The sea is a lovely, cruel mistress
Posted by Adam Jadhav | Filed under photography
A fetish to the sea goddess
On December 26, 2004, a tsunami wiped out a swath of fishermen’s homes on the beach near Hut Bay on Little Andaman island.
Five years later, I went there to see what, if anything, was left.
The fishermen and their familes have moved inland, afraid of the sea. The beach is scattered with garbage and little else.
A small temple was rebuilt near the beach, and fishermen worship there and at fetishes along the sandy spit for good luck as they head for their daily catch. Hanging from the fetish: bangles, earrings, hair and a comb.
The sea goddess is still worshipped because they know no other way. She is wonderful and terrible all at once, one fishermen said.
Tags: andaman and nicobar, beach, cricket, fishing, god, hut bay, india, island, journalism, little andaman, ocean, photography, religion, sea, tsunami
Who needs baseball?
Posted by Adam Jadhav | Filed under photography
If I start a cricket team, the mascot will be the Cubs
Indian men play cricket everywhere. Here, they’re doing six-a-side on the uneven ground once home to a fishing shantytown on Little Andaman that was wiped out by the 2004 tsunami.
Locals haven’t rebuilt there; they say it’s unlucky; they say they’re afraid of the ocean.
But men will play cricket there, no problem.
Tags: andaman and nicobar, beach, cricket, fishing, hut bay, india, island, journalism, little andaman, photography, sports, tsunami
A year-in-review
Posted by Adam Jadhav | Filed under notes, photography
2009 kinda kicked ass
This past year pretty much rocked. And the New Year came in fine manner. No kisses, but a bonfire amid the palm trees (above), new friends, lobster, a decent cigar (thanks, C!), champagne and even the Harry Connick, Jr., band playing Auld Lang Syne at midnight (never leave home without the iPod).
I meant to post this sooner, but here’s a little look back at my new life (as chronicled on this blog):
Continue reading this entry » » »
Tags: andaman and nicobar, antananarivo, beach, beer, circumcision, conservation, delhi, diving, drought, economy, emerging nations, environment, festival, fishing, food, ft dauphin, gear, havelock, health, hiv, holiday, india, island, journalism, kenya, kibera, kisumu, lemur, maasai mara, madagascar, market, motorcycle, multimedia, mumbai, nairobi, party, photography, port blair, poverty, preparation, shenanigans, shopping, thailand, tourism, travel, wildlife
Drop a line in the water
Posted by Adam Jadhav | Filed under photography
Roots make a neat ledge for for string fishing
One reason I came to the Andamans was to pursue a story about the legacy of the 2004 tsunami. That unfortunately fell through for a number of reasons: language barriers, logistics, me being sick in the middle of nowhere. But I did manage this photo. Continue reading this entry » » »
Tags: andaman and nicobar, beach, environment, fishing, india, island, photography, port blair, tsunami, wildlife
Happy Island New Year
Posted by Adam Jadhav | Filed under photography
Slow down and breathe deep
Wandoor, South Andaman, India
Tags: andaman and nicobar, beach, boat, environment, fishing, india, photography, port blair, tourism, wandoor
Bounty of the sea
Posted by Adam Jadhav | Filed under notes, photography
Fishing the rocky surf at Havelock's Beach No. 7
The beach in either direction was nearly deserted. The sun dipped low in the sky. Meru deliberately, slowly worked the shallows along a small rocky headland at Radha Nagar Beach on Havelock Island. Continue reading this entry » » »
Tags: andaman and nicobar, beach, economy, environment, fishing, havelock, india, island, photography, poverty, wildlife
Goodbye Kenya, hello Madagascar
Posted by Adam Jadhav | Filed under notes, photography
Headed to the airport at sunrise
After 26 days in Kenya, I’m headed to Madagascar. I’ll be reporting at a large titanium mine Fort Dauphin in the south of the country — one that a conservationist boldly told me was “on balance, better for the environment.” I’m also hoping to check out some biological preserves with St. Louis ties.
In the downtime, I’ll be chilling on the beach, maybe kite surfing, definitely fishing and playing with a lemur or two.
And probably not speaking much English. Madagascar is a francophone country, so while Malagasy is the official language, French is the Western choice. (If broken e-mails from my hotel in the capital Antananarivo are any indication, English isn’t exactly popular.)
S’il vous plait, I might be screwed. Or it will make for more entertaining adventures.
My plane departs in 67 minutes. Catch you on the flip side.
Tags: antananarivo, beach, fishing, fort dauphin, internet, lemur, madagascar, mining, nairobi, photography, travel
