Colombo was a sleepy little town compared to Chennai, thick smog, constant traffic, but I got on the local bus a few times - a first for me (they don't actually stop, just slow down to a crawl and you hop on, went to the train station and booked a ticket, used the train station washroom (surprising clean!) maybe asking about 8 people for directions and the day of, found my seat without having to ask anyone. All little adventures.
At the beach, young girls were running up to me to say hello, little kids turn and run from me. Have not seen that many north americans - only spoke to one who was on a tour - from Toronto but living in Cairo.
In Vellore, the people from SHARE (Self Help Assoc. for Rural Employment) picked me up, have been staying in their guest house and going for lunch and dinner to their homes. This association employs the ladies who make baskets and handicrafts that you seen in Ten Thousand Villages, they also ship to Europe. They take me around to the training sessions they provide (tailoring, accounting) where the ladies ask me questions. Villi, my chai buddy, comes every morning and we walk up to the Indian equivalent of a fast food joint for chai, he then brings me my breakfast - idli - that someone has prepared at their home. Yesterday they took me to the Sri N....... Golden Temple - sorry no cameras were allowed. Solid gold. They herded us into long caged walkways then into holding areas (300 per area; 5 areas)not unlike a prison, then more herding (with the occasional monkey overhead peeing on the crowd).
The people I was with hung on to me, and each other too. Was mesmerizing, also the reflection in the surrounding water, this is a major attraction for Indians as well.
Hopefully will get on the train Sunday morning (waitlisted at the moment) to Bangalore and then Mysore, all in one day if I can. If not, will get on the bus, maybe only to Bangalore. Have a cell phone and keeping in touch with Nick - love you and miss you lots.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Batticaloa
I found what I typed a few days ago . . . . i'm now in Chennai it's 8 am Monday morning Jan 10. internet access is not close to my hotel nor is it very fast so hoping to get a cell phone today. Also on my list of things - an adapter - the one i brought doesn't work; shopping for clothes and an ATM that actually has money in it.
Love you Bubba
In Sri Lanka:
At the train station a nice young man who couldn't speak conveyed to me that my car would be at the other end of the platform. The train ride to Batticaloa was very pleasant, there wasn't anyone that appeared to speak English but they smiled at me, the kids stared, not sure if they were fascinated or scared of me. The first class car had a big observation window, ceiling fans and the side windows opened for a nice breeze and view.
We passed miles upon miles of shacks - from what I saw it appears that most of Sri Lanka lives in poverty. Also miles of rice, corn, banana trees, coconut trees and torrential rain. I forgot to check on that detail before deciding to come, it was quite flooded in some areas from 10 continuous days of rain. Prince, the guy from World Vision, met me at the train and took me to my hotel, the Subaraj Inn. Very basic but pleasantly surprised that it had a small AC unit, again, that old world charm and everyone very friendly.
Prince picked me up in a borrowed van and we went to Udayanickshan's village, he said that over 2,000 families live in this area. The driving here is crazy - although there is one lane in each direction, there's usually someone driving in the third lane - right down the middle of the road - in the process of passing someone. Not unusual to be on the wrong side of the road with oncoming traffic, at the same time dodging cows and dogs sleeping in the road, potholes and people. They all seem to share the road. It doesn't seem to bother me as they do it all so naturally.
When we pulled up, I recognized Udayanikshan from his photo, they had a beautiful garland of jasmine for me and we walked to their house. The house was made from corrugated tin with a cement floor, apparently all new and recently built with supplies from World Vision. (Since Prince was the only interpreter, I couldn't ask if WV really did all this). The kids were all smiles, so happy, non of us could believe we were actually meeting. We sat and talked for awhile, showed them the stuff I brought for them, Uday pulled out every letter and picture that I had sent him from a folder, showed me his school work. We asked questions about each other, they wanted to hear all about Toronto. They asked how Nick was, asked me where my husband was.
We had lunch from a local restaurant delivered - I was a little nervous about whether it would sit well with my stomache but ate what I could. We all got in the van and drove down to the beach, I think the kids were more excited about going for a ride than anything else. We said our good byes and Prince drove me around showing me all the stuff that World Vision has done. I know alot of people think that their money is wasted on administration, but I do believe that some of it gets to these people, and a little buys so much here, it's ok with me.
There's alot of neat stuff I've seen here but can't write it all down.
Love you Bubba
In Sri Lanka:
At the train station a nice young man who couldn't speak conveyed to me that my car would be at the other end of the platform. The train ride to Batticaloa was very pleasant, there wasn't anyone that appeared to speak English but they smiled at me, the kids stared, not sure if they were fascinated or scared of me. The first class car had a big observation window, ceiling fans and the side windows opened for a nice breeze and view.
We passed miles upon miles of shacks - from what I saw it appears that most of Sri Lanka lives in poverty. Also miles of rice, corn, banana trees, coconut trees and torrential rain. I forgot to check on that detail before deciding to come, it was quite flooded in some areas from 10 continuous days of rain. Prince, the guy from World Vision, met me at the train and took me to my hotel, the Subaraj Inn. Very basic but pleasantly surprised that it had a small AC unit, again, that old world charm and everyone very friendly.
Prince picked me up in a borrowed van and we went to Udayanickshan's village, he said that over 2,000 families live in this area. The driving here is crazy - although there is one lane in each direction, there's usually someone driving in the third lane - right down the middle of the road - in the process of passing someone. Not unusual to be on the wrong side of the road with oncoming traffic, at the same time dodging cows and dogs sleeping in the road, potholes and people. They all seem to share the road. It doesn't seem to bother me as they do it all so naturally.
When we pulled up, I recognized Udayanikshan from his photo, they had a beautiful garland of jasmine for me and we walked to their house. The house was made from corrugated tin with a cement floor, apparently all new and recently built with supplies from World Vision. (Since Prince was the only interpreter, I couldn't ask if WV really did all this). The kids were all smiles, so happy, non of us could believe we were actually meeting. We sat and talked for awhile, showed them the stuff I brought for them, Uday pulled out every letter and picture that I had sent him from a folder, showed me his school work. We asked questions about each other, they wanted to hear all about Toronto. They asked how Nick was, asked me where my husband was.
We had lunch from a local restaurant delivered - I was a little nervous about whether it would sit well with my stomache but ate what I could. We all got in the van and drove down to the beach, I think the kids were more excited about going for a ride than anything else. We said our good byes and Prince drove me around showing me all the stuff that World Vision has done. I know alot of people think that their money is wasted on administration, but I do believe that some of it gets to these people, and a little buys so much here, it's ok with me.
There's alot of neat stuff I've seen here but can't write it all down.
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