Report 2014
15th/16th April 2014
After teaching in the morning I rushed to the airport to get on my flight. Flew by airbus to Dubai. Waited for 2 hours to fly on to Colombo. We went to pick up some bags with toys from Plastipak but realised that it was Singhalese New Year and that nobody was there. We phoned Rohan and Michael came to give us the bags. Thanks to a company from Holland who made this possible. The bags I mean!!
17th April
Got up at 8 o clock , had breakfast, said hello to the owner and his wife and fell asleep till 2.00 o clock again. I always stay at Nature Walk Resort.
Made some phone calls, took a shower, packed my presents and headed off to Chichandri’s place. Potato curry with beans , lady fingers and roti. Yummy
18th April
Bad night. Woke up early. Fell asleep again with fan on. Made some phone calls and ate at the bed and breakfast
19th April
11 .00 I left to go to town. Bought some biscuits and tea for myself.
Went back home. Waited for Ravi , my driver, to discuss our trip to the East and North. Discussed a new school he knew and when to visit. His village gave already food items to this village. I took tuk-tuk to go to chichandri and her daughter Namasha and walked to the temple. Ate vegetables and pancakes with coconut and treacle. I love Sri Lankan food!
20th April
Slept till 9 o clock. Went into town ( I always walk , 20-25 minutes one way) bought scissors, writing pencils and crayons. Looked for the best prices. Went to the wholesale to buy Montessori educational materials ( 100 euro). Gamini and I went back to his place and started to divide all the materials between the schools. 10.00 back at hotel.
21th April
I went to Ramani’s place to do the admin. of the sponsor kids. Early evening I returned and went to Gamini to continue the packing and sorting out for the schools. Back at 10.00 in the evening.
22nd April
At Gamini’s place at 9 o clock. Went by tuk-tuk to pick up Namasha and we all walked to a nursery not far away from her place. Here I found a very dedicated teacher having a nurseryschool with 12 kids in her own living room. We gave educational materials and had a chat what she needs next year.
Got tuk-tuk and went to next nursery (chooti’s). Here we gave the children English books, Duplo, and cars. The children sang some songs and we gave a sweet. I returned to B and B, showered and walked back into town with Namasha. Bought several items for schools. Had a drink at Pizza-Hut. Had a rest at the hotel and back to Gamini’s place to sort out the presents for everyone. Back at the hotel at 10.00 and done admin till 12.00
23rd April
I left at 9.00 to go the autistic unit. On the way we bought some chocolates and yes they melt but the children love it.
Left very soon for Bandulla nursery school. Arrived at 11.00 . Children gave some leaves and bowed down for us. They celebrated that day Singhalese New Year and all parents were there as well.
Gave educational materials and they were very happy.
Discussed the playground. When and how. We told the parents to help.
There was tea and something eat for us.
Then we hurried back to autistic unit/primary school
Gave materials for the kids and little perfumes for the teachers.
The children were dancing and we had a look.
2.00 drove back into town. Ravi (the driver) dropped me off.
Walked back with posters for school.
Took a shower ,15 minutes rest.
Walked to Gamini, sorted out the last things.
6.00 tuk tuk to chichandri’s place to have dinner and back at 9.30
24th April
Got up at 8.00 and left at 9 .00
We (Ravi and Gamini) went to a faraway village in a mountainous area.
Drove 1 hour and afterwards we had to take a tuk-tuk for a further 3 km.
Arrived at a primary school with 20 pupils with nothing. Talked to English teacher and gave educational items such as paper, paint, posters, scissors and toys. Talked about future needs. Then with tuk-tuk to his home and we got a king coconut. He wanted to prepare a meal but we refused. Afterwards to temple in the middle of nowhere . Men talked with the monk and he needed chairs. So we will give him 30 chairs.
Drove back and at 5.00 arrived back in Kandy. Rest and had food at Chichandri’s place.
25th April
Walked with Gamini to tuk-tuk. Picked up Namasha.
Went to Janika (nick-name) school.
English teachers were waiting for us.
Kids gave thank you cards.
We discussed the music instrument they really would like.
They gave tea and food.
Back to the hotel and slept till evening. Very tired
26th April
Walked to Gamini to pick up the presents and toys. Ravi picked me up at 10.00. Arrival 11.15
I visited Edelweiss nursery school.
One girl gave me a bunch of flowers and I taught the kids one English song which I do every year. Kanchana invited to have lunch together. My stomach was a bit iffy afterwards.
Back at the hotel at 3.00.
Admin tasks.
6.00 I went to Chichandri and Namasha to have a meal. 9.00 got back and went to bed.
27th April
Visited Jayakody a dear friend. He lost his eyesight. We had a good chat. Tuk-tuk man waited. Back to town, bought presents for people at home. Changed money and bought flashcards and books. Back to B and B , showered.
4.30 tuk-tuk picked me and Gamini up. We went to Saravena boys home. Meeting with new matron. Discussed needs. They don’t have enough food. Now we will give milk powder, rice, lentils, sugar, tea. When they run out of food and haven’t got enough food donations they can phone us and Gamini will buy the items needed.
28th April
Thank goodness I can have a rest. Slept till 12 o clock. Walked to Thi Lanka hotel and bought a ticket to use the swimming pool (350 R) Great.
