Street food

Well actually there is no night life on the Andaman Islands because everyone goes home and the streets are deserted by 9:30pm. But up until then there is some wonderful street food available.

Dilanipur at night, Port Blair.

My favorite row of food stalls, Delanipur, Port Blair.

Pani Puri also known as Puchka is a Bengali specialty where golf ball sized, crispy puffed flat bread is stuffed with potatoes and dipped in spiced water. The Puchka Walla makes one bite sized Puchka as you stuff one in your mouth. This isn't just fast food it's fast feeding.

Jelabi is a dessert that is made by drizzling batter into hot oil. When it is finished frying it is dunked into orange colored syrup which it soaks up. When you take a bite there is so much sugary syrup that it gushes into your mouth.

This is the mainstay of this row of shops, which serves up eggroles, chow mein, cutlets and samosas.

These vendors know me so well that I usually can't walk by without getting stuffed with free food... even if I've just eaten a full meal.

Havelock Island

A few weeks ago Able (who is shooting the video documentary for us) and I took a trip to Havelock island. We were planing to scuba dive but all the slots were booked full. However, the snorkeling, amazing clear blue-green water, great beaches and peaceful atmosphere made the trip worthwhile.

Sunrise from Phoenix Bay Jetty waiting for the ferry to Havelock Island.

Boatman getting supplies ready, Phoenix Bay, Port Blair.

Colors of a Phoenix Bay sunrise, Port Blair.

Radha Nagar beach which some claim is the best in Asia, Havelock Island.

Able shooting at Radha Nagar Beach, Havelock Island

Sometimes elephants pass by, Radha Nagar Beach, Havelock Island

Clear Blue-green water at Elephant Beach, Havelock Island


We took a Dungi to snorkel at Elephant beach

Dungi Wallas unloading their supplies, Havelock Island.

Our beach hut at Pristine Resort, Havelock Island.

The bamboo finished outdoor lobby of Pristine Resort, Havelock Island.

Barack Obama is Prezident Elect!

Barack Obama has been elected president of the United States of America! I got up at 5:30AM to watch the votes come in even though it wasn't decided for another 5 hours.

The beautiful new First Family (BBC.com)

Living in India, it will now be a bit easier to hold my head up when I tell people I am from the USA. Obama's acceptance speech was absolutely incredible. For the last 8 years when the leader of the US and the most powerful person in the world opened his mouth it was all about fear, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and us vs. them (not to mention being grammatically incorrect). But when Obama speaks it is inspiring, hopeful and uniting, not to mention intelligent and articulate. He is exactly what we need now.

McCain's concession speech was also amazing and and showed, real integrity.

Obama delivering his acceptance speach (BBC.com)

Maybe the US can now start regaining the respect of the world .