However, we had little use of
the room other than dumping our bags there. Then we were on the deck.
The ship passed by the Myanmarese trawlers moored at the fish landing
port. These trawlers were specially shaped with front leaning cabins.
The fishing crews were cooking rice, we could see from this far. Some
were just hanging out and gazing us down.
You get a beautiful sight of
Teknaf as the ship coasts along the Naf river channel. The broken hills
frill all the way to the sea and the bitumen road looks beautiful. Cars
like toys roll up and down it. We passed the forest rest house where we
had stayed the night before. We could see the Arakan hills from a short
distance. The Myanmar coast is mostly derelict except some dispersed
structures. We saw a beautiful pink pagoda. A few two-storey structures,
may be some office buildings. The paddy patches shone in the morning
sun like gold plated shields.
For a long time, we could see
the Bangladesh coast, and we started wondering if there was indeed a
land bridge to the island and we were on this ship just for the heck of
it. Later, we came to know that the gap between Bangladesh coast and the
island is not really that big, only about 9km, and some young men had
even swum across to St Martin's.
But then the coast ceased to
exist and we were onto the open sea. We passed by a beautiful island
belonging to Myanmar. The leaning coconut trees, the beach and the
forest made it look like paradise. Only there were no human beings on
it, as we could see through binoculars.
A
little later the sea started changing colour and St Martin's came into
view. The water was now turquoise green. And we could spot the red tiles
of the environment department bungalows where we would stay. The
coastguard building looked the tallest structure.
The ship's engine slowed down
to a throbbing speed as the master pulled the strings to ring the signal
bell in the engine room. The island was appearing bigger and bigger by
the minute. And then there was the pier. It took quite some maneuverings
for the ship to moor.
We crossed the pier and were
immediately on the beach, trotting down towards the bungalows. It was an
amazing walk -- the green gently lapping on our left, revealing
thousands of corals, and the high wall of Kewra plantation on our right.
A few brilliantly painted trawlers danced on the waves.
The resort itself was a
breathtaking spot. It is on the narrow chicken neck part of the island.
On both sides of it are the sea -- we could see the sandy beach in front
of our bungalow and a coral beach in the back. The waves broke on the
corals in huge splashes and the waves gently murmured on the sandy
beach, creating a symphony of sounds. We got on to the roof of the
observation centre to get a better view of the island. In the afternoon
light, we could see both ends of the about 7-km long island. A truly
tranquil sight, something out of this world.
Away
in the sea floats a huge navy ship, its gun turrets looking like some
matchsticks against the blue sky. There were some huge iron poles lying
mangled on the resort premise. Later, we came to know that these were
windmills that broke down during the Sidr.
In the afternoon, we walked to
the northern tip of the island to the 'regular' beach where tourists
flock. The fishing trawlers were mooring one by one and consignments of
fish were being unloaded on to the beach. Huge sharks and stingrays were
being hacked into pieces. A villager told us that dried shark is in
huge demand among the indigenous people in Teknaf.
We spent the afternoon on the
beach and watched the sun set into the emerald sea in a sudden plunge.
Green and pink made an evanescent moment of glory. Slowly we trotted
headed back to the coast guard office where the officials had a treat
for us -- fish and chicken barbecue on the beach. We sat on deck chairs
and watched a huge moon break over the sea and flood the entire island
with a fairy glow. The navy ship was still there, its lights shining
brightly. The green water had now turned gold. Sitting under the coconut
trees, we watched the marvel of the island.
..................................................................
Later, much later, I pulled the door behind as I quietly left the bungalow and walked on the beach, by the kewra plantation further south towards Chhera Dwip. The trawlers were all there, shiny under the full moon. But after about two kilometers, I had to stop. A channel has entered into the island from the sea. During low tide it is okay, but now it is full with water.
I had to turn back to the bungalow. It was already too late and tomorrow we would have an exciting thing waiting for us.
..................................................................
Later, much later, I pulled the door behind as I quietly left the bungalow and walked on the beach, by the kewra plantation further south towards Chhera Dwip. The trawlers were all there, shiny under the full moon. But after about two kilometers, I had to stop. A channel has entered into the island from the sea. During low tide it is okay, but now it is full with water.
I had to turn back to the bungalow. It was already too late and tomorrow we would have an exciting thing waiting for us.
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