Safari's and Turtles

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[youtube=3NTlsgD4DTA]

Saturday 11th

We had a fab morning playing on the beach, which the boys were understandably sorry to leave. We watched Jake carefully and sensibly snorkelling along an inner reef. He came ashore elated with tales of fish, corals and when asked also having seen anemone. We were proud (as so often we are) of his care and delighted in his pleasure.

Lunch was a simple vegetable rice after which we headed off on the local bus - actually not overcrowded and a delight. The water safari was wonderful. Within minutes we saw Monitor Lizards and a Jurassic landscape. We were brought a little monkey to hold which felt very odd (liberal thinking modern western morals do not always sit easy here). We also headed to Cinnamon Island where we were fascinated (especially Jake) by being shown how to strip away the useless outer bark (compost) cut peel and then curl together the precious inner bark, and then put aside the stick for firewood. The peeled inners were placed several inside one another, and left to dry on coconut twine under shelter for 2 weeks, and then in the sun for another week to finish. We were also astounded by his skill in weaving a coconut leaf in less than a minute, and shown how to make twine - first you soak the husk for a couple of days then beating out the fibres, and twisting into a strong string. We saw cotton bushes, banana trees, cinnamon and curry plants, coconut palms and pineapples as well as an extraordinary larger than watermelon fruit growing high in trees which was called JaK fruit. We also went around his home, a stick built, clay mud clad affair - 100% biodegradable! I was allowed to pilot the boat back across the lake around islands, through prawn hatcheries and past catamaran paddling fishermen.

Our next stop was a turtle hatchery which was a particular excitement for Elliot but even Jake was enchanted. We heard how eggs were collected or bought -to prevent poaching - and 2 months after being laid they hatch. Many head straight to sea, although the centre hold on to some for two weeks to allow them to strengthen, feeding sea weed and fish. There were three types of turtle, Hawksbill - very endangered hunted for the shell which is not yet illegal here - Loggerhead and Green Turtles which grow up to a metre in length and can live for 120 years. Male green turtles have oval shells and females round ones. We were allowed to release some but Elliot got very attached to "Flippers" (his) on the minute walk to the beach, he was happy to see him go happy and free but missed him all the way back on the very crowded local bus.

Elliot came to life in the cool of the evening and was very disappointed not to be allowed to charge around while we were eating tea. Tomorrow we continue our journey South to Galle.

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Photos

With Karu
On water safari with our local guide

Weaving
Weaving a coconut leaf

Comments

[liz]

hello!
Thanks for putting up such regular posts - really enjoying following you all on your journey, photos looking great too. Love you all xxx

[Joeandnicky]

Enjoying the writing
Hey lovely - we are really enjoying the writing actually. Lots of love to you too Take care Joe

[chloe toorish]

hey sirrrrr its chloe :) i just wanted to say thankyou for your video, the one for the leavers assembley, and the message in the year book. It made me cry! ive really enjoyed reading all your blog enteries and stuffff im really glad your having a good time :) chloe x

[Joeandnicky]

Re: Chloe
Thanks Chloe Good luck in up and coming exams ATB Mr Yeates