adversity. It will hopefully teach us that Joy and kindness are obligations and not a privilege. Humankind can not exist without them. Humans will probably learn to coexist peacefully with nature, be more accountable towards their surroundings. Hopefully, this adversity will teach humans to be more kind.

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Lastly, the lockdown has awakened the world to a new reality; we are together in this phase and should consider it to help others in these difficult times. Sharing a meal with hungry or coming to the help of lonely elders, feeding birds, and paying gratitude to those who cared for us throughout our lives. It is time to light a lamp within ourselves to dispel darkness. 

Courtesy: Google Images