OCEAN EYES

The island life has helped eco-conscious actress and producer Pragya Kapoor appreciate the possibilities of going the extra green mile, from farm-to-fork menus to upcycled décor

I have always been an island girl at heart. I was born on Öland, an island on Sweden's east coast, and find a sense of belonging in a blue cauldron of infinite depths. The ocean indeed feels like home. The turquoise waters and pristine sands create an unreal impression on me that is hard to put into words. The beach communicates with me in more ways than one: through sound, smell, touch and sight.

For many island states, tourism contributes at least a third of the economy and supports an even greater percentage of jobs. And the ocean, which brings visitors an immeasurable sense of peace, also contributes greatly to the world's oxygen and acts as the planet's thermostat in regulating climate fluctuations. It is, to date, our best ally in the fight against climate change.

My idea of heaven, without a doubt, is an island holiday. While I have holidayed in several archipelagoes such as the Seychelles and Indonesia, the Maldives emerges as a clear winner for me. One fine day, during a rare moment of solitude on the beach, I dug my feet into the golden sand with my eyes closed and concentrated on the soothing sound of the sea. I was in a state of absolute bliss. As I slowly opened my eyes and gazed at the endless expanse of the electric blue sea shimmering in the midday sun, I noticed that the tide had brought in a vast amount of debris. I realised that our oceans are turning into a dumpyard. I could see the signs of chaos theory in action.