Early morning solo walk at Port Blairs Marina Park.
As an early riser, my morning hours are precious for me to enjoy my own company. And I set out at 4.50 am to experience a new city all by myself.
With no internet connectivity and no google maps to direct me, I was off on my own, asking directions towards the Marina Park.
I had the cross the Indira Bhavan, the golden Mahatma Gandhi statue, the Aberdeen clock tower and Aberdeen Bazar, the Millennium Clock to finally reach my destination.
I was greeted at 5.30 am by crowds of devoted women, smeared with lots Kumkum and Haldi on their faces, lighting lamps under a peepal tree and praying devoutedly to the small Linga of Lord Shiva. I later learned it was the auspicious time of Karthik Poornima so I too paid my respects and salutations to the rising sun.
When I requested for a selfie with the locals, I was surprised at the super friendly response I got from them. The joined me in huge numbers, wanted selfies with their cameras too and were highly excited to smear kumkum and haldi on my face too as I joined them in their rituals.
I decided not to wet my feet, nor to take a dip in the sea waters with them and instead I continued my beautiful morning walk with the sea on one side and the garden on the other. I saw war machine remnants as well as Japanese bunkers and tanks when the islands were captured for few years by the Japanese.
I asked a random morning walker to take a picture next to a huge flower map of ‘I love India’ and I thanked God again for the amazing country that I am born in.
It was time to return to the hotel to be in time for breakfast, and I suddenly realized that I did not know the name of our hotel or the area we were staying in. Luckily the morning walker escorted me back up to Aberdeen Bazar. This local was a policeman and we had a wonderful conversation about Port Blair.
All in all it was a wonderful morning with nature and the smiling locals of Port Blair.
So in 2018 do notice these simple smiling moments.Have a smiling year!
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