| Sri lanka |
|
22nd December 2009
Arrive
The first thing which is clear, NO WAR!! But as yet the economy is not good. Indi and Shelton pick me up but no Rath which is very strange indeed as he has always been here. At this present time he is on his officer course (Sri-Lankan Army)
Just as always, I feel I have come home. I always feel apprehensive, as the weeks slowly approach to coming here. I am scared that I may have lost my passion for Lanka as it has been a whole year since I was here last. I should not have worried. It is exactly the same feeling and the same passion that I have for this place like all those years before.
I love this place; even the car ride seemed less traumatic than normal. Reaching Lala‘s was just great for me. Small changes, but nothing to destroy its natural beauty, infact many things to enhance its natural beauty.
After settling in, sorting phones, I was ready for my one and only chill and sleep on the beach time. No sleep for over 15 hours even gets to me!!
When I awake, I’m slightly cooked. Prya arrived, his story very sad indeed. Sadly his wife had to go abroad to work and unfortunately Prya and his child were not granted a visa. Two years not seeing her little boy who two months earlier was on the brink of death and as with so many others the family gold and any valuables are pawned in the banks to pay for medical hospital fees.
One and half months in hospital, Prya and his mother look after the baby. Prya is now working three or four jobs to survive, paying off loans and debts. It’s one of those really ‘tough defining ‘moments to once again try and help. I have decided to employ him as my personal trainer and to video my diary and progression in this 2009/2010 trip.
Tahti and Ahmi are both in the same position. Their main trade is from the Villa Ocean which is opposite their house. However, although is a four star hotel, there is only three residents. With an occupancy of 400. Very sad times. So Once again the gold has gone to the bank. Wedding rings, family heirlooms etc all sold. I think about this not for too long and make the decision to give them something.
After the day turns to dusk it is easy to understand why so many Lankans just sit and stare out to sea. Its calming noise and with the day time animals bunking down for the night. The animals swap the job roll.
It is easy to stand for an hour gazing or I guess dreaming.
Off to dinner now, then back over to chat about nothing really, it’s just a great way to end my first day.
Day 2
After waking bright and early, 3AM!!!, I killed time watching the hungry gecko, catching hungry mozi’s. I got ready at 5.30am for my unknown training schedule. I have targets; Prya will be here with me at 8.30 am. I am working abs and light stretch. (With tea) For three hours it is not a chore, as the sun is up and the fisherman are bringing in the catch. I also have time to work out using natural onsite training aids. I struggled today to do any cardio as chest is bad. I am concentrating on abs, prep stretch and upper body etc.
I hope my cardio work can get better whilst I am here, but no rush... This is the beauty of this trip.
La la has built a fence around the hotel already. My thoughts are to side kick over the fence looking towards the beach. Every morning I will look, pace my stamina and dig for more desire to jump it clear. Big task ahead.
In connection to the injury in my hip, I will really try and beat this. I think I can.
Colombo by train, always is an experience, but hair cut and met Chami. Master Lee sent Chami with a black belt for me, as I had forgotten it. Can u believe it? (Extra push ups for me me I think)
Nearly fell out of the train twice, luckily all the passengers are watching me, Lol. Back to Lala’s. Two hours sleep then dinner, Tahti, then Villa Ocean. STill only three couples occupying the hotel... Lala told me he was up at 5.30 am to pray at the local temple to thank for my me being here lol. But all of my friends here and their, friends, families etc are blaming me for such a bad year. ! People lost jobs, the hotel has no guests, sickness (here near death) etc etc.
Reason for all of this, they blame me for this due to the fact I didn’t come in April, especially near NY (April)... As they say Livingwell and I bring them Good Luck and give small monies on or before NY day which is a gift to Buddha (no pressure to come back in April then).
Day 3
Christmas Eve
Like before, very little sleep, not on the training ground until 7.30am. Sun extremely hot, but my cold is still bad and had to miss my skipping day, just can’t sustain cardio. Abs and pushups ok.
Prya working me is a great help. Although his Wushu concept is different, the gymnastics they use is a huge help in my weak areas. This trip like every other is very different. I guess this is really just for me. My desire to get better will be for all. What I get from this will depend on what I put in. When I return I will have to introduce this to those I teach, more importantly those who want to be taught. I represent the majority in martial arts, i.e., not young, supple and not natural talent, so I do hope that my students relate and believe the impossible.
I guess because of my indulgence right now, I am chilling by writing etc, however I am paying the price by being eaten alive. Ants, flies and Mosquitoes.
