loving the poya days

mat tah theh ren neh na ha ( I don't understand) should have learnt this one first i guess.

Well I’m feeling pretty good right now basking in the breeze of my life-saving flourscent green fan. After 12 hours without power this simple luxury feels, well, like a cool wind in the middle of the sahara desert. Like I said life-saving. Let’s just say last night was a scorcher with sauna like temperatures in my room.

Today is April 2nd and more importantly a Poya or Full Moon day,which here in Sri Lanka means a national holiday. Everyone gets the day off to spend with family and friends. The only downer being that you can’t purchase alcohol anywhere- not restaurants, bars nowhere. As you know (or can imagine) an icy cold beer goes down extremely well and quite quickly on a hot day in the sun. So, I was finding myself endulging in an over-sized Lion lager many nights of the week. So in an effort to keep our alcohol intake at a safe rate Tom and I decided to avoid beer during the week. So far it’s been going okay though I have been drinking a lot more Fanta than I ever have before. There’s just something about a cold beer that’s hard to replicate.

So we spent most of last week up in Colombo attending meetings and progressing the project as best we can. We are still in the process of laying the ground work for the project and following our meetings with a few potential partners it looks like it is going to take longer than we had antcipated. We met with another NGO called CCF and the big local NGO Sarvodaya. Our meeting with CCF was very interesting with the regional director reminded me of a character out of a movie with an awesome shaggy beard, long hippie hair and dressed in the local batik clothing- this is a man I’d love to sit down and have a beer with. As an ex-pat from the US, he’s lived and worked in conflict areas all around the world. CCF (Christian Children’ Fund) is just starting a project working with children who lost one of both parents in the Tsunami, so we’re hoping to form a partnership to work closely with them. Regardless of what happens, a great organization doing great work here and all around the globe. From what we’ve heard the southern area of Sri Lanka was packed full of NGO workers up until the end of 2006. The tsunami brought hoards of relief workers and now in comparison it is like a ghost town well in respect to ex-pats and foreigners. Today in fact, being Poya Day (and a result of us having no power) Tom and i ventured out to the coastal village of Dickwella (meaning long beach). We took the local bus which is an adventure in itself and not something I’d do too often, despite is costing me 19 cents for a 30 minute ride. The bus drivers hardly stop to let you on/off and so you kind of have to take running leap to make it. Anyway, we ventured to Dickwella in search of pizza. We were told by some friends of ours from the Belgium Red Cross that the Village Resort in Dickwella has the only brick oven in SL and they make killer pizzas between 12pm and 3pm. So, off we went in search of pizza. We found the resort with relative ease and met the German owner whom we explained we were scoping out a place for some visitors (which is partially true) and we were hoping to have a swim and some pizza while we were here. Well, the good part was that the pool and lounging area was amazingly beautiful (and free), and the bad part was that due to a lack of visitors at the resort the pizza oven was shut down for the season. argh. Not good. But the day ended up quite good with some reading and relaxing by the pool- feeling like we were on a nice vacation. But an example of a lovely resort on the Indian Ocean virtually empty.

I guess since the Tsunami tourism has been down and now with an increase in security warnings even less Europeans and North Americans are making the trip. It’s really sad to see many of the people here struggling to make money as a result of decreased tourism. Although the conflict is frightening in a way, it really is very isolated and as I’ve mentioned before I feel very safe here. Which is why I’m encouraging you all to come and visit. It really is worth it. My little bro and my Dad are coming in just over 3weeks and so I am very excited to see them and explore more of this great country with them.

Well, tomorrow I do have to work and so I’ve got to run here.
Ayubowan- Amelia