Field stories on the Island (Chunk)

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The night started at 9 pm after eating a mouthwatering coconut milk curry with dry fish. We (a four-member team) started into the ocean for fishing in two traditional Nicobari canoes; I was sitting on the front side of the canoe (boat), rowing with the paddle (thuduppu/allis), listening to my canoe captain's orders, under the beautiful bright moonlight and infinite stars beneath it. 

Around 2 am, the ocean became dark, silent, and calm (without waves); we were about 750 m to 1 km from the shore, the moon sets, stars vanished abruptly, and there was a pitch dark in the middle of the ocean while we can't see the next person face near us and then the magic happened. For the first time in my life, I saw Bioluminescence on a larger scale. Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. The locals called it a 'chunk.'

Whenever we think of Bioluminescence, our mind used to correlate with our childhood memories of Fireflies (min mini poochi). Yes! It is a kind of Fireflies, but it was unique in the ocean.

 Whenever I row the boat with the paddle (allis/thuduppu) or even touch the water, I see the water swirling and glittering like gold (Imagine if you are in a dark room someone inserted 1000s of Fireflies - like that it is). I was pushing the glittering gold from the front side to the backside, and it's all yellow GLITTERING. Whenever I put the anchor or hook, these objects pierce into the ocean and produce glitters all around the place. 

Whenever I saw the yellow glitter, my dopamine and inner kid were active throughout the night; I was so excited, laughing within myself, and didn't know how to react. The whole night, I was addicted to seeing Bioluminescence - I even stopped blinking my eyes and just saw it from time to time (not exaggerated 😂).

I can't be able to take any photos of Bioluminescence due to the situation and what we see with naked eyes can't be described in pictures. But here, I attached some links to know more and better about Bioluminescence. 


Thiru

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