Oops …very, very behind on my blog……i started this about a month ago so will have to now work backwards!!
I left the school a few weeks ago as they broke up for 3 weeks and my visa expires in a few days. It was the most amazing experience and I one I shall never forget. The pic here shows me with a pile of flowers in my hair and we are looking a bit puzzled as the watchman at the school was taking the photo with my digital camera but trying to use it like a film one..but we got there!
So I decided to head to the Hill Country, the humidity really is quite intense in the south now but in the Hills you can wear a jumper at night which is quite a treat! I joined friends from Bahrain and we bused around the rolling, rich green tea plantations from Sigiriya to Adams Peak and yes, we got up at 2am to climb the 5000 and something steps in time for sunset at the top. This climb is an important pilgramage for Buddihists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians. For Buddhists, the footprint mark (at the top) is the left foot of the Buddha, left behind as he strode away. We climbed with (and were often overtaken by) whole families from mums carrying babies to elderly yet very hardy grandparents, often just in bare feet and sarongs. The climb was tough, although I was in dazed, hypnotic state which I think helped. It was very chilly at the top, so we huddled together like sheep in winter and waited for the sun to rise. It was truely breathtaking and you can see the shadow (pic above) the peak makes on the horizon as the sun rises.
Our final stop was Ella, which i think was my favourite spot, it has a sort of ‘Lord of the Rings’ feel about it with lush, green wide open spaces interspersed with dramatic hills, waterfalls and reservoirs..although no Hobbits. We found a lovely old Scottish tea plantation bungalow to stay in, with a stunning view looking out onto Ella Gap, run by a lovely local couple who excitedly, invited all 5 of us into their modest kitchen to give us all a delectable rice and curry cookery lesson!
Going back a few weeks now!…
Before I left for the hills, I moved to a guesthouse in charming Galle Fort, just inside Galle itself. Narrow streets house decaying Dutch colonial architecture, some of which have been renovated into stunning private homes or boutique hotels and there is a sprinkling of artsy cafes and lovely gift shops. I felt like I had gone back in time to about 1920 as I wondered about the quiet streets with buildings bursting with colourful window boxes, men on bicycles carrying coconuts or fruit and to my amusement lots of Morris Minors parked in the streets, which not co-incidentally, I feel, is my dream car!
A few weeks ago I joined the school trip to Colombo Zoo. A 5am start, 43 very excited pupils (on one of those buses described above…) started the rather long and hot journey up North. I was grateful but slightly embarrassed to be given a seat on a very full bus. I sat next to my local, fellow teacher, we had a girlie gossip …(clearly a worldwide phenomenon!) and I was intrigued to hear about her arranged marriage which has been selected via means of astrology, her match fits her astrological chart, apparently the success rate using this technique is quite high…..(Mum, please can you dig out my birth certificate and tell me what time I was born?! ….)
We stopped off at Kalutura Temple, where one can worship Buddha in the hollow stupa (see pic above), we gave wonderful purple lotus flowers and also prayed to the Bodhi Tree, supposedly descendant of the original Bodhi Tree where Buddha achieved enlightenment. I was then fed a delicious home cooked snack of sweet samba, deviled fish and bread. One of the teachers commented that I could almost be Sri Lankan as I just about managed to eat with my right hand, wash the plate of with water and drink the very, very sweet milky tea…but we all agreed I needed a better tan ..oh and a Sari. All the teachers look so elegant in their brightly coloured Saris (especially smart today I noticed for their trip to the City) and manage to remain looking cool and elegant even in the heat of the day- a skill I am a long, long way from mastering….
Back on the bus the kids were jollyed along with songs and Colombo slowly became apparent. We eventually made it to the Zoo and the heat hadn’t dampened the pupils enthusiasm, although Ill confess Zoo’s are not my favourite places, the kids were very excited and insisted on holding my hand and taking me excitedly from cage to cage….I must say the black panther with its pearcing yellow eyes is the most incredible animal to see up close.
More recently I have been introduced to some fellow expats who live here on a more permanent basis and helped a new great friend, Sophie, who was also a volunteer here, on her charity open day, she put on an amazing day in an english ‘fete’ style with tradtional Sri Lankan dancing (pic above).
It is coming to the end of the ‘season’ now as the humidity intensifies and tourists leave, so i’m spending my last few days on Hikkaduwa beach, contemplating my next move. I have a number of options which is indeed a luxury…also confusing at times!! …..but the next blog post will reveal all!….
There is no doubt that this magical island has made an indelible mark on my heart and soul and I will be sure to return perhaps sooner rather than later…..funnily enough a palm reader yesterday confirmed this maybe the case….
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