4.00 walked to Gamini , picked up bags for school and carried (well pulled) them back to the hotel.(10 minutes’ walk)
Shower and admin tasks.
7.00 tuk-tuk we had dinner at Chooti’s place. 10.00 back at the B and B.
29th April
Everything was arranged to visit 2 schools in a rural area but Sunday evening I got the message: cancelled. What now?
Met up with an old friend. He was an English teacher at one of the school we helped.
I looked around other shops to find new toys and materials which I can buy in case needed.
Nowadays I can find so much more than during the war. It does make things easier.
6.30 met up with Gamini took tuk-tuk to Royal Hall (restaurant) to meet up with Lesley and Ralph.
30th April
Ramani picked me up at 9 o clock. We visited the 4 schools in rural area.
One was Kolugalla school. Here we have sponsor kids and the school was helped by my school. Talked English with the kids, sang some songs At least 3 hours in car. We were back around 4.00. She dropped me back into town. Bought items for the following day. Back around 6.00. It rained and rained. Stayed at Nature Walk for dinner.
1st May
Day off. The schools are closed . What to do?
11.00 Visited one new school. No kids but the teacher and parents were tidying up the nursery (in a temple)after Singhalese New Year. She asks 1000 Rupees per child.
12.00 back had a rest and read.
4.30 Went to Saravena boys home with food items as promised (80 euro), a knife, cake and pocket money. Children you did their o – level got 400 Rupees extra.
Stayed one and half hour. All food items need to be written down. I sat and waited.
6.30 Back at B and B ,walked To Tony and gave him presents and waited for Gamini.
Visited a new restaurant : Aroma Inn. My stomach didn’t like it
2nd May
9.00 left for Janikays school with Sri Lankan instrument in a tuk-tuk
10.30 arrived . Had a walk around school and talked to the teachers.
Kids gave a blessing dance presentation for us and the new instrument
12.30 back in town. Met up with Saman and discussed some matters. Rain came down in buckets and took tuk-tuk to Royal Bar to meet up with Lesley. Did some shopping for the next days for the schools
Back and packed my cases and put them all-in tuk-tuk and we drove to Chichandri where i would stay for the last 3 days.
3rd May
11.00 Left for town with Namasha and by bus. We met up with Gamini and bought tricycle’s, car, playhouse, see-saw and other play-items for the East.
1.00 Aroma Inn having some cake with my friends.
2.00 looking for bathroom items for Chichandri
3.00 bookshop buying paper, posters, paint for the East. I went to the supermarket as well to buy food for the East. Such as pringles, peanuts, cheese crackers, marshmallows, and Marie biscuits. Often is the food in the East , where I go , to iffy for my stomach.
5.00 :Walked back to Tony and we took the bus back , and all in heavy rain.
4th May
Slept well till 10 o clock
Talked, did my admin, and sorted out money matters.
Had a cooking class .
Visited autistic home
Packed my suitcase.
5th May
Ravi picked me and Gamini up at 9.30
We left for the East and arrived at 3.00
I wanted to visit a spring which we couldn’t do last year. It was so special.
Very hot water and no tourists.
Left for Trincomalee and waited at the hospital to meet up with a doctor who organised a sleeping place for us. It was a government bungalow. I was nervous. Was this ok for me?
Normally people from the government stay here. At the entrance were 2 soldiers.
We paid 1500 R ( 10 euro) for the bungalow. For me it was hard. Cockroaches, insects, hot. Thank goodness I had my own duvet sheet with me.
Looking for a place to eat was difficult. Or it was not good enough for me or it was only for foreigners. Finally we found the Dutch Bank Café. Very good.
6th May
8.00 up and a bit of sightseeing.
9.00 breakfast at Dutch Bank Café
Afterwards on our way to resettling village. Took us 2 hours over mainly sandy roads.
Nursery children had to wait for more than 1 hour for us in the heat.
We gave all the materials (180 euro) and discussed what is needed now.
We decided on paint for the walls of the newly built nursery and paying the electricity bill
We went back to the headquarters and had some lovely snacks.
On our way to Jaffna we stopped at a War museum, memorial and beaches.
8.00 arrival at hotel Green Grass.
Room fine but smelly bathroom. Had a meal there and slept.
7th May
7.30 breakfast
8.30 on our way
8.45 Dutch fort (35 degrees)
Afterwards we drove to a ferry and visited an island and a temple on this island.
We took the ferry back got lost but saw some breath-taking beaches.
Visited towards the end of the day Kadurugoda temple.
Back at 6.30.
7.30 Walked around had something to eat and fell asleep
8th May
We left early and visited Hindoe temple and Naga Vihara Temple.
We searched for the King Statue, saw a Dutch gate and visited a palace or better what was left of it.
At 11.30 we left for a long drive to Vavuniya which took us 2 and half hours.
I visited there for the first time my daughter’s family. An aunt and cousin.
Around 4.30 we left for Getaway Hotel ( near the airport) which was another 5 hours.
10.45 in the evening I had something to eat and to bed.
Happy as Larry.
9th May
One night in a beautiful hotel! A had a rest, a swim and something to eat.
Repacked my suitcase again and in the evening I was picked up by taxi which took me to the airport. It had been an inspiring working holiday.