12 Jan 2011 | Conditions: Calm and sunny
Slowed down, put off circumnavigation of Baratang for tomorrow morning. Took dinghy down and went ashore near where the new jetty was being constructed, with iron and concrete pylons being hand-poured. Same design as the in-process jetty at Havelock #1. Walked through charming, strange village. Lots of British style station houses with broad porches, constructed of roughly hewn local boards. Entire village of children, all ages, were in a field practicing dances and marches for upcoming Republic Day celebrations. Only BSNL SIM cards work here. No cooked food to be had, but we did convince a girl to fry us 8 samosas and some chai. Bought potatoes, onions, eggplant, chillies, garlic, but forgot eggs. Not much protein in the diet. Saw signs informing us that Long Island requires a special permit from the dreaded Forestry Division – oops. No one hassled us. Very isolated and picturesque, yet completely electrified by a diesel generation plan, and connected via BSNL.