Trip to Andamans

5.      Andaman (if we were to call it mainland in local context and if we leave out Nicobar and many islands, including forbidden ones, for the time being) is divided into North, Middle and South Andaman, separated by straits. With the expansion of tourism related information, facilities and infrastructure, visitors can now virtually travel all over this mainland Andaman. Our next plan was a foray till a point called Bartang Island that lies across the strait, sandwiched between South and Middle Andaman.          Such a trip is possible in a day (return trip, ie) and since Bartang has no major facilities for stay and basic ones for eats, it is preferred that way. Yes, if one is going ahead to Maya Bunder or so, hotels can be found there but then one can't get back in one day. More than travelling time, it is the system of traffic regulation that kills over-ambitious plans and rightfully so.        If you, like us, ar...

                The Starter -  For those who haven't cared to check till now, it may dawn as a realisation that Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) Islands are two distinct demo-graphical and geographical segments within the territory that is colloquially referred to as one single entity. In fact, administratively, these two segments, together, make what is called A&N Island Union Territory of the country but as far as demo-graphical make up is concerned, two distinct population mixes inhabit these groups of islands. More can be read about them on the net. From pure traveller's perspective, while most of Andaman part if open, barring a forest reserve and few islands where tribals, dating back to Paleolithic era, still live in more or less original way, Nicobar part is simply out of bounds without official permits that are difficult to get. Overall, there are 572 islands but only 38 are permanently inhabited and a few are simply out of bound...