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Thursday 3 Dec 2009 - Local time is 09.30 (time back home is 04.00)
Hi me again from Yakkala, can't believe that tomorrow (Friday 4 Dec) will be the last time I visit the orphanage - where has the time gone???
The weather in Sri Lanka is truly gorgeous (I know its dark and bleak, back at home, but hope the warmth from here is coming through your PC screens!). The heat and sunshine at this time of the day is great (23 degrees) but in a few hours, it will be 27/ 28 degrees, that's when I start sweating (I mean perspiring, ladies don't sweat!). Having said that, every evening (after 5.30) for the past 3 weeks it has rained heavily for three to four hours, but it's still warm during and after the rainfall.
Sri Lanka is one big mass of green foliage, wherever you turn, you can see swaying palm trees (hundreds and hundreds of them), banana, papaya, mango and jackfruit trees. I think their national gem should be Emerald, not Sapphire !
Today ( Thursday 3 Dec), I decided to go to the Internet Café in the morning and I visit the orphanage in the afternoon. Up until today, I've gone to the orphanage first, then home for a shower and then walked into town (about 30 mins walk).
During my stay in Yakkala, I've visited the orphanage Mon to Fri and taken the weekend off to see a teeny weenie bit of Sri Lanka.
(W/E 14 Nov), on my first weekend, Caroline and I checked into aClarion Hotel about 40 mins from where we are staying - place called 'Kiribathgoda', lovely 3* hotel (it's been our knight in shining armor on Friday nights !) On Sunday we went to Galle, which is in the South. We drove past the worst places affected by the Tsunami. Kahawa was a very eerie place - this was the worst hit!
Unfortunately this was one of the only days when it rained ALL day ! We decided to check into a hotel near the beach in Galle on Sunday night. Luckily the rain had stopped for about an hour, so after lunch we went for a walk….. wow the sea water was lovely and warm and the beach a gorgeous golden brown colour. The next morning, we left at 6.00 and got back to Yakkala at 9.30 and I went straight to the orphanage to see the kids - honestly you should see the babies smiling when I put my head round the corner - it makes me happy and sad at the same time !
(W/E 21 Nov), on my second weekend, some family friends picked me up from the hotel at 3pm on Friday and I spent the evening with them (had a lovely meal at a restaurant - Sri Lankan food is nice and spicy - very very tasty). Apparently, all food stores / restaurants / hotels serve halal meat, but I can't bring myself to eating meat in this country, (you'd understand if you saw their refrigeration system, EHO would have a field day), but this is no different to our Jamge village back in India, I don't eat meat there either ! Anyway, after dinner, they drove me back to the hotel.
On Saturday morning, we went to the Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala (I know what you're thinking oh my gosh, she's going to bring back an orphaned elephant now !) I know Anita Kelly would love me to do this ! I saw them being fed and they then went for a bath in the river, I watched whilst having a spot of lunch - loads of pics to come (I hope soon). We then took the train to Kandy (Central Sri Lanka) and checked into Queens Hotel. Kandy is a very vibrant and bustling town, and the largest Sri Lankan Buddhist Temple is situated opposite the hotel, it's called the "Tooth Relic". There are lots of markets stalls selling clothes, bags, fruit (bit like Covent Garden !). On Sunday, we took the train back to Gampaha (town next to Yakkala), took loads of pics, you'll see what I mean about how beautifully green it is here (sorry to go on about it !) I will try and download pics soon……………
I have to share a really funny thought with you……… Whilst the train was making its way down the mountain back to Yakkala, it had stopped for a short while. I was taking pics and lazily looking out of the window and I spotted this old lady walking up the mountain side with something in her hand and I thought……………… I hope her memory is not as bad as mine (you know what I mean, when you go downstairs to get something, but you just can't remember what it was until you get back upstairs). Just imagine, if she got to the top of the mountain after an hour's walk and thought oh s***, I forgot the teabags !!!! I laughed out load and everyone in the train was looking at me !!!!!!!
(W/E 29 Nov), I spent this with family friends again, as it was our "Eid festival" marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage. Ate loads of lovely yummy home cooked food for breakfast, lunch and dinner - yes three proper meals for three whole days - now back on my diet until Friday - haha ! It was lovely to speak to all my family too - miss you all, and wish you were here !
Getting back to the orphanage (hope you're keeping up, sorry I know I'm all over the place, but just capturing all my thoughts in which ever order they come out), I've been spending quite a bit of time with some of the older girls, 15 - 20 years and must confess that I have got very close to them, I think I will be saddest saying goodbye to this group of girls when I leave. There are three girls in particular; Nayana (17 years old), Chandrika (15 years old) and Shanika (20 years). They all came here between the age of 2 and 3 years of age. Honestly, when I look at the smile on their faces, it does give me the most humblest feeling to be sat amongst them - sorry, got tears in my eyes, just thinking of what they have been through in life - how lucky was / am I to have had such loving parents, family & friends ! (hope you're not crying !). If I was to adopt, I'd probably bring back one of the older girls !
On Tuesday they took me to their Computer Room, loads of pcs, but no Internet access, shame, as I would have emailed regularly. Anyway, they wanted me to show them how to save documents to an individual folder and also how print. I noticed that they only had 4 sheets of paper and were using these over and over again. So yesterday, I went into Yakkala, and bought about 200 individual A4 sheets for them, this was a task and a half (that's how they are sold by the bookshops) ! One sheet cost 2 rupees (180 rupees to the pound, so it cost 2.22 sterling) ! When I left the UK, this was one of the things I really wanted to bring, but due to weight restrictions, I was not able to, maybe next time ! I did ask one of my contacts at JL Bluewater, but due to 'company policies' this was not possible - shame !
With my Indian background a lot of Sri Lankans speak to me in Sinhalese as they think I'm one of them, possibly cos I'm dressed in local 'designer' clothes too ! The Sri Lankan people are just so kind and friendly ! I'm now at a stage where I could happily stay on longer - hopefully I'll come back to see the kids in a few years (Insha-allah) !!
I've also made friends with some local girls and we've exchanged email addresses. One of them (Era) was standing at the bus stop and I wanted to check that the bus was going to stop at Kiribathgoda, she sat with me all the way to my destination and we just chatted ! The other girl is Sashi, met her at the hotel in Kandy, she's 21 years old and goes to Colombo Uni !
By the way, Tuesday 1 December was Poya Day (Full Moon Day). Everyone is off on this day and most of the Sri Lankan population go to the temple, I visited two temples with the family I'm staying with (don't worry, I haven't changed my religion, just interested in theirs)! There is a Poya day every month, so that's 12 days off every year - think we should introduce this in the UK - what do you think, should we get a petition sent to Mr Brown - I take it he's still the PM?
I haven't seen any news since leaving Dubai, just managed to catch a couple of football results - How's Aston Villa doing and is Chelsea at the top of the table?
Well coming to end of my update, I've got my pack of tissue ready for tomorrow ! I hope one day I get the chance to return and see some of the babies / toddlers when they are grown up - but would be much happier if they were adopted in the mean time (Insha-allah) !
Love you loads, Dee xxx
p.s. The parts of my body exposed to the sunlight are gradually turning into a lovely golden brown colour! Think I will start to apply suntan lotion before I turn really dark !
p.p.s =- its now 12.30 (uk time 7.00) and I'm going to try downloading some pics - ouch, just got bitten on my left wrist by a mossie !
- comments
Shareen Wow!!! Dee aunty... looks like you re getting into it now!!! I feel like i want to do something like that... may be after my masters!!! Think of the difference you have made to their lives and the good you have done. They will never forget you... so dont get upset when you leave and look forward to your next adventure.xx