meandering musings

My eyes open, I see the pin pricks of morning light filtering through the bamboo matting walling the bungalow. I tie my bikini, ignoring the incessant lingering itch of mosquito and sandfly bites as I wrap my sarong around me and grab my camera. Unlocking the door, I find the puppies curled up on an a square of material at the door. They look up at me expectantly and follow me as I pad down the path in the growing light. We creep through the trees, picking our way around the giant crab holes on the forest floor. I glimpse coral clouds and blue white waves crashing through the boughs of the palms. The suns rays are reaching up from the horizon alighting the clouds in oranges and pinks. I manage a couple of photos before the tickle of sandflies has me running for the water, puppies in arms. I watch as their little legs paddle them to shore and duck below the cleansing waves. The sun is rising, a tangerine orb. I'm mesmerised as I stand, letting the breaking waves rock me to and fro as the resplendent view consumes me. My only other company on this deserted beach is a herd of resident cows as enthralled as I by the unfolding beauty. I dive under the waves, enjoying the tepid water against my skin until the contrast of colours slowly wash and dilute in the sky above me. I wander slowly back to the cabin, the puppies at my heels. I dry off and collapse back into bed for another couple of hours of deep, contented sleep. Little Andaman is starting to take an indelible hold of me.

On our last two days we decide to hire a motorbike to explore a bit more of the island and test out a couple of old broken foamies we have managed to patch together with glue, gaffa tape and cable ties. We ride through a coconut plantation, along dirt roads through rain forest and find more and more amazing deserted beaches along with an empty point surf break. As we paddle out I notice a lumbering form making its way up the beach. I get to my feet on my first wave and realise it is an elephant, a surge of wonder washes over me. It's as if my longing built up from all those months ago when I stumbled upon a photograph of a distant land has pulled me across these miles of ocean and earth in order to encounter this moment. The simplicity of experiencing nature in all her glory from day to day has passed the time on this island paradise at an end of the world all too quickly. Time and silence are luxuries we rarely allow ourselves but oh so rejuvenating.