Also I saw the prettiest snake today.
Day 4
Christmas Day
After an uneventful eve, I am still not getting any real sleep; I dragged myself to the training ground. After ten minutes I was in my stride. Yet still not able to skip or run... However I did manage a more lively session. After my now normal warm up, Prya arrived which was abet strange as he wanted to train with suppleness in mind. I asked Prya to take it... Prya was pleased to undertake the task. He understand my needs in kicks etc. There is a significant improvement. After training, off to play Santa. Feel a little sad, not the recourses to do anything substantial this time, but I’ll be able to give some food, book and pens etc. The mentally afflicted boy’s home was in once again a poor state. Most of the boys were always with families. I guess this is quite a nice thing. The remaining boys and I laid the gifts on their beds for when they returned. The girl’s home was of course clean and respectable, but all 45 girls are without families. This is always a pleasure to visit. Very warm and welcoming. Although, extremely needy they are brought up well and educated. Our task next time is to have in place an irrigation system to stop it flooding. The rains at this time of year are heavy... We need to sort parking and play areas fixed with minimum work load, which they simply can not afford to do.
From the Santa run, it’s a rush back to our friend and first contact in Lanka for his family Christmas gathering. They are mixed Buddhists and Catholic, so celebrating Christmas is a very big deal. Most families are using our traditional ways, i.e.: stockings fro the children for when they wake up. The small children really believe that Santa is very much alive. There is no big giving of presents. It is very much ‘’ dress smart time and family get together’s, which each family member bringing food’. The nearest to eating the same cuisine as ours at Christmas is cake, fruit... Yule log has proved very popular. After this I return to Lala’s bloated and very tired... The rain came with vengeance and with this I caught an hour’s cat nap. Sleeping is something I have not really been able to do. I am writing this at 1.30am and will probably awake within three hours to train again in the early hours.
Boxing Day
Today is Tsunami Day. After training I will attend a ceromony in remembrance for Diahr’s brother who lost his life on the Galle train.
Training today was really a mixed session. Some really good things happening and some not! I did four hours of stretching and kicking. At the end of the session my body had had quite enough. The kicks at the end were poor and I knew I had to stop. Next was my swim, 250 strokes out and back. It seems really weird and not that obvious that I should naturally swim the same arm strokes back. I was swimming out further as the waves were fierce going out and the undercurrent the same, but bizarre it is always exactly equal going out and coming back.
Just back from Memorial. An interesting fact for you all... The widow cannot marry again. The monks are paid well for a few hours. The cost is high, but custom says it’s a must. Being the only white person is abit odd but of course everyone is very sociable.
On the beach, now blazing with heat, a chance for me to chill out in the heat and recover from what seemed to be quite an emotional day.
Day 6
Early start again. Woke up from a restless night due to being in a lot of pain. I really did push myself yesterday. I am blaming myself for bad management.
We hit the road really early this morning. In fact 7.30 to be precise. A long trip by tuctuc. The only way of describing this trip is to compare it to a Flintstone ride!! Or even a wheelbarrow ride. But hey ho it’s free.
First stop, an old temple, lovely setting and just tranquil. My body seems to be as stiff as a board and it shows on the video footage. So lot’s of editing for me. For me this video footage is to highlight ‘place of interest and to make use of them and to emphasise to try different training methods. I also want to get across an element of danger, and trust me, some of the places and some of the drops that I demonstrated kicks on, if I had fallen, I wouldn’t be writing this. Stop 1 was ok.
Stop 2
Mmmmmm a sort of disguised colonial house, high on a hill through some jungle area. I say disguised but there is a family of squatters in it. It’s a little cool actually because this family would normally be found in a banana roofed shack, but are living in a what was once a palace. You can feel the eerie history about it. The live – in baron showed us his temporary home. We needed a little more, well lets say glamour, so we took to climbing up on the roof and we could see an amazing panoramic view of Bentotau. Although quite precarious we had some fun up their, especially trying to get back down!!
Stop 3
This was an unusual short trip across a river travelling by an old manual ferryboat. This stop was lots of fun with the locals really looking at us (well me) as we look totally bonkers. This photo shoot was a lot of fun and a test of my **** balance. The danger here was the river! Apparently no-one knows what is beneath. The locals say there is no bridge built their due to its unknown depth and under current.
Stop 4
Well hmmm, this stop for me was a total disaster. I couldn’t kick at all and couldn’t stretch at!! With all this going on, I was getting really grumpy and frustrated; however we did manage to salvage something. Great photo shoot on the rocks.
Stop 