Posts filed under 'Tim's Travels'
Big Yellow Banana Carnage – Over excited, frantic, gungho and a host of similar expletives come to mind following my first surf session on returning to Abay! It had been a little over two months since I had dragged my battered body from the right hand reef point break. My last wave in July had seen me pile driven into the reef. Torn boardies, cuts to hand and butt! Bruising to spine and shoulder! Oh how everyone laughed as I struggled to sit down on the thirty hour jaunt back to the UK! One butt cheek more damaged than the other! Well I was back. Still can’t surf for toffee but totally addicted to surfing in this tropical country. One can’t really miss me out at the point! I’m generally the token long boarder! The board like a boat! 9′ 5” Gulf Stream and very yellow! Primrose! Or as the locals say “Big Yellow Banana”. My first surf back at the point and I tweak my right calf, crack a rib or two and do nothing to help my heavily strapped left shoulder! Who knows what tomorrow will bring, so best live for today and enjoy! It’s got to be a giggle to see surfers and their boards scattering as I charge through the line-up with total disregard to life or limb! What I know is that I have a smile from ear to ear as the adrenaline surges through my battered limbs. It’s after that I feel the pain, the discomfort and the foolishness of my actions. My ears harassed by my adopted Sri Lankan sisters and my closest friends from back home. I know they’re right but I’m Taurean and apparently very stubborn! So, expect to see the “Big Yellow Banana” causing carnage a few more times out at the point!
September 30th, 2009
No Fish, no dinner! - the fishing season is not quite happening for many of the fishermen. The rains have failed to appear, hence the fishing slow. With this years summer season being so hot and dry, the local community is desperate for the rains to start. With less fish around comes a higher price per kilo. So, when shoals of small fish are spotted close to the shore it’s a time for the hand lines with sets of small feather type lures. Much the same as our Mackerel fishing here in the UK but scaled down to accommodate the smaller fish. For Chris and myself it’s an easier task, we have rods n reels at our disposal. Sets of lures we brought out from the UK prove successful. Unfortunately the reef claims Chris’s top catching set and his ability to catch goes to the dogs! For four days we catch enough to feed the family, and more. And this is no small family, more than dozen mouths to feed. Luckily for us Chris is allergic to fish! And how those small fish taste, both fried and curried. Result!
September 29th, 2009
Elephants and Water – A trip to Pottuvil Point highlighted the destruction a herd of thirsty elephants can cause! In one night a vast area leading to the point had it’s Coconut trees flattened. Their shallow root system torn from the ground. Those locals that live in areas that offer water during such dry periods, do so in fear! Many throughout the years have been killed by these huge mammals. It’s a tragic fact of life that this occurs, and shows how desperate that all within the animal kingdom thrive to quench a thirst. A thirst that is paramount for survival!
September 29th, 2009
Galvanized Sheet over Concrete – Not only did he head butt a long board but now he has chosen to fall down a concrete pit! Now you would have thought that a load of galvanized sheet lying on the ground would have given one cause for thought! Alas no, galvanized sheet means a smoother surface for the feet to walk on! Well hey, concrete more rough! Sure, it was night time, and the ability to see poor but why?
I was not witness to the event, I had heard a commotion from where I was situated at the local Tea Shop. We had been previously surfing together at Baby Point and I had caught a sweet, waist high wave in and was keen for a glass of tea. When we heard the crash we thought a fight had started. It has been the end of Ramadan Festival and many Sri Lankans had been celebrating by getting drunk and at times volatile! The few that do drink tend to be light weights and quickly get drunk. Generally it is quite entertaining as they tend to burst out in song and/or dance, or just fall over and sleep where they collapse!
As for Chris, he was sober and had just surfed. He had no excuse! He has however got three cut up toes and a constant reminder of his excursion down the concrete jelly fish hole!
September 29th, 2009
Long board versus Head – Look after him they said. He’s accident prone they said. Oh how right they were! Day 2 and he’s calling me out the water, blood dripping down his face. Yep, he marginally came off worse compared to my surfboard! A one inch gash to his forehead hairline and a few scratches to boot. My board however, a 9′ 2” Tiki Classic Performer, had the tail caved in around the stringer! Wow, how hard his head was to do that damage to the board. From the line-up I shouted him to sit quietly in the shade whilst I took a wave in. His surfing was over for the day. The wound cleaned, steristripped and dressed, his task was of photographer now! Regular checks to make sure he was not nauseous or having double vision, and it was back to business! Krishantha and myself having the pick of the waves at Potti Point, the swell ever increasing. More than four hours we surfed for. My thoughts taking me back to the last time I surfed here, back in July, and how my good friend, Nick ‘Lloydy’ Lloyd, would have ripped these waves apart. Then, it was not to be. Next year, maybe!
September 26th, 2009
Ants in your Pants – Now I don’t know how well you are experienced in the old squat toilets but they all have different characteristics! The one in question slopes backwards to start with, meaning you need to lean forwards when squatting! The other joy is that they are cool, as in temperature! Thus being a prefered place for Ants to set up home! In this case a colony of Red Ants. So you can imagine, I was caught short, rushed to the toilet, squat, nearly fell backwards into the pan with the sloping floor and got mugged and bitten by a swarm of red ants! Oh how I laughed! Perfect place for a webcam!
September 25th, 2009
The Frog and the Beetle – Nice try Mr Frog but you have got to be realistic about things. I know there is nothing wrong with enthusiasm and motivation but c’mon, really, that Beetle was far too big, hard and horny for you to take on alone! Another example of wildlife in Sri Lanka.
September 25th, 2009
Savlon and Sarong – Think! Just think! Yes, you maybe having mucho fun but what are the consequences of being absorbed in self gratification? Chaffing! Oh how a session surfing at Potti Point resulted in me walking like John Wayne! Wave after wave of perfect long boarding waves in a tropical paradise location – ride a wave into the beach, get out, run back to the take-off point, jump back in, and repeat the sequence. The problem, after four plus hours, is chaffing! The abrasive qualities of sand and salt water, trapped within my boardies, on my english skin was just asking for trouble. But you not think that, just think another wave, another wave. My only saviour was the soothing savlon with my sarong! At last some relief from the wet and dry effect I was getting from my boardies! Let this be a lesson to all!
September 25th, 2009
entertained by Chris - accident prone! Holes to my board and to his head! And now he is falling down holes! Mr Martin, sort it out! Lol
September 22nd, 2009
Paddle4relief continues to focus its energy in Arugam Bay primarily due to the safety issues in going further north to engage in projects. The village remains a safety bubble in this turbulent country. Major projects are being carried out by the Government and large NGO’s. However, there are still numerous smaller projects required. Whilst a huge water treatment plant has been built, and completed in July 2008, the local people are still without mains water. Even when it arrives, it arrives at a cost! Individual households have to apply for water supply from the mains pipes laid along the roads. The charge for connection is expected to be between RS3000 (£18) and RS15000 (£90.91). The lower fee for those that were severely affected by the tsunami, with the charge being greater for those being less affected and with the highest charge for those not affected at all. They will have to pay a monthly charge plus what level of usage in litres. The majority of the villagers I spoke to say they cannot afford to pay the connection fee, and will continue to use the supply from the wells on their land.
Paddle4relief are therefore committed in helping those with wells that require cleaning, repairing and improving so as to ensure as many individuals within the community have access to clean drinking water.
Myself, and fellow Paddle4relief committee member Chantal Denham went back out to Sri Lanka in September 2008, returning in December 2008. Miss Denham focused her energies in teaching at the Montesoori School that Paddle4relief completed in 2006. She has also had the vision to make improvements in the facilities and teaching methods and increased the number of activity sessions with the local young children so improving social interaction and development.
Paddle4relief are still working closely with the surfers of Arugam Bay. They have a club in place with a selection of surfboards, supplied by Paddle4relief, for all to use. We are still working towards finding an adequate base for the club. The surfers are paying a membership subscription to help towards funding their future.
We are also working towards regular beach cleans with the local surfers. Through them engaging in community projects it is hoped that other organisations will help support their club, and see it develop as an important resource for the youth of the village.
The local surfers continue to support Paddle4relief in helping us with the swimming club for the younger children of the community. Safety in the water has become more of a priority again for the local community in the first week of January. A 17yr old youth from the village drowned in the sea only a short distance from the main beach. The surfers and other community members are again realising the need for both lifeguards and a warning system to help prevent this type of tragedy happening again.
What else do we do? We purchase and provide food and medicines. Carry out first aid on an almost daily basis - it helps being a qualified nurse! We purchase materials and provide labour for a variety of projects whether it be a roof repair, a pipeline, water pump or water tower. Maybe it’s a boat repair, or engine service or replacement fishing equipment. We work at base level, with the community, listening to their needs.
And of course the Pre-School. We continue to maintain and improve this little haven for the young children of the community.
Tim
February 10th, 2009
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