Lakshadweep Islands

After 20 hours at sea, we arrive in Kadmat Island (southwest India) and are greeted with a coconut and matching t-shirts. This package tour included activites of snorkelling, kayaking, glass bottom boat (pictured above), volleyball, and village tours. The white coral sand was so soft between your toes and it felt like a second honeymoon (or 22nd)! We visited a coconut factory and saw the women spinning the coir palm fiber to make rope and chopping the coconuts.

The men and women are always separate in India (e.g. bus seats, train station waiting rooms, standing in line, the workplace, train cars, literally everywhere). The women seem to be doing most of the hard labor, while the men sit around talking, gambling, or drinking chai. On the last night, the island's martial arts group (all men) performed with swords and sticks. Sometimes they looked like they were square-dancing as they switched partners and tapped one anothers' sticks! We couldn't understand what they were singing, but were told later the songs were about how they are better that the other surrounding islands and for good fortune in fishing. Kadmat Island had no tv, phone, internet, weapons, or alcohol and I think it's one of the only peaceful places left on earth. We loved it!