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Published: November 20th 2008
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Ok- so this update is overdue, and as my father keeps reminding me; I have a mother to worry! Mum and Heather will be sufficiently delighted to know that not only do I now eat with my fingers, but I also drink tap water and take regular bus journeys. Can't be all that bad, I mean I've only been
slightly ill, and who would want to bomb Hikkaduwa anyway? If anything it'd make the guidebook entry a little more exciting...
So what's been going on? Well apart from working at the Foundation (writing reports, sitting in on classes etc... all good stuff!) I have been on a couple of jaunts.
*Wednesday 12th November*
Was a Poya Day. Poya Day is the day in the month that there is due to be a full moon in the evening. Buddhists seem to like full moons; there are lots of Buddhists in Sri Lanka. And as such Poya Day is a day off. We decided to chill out in true 'Independent Traveler' style and head south to Unawatuna beach. Unlike Hikkaduwa, the guidebook has a lot of
nice things to say about Una: "...most appealing beach on the island..., ...graceful semicircular
curve of sand..., has a distinctive charm". I agree, it is a jolly nice beach. We had some lunch (I had an omelet, in case you were wondering), some milkshakes and then went for a swim in the Indian Ocean. But the most novel aspect of the afternoon was seeing other white people wandering about.
I've just about gotten used to being the only white guy in the village (and the constant stares that are attracted because of it), but it's not until you come across other 'sudus' that you realize how much you stick out... We stick out a lot.
*Friday 14th November*
Remember the picture of the volleyball boys in the previous blog entry? Of course you do... Well it turns out they're pretty good. So much so that today most of the staff (including myself) went to Colombo to see them play in THE NATIONAL FINALS. To top that, the team we were playing are from the next village along from us! Must be something in the tap water methinks... So cue another 5.30 start and non stop drumming and singing (from the Sri Lankans, not me) in the back of a minibus all
the way up the Galle road, past the armed guards at the entrance and into the stadium.
I have to say that it was probably the best under 13's boys volleyball match I've ever seen- these kids were
small, but they were ducking and diving and spiking and everything! Intense stuff... Needless to say, we won! And everyone had a good time (despite the lack of chili-dog vendors in the stadium and the constant drumming and singing). After driving back to the village (with yet more drumming and singing) we rolled down the windows and did a lap of honor. Then went to bed, then got up to meet the boys as they returned (they had to wait for other games to finish before picking up their trophy). Pretty hectic, -with lots of young men throwing fireworks about- but good fun!
Novelties of the day? 1. Getting stopped by the police like 8 times. And only once for our driving! I reckon it was probably the presence of the 3 white people in the van coupled with the drumming and singing... 2. Discovering the Sri Lankan love of drumming and singing. I swear it's just the same song
over, and over, and over, and over... *see video*
*Sunday 16th November*
Quen and I had been invited by Dr Shirley (local quack) to his house in Galle for a Sunday lunch 'party'. Sri Lankan style. Not knowing what he liked (and whether or not he was a drinker) we played it safe and took a cake and some ginger beer as presents.
Far from the 'lunch with the vicar' experience we had anticipated, Dr Shirley’s' turned out to be rather a raucous affair with not 1, not 2, not 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 but
8 bottles of arrack produced as the rest of his guests arrived. Quen and I decided not to imbibe (it wasn't even midday yet!) but had a good laugh watching the good doctor and his pals get squiffy. Musical instruments were produced, drumming and singing done (of course) and dances danced. Probably the most mortifying aspect of the day was that after having eaten our way through a good 10 plates of food over at least 2 hours (sitting out under the hot sun the entire time I might add) , Dr Shirley decided that it must
be about lunchtime. We were then taken inside and sat down at a table almost buckling under the weight of the rice and curry placed upon it. Not wanting to appear rude, we allowed our plates to be piled high and duly cleared them.
A note of caution; Eating your weight in delicious Sri Lankan cuisine is not something to be entered into lightly. My gut still has the stretch marks to prove it.
*Other stuff*
Mitrusenas stories. Mitrusena is one of the security guards here (great guy, if a bit fond of biscuits), and despite the fact he knows my Singhalese is crap, he won't hesitate to chat away to you. One day he told us this story; with Quen's translation skills and a lot of miming from him we figured out what it was about. Apparently there has been a Hikkaduwa gangland assassination! Two people, one shot in the face, the other in the chest multiple times. Mitrusena explained that the two unfortunate individuals were 'no good' and pretty much had it coming. I suppose that makes it ok...
The Mongoose and the Chipmunk. We have one of each living in our loft, and
Police
Getting told off for some dodgey undertaking... they love to make bumps in the night. Although they are rather vocal and noisy (I'm sure they've got a cricket ball up there that they sometimes chuck about), they are very rarely seen. In fact I was doubtful about the mongoose’s existence until I saw him with my own eyes. Sitting on the porch one evening, I heard a thud from around the side of the house. Upon investigating, what should I find but a mongoose fishing around in the compost bin. He looked at me, chewed the last of his salvaged fish head and scampered off in the direction of the roof. Devilish looking wee beastie. Sort of like a feral cat crossed with a badger...
Tropical Storms. Ok, so it just rain and thunder and lightning. But we don't get it back home like what they do here! Plus they have the rather irritating habit of bringing about sporadic power cuts. Not exactly conducive to blog updating, making toast or generally doing anything after sundown...
This week and next
Kushil (Foundation Founder) wants us here this weekend, lots to do apparently... But I think there's a trip to the hills on Sunday or Monday
Police
One bribe later I might get away on. Jillian is leaving on the 13th of December and wants to go on a trip before she goes, so next week it looks like we'll be hading up Kandy way to see elephants!
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Bianca
non-member comment
Very Nice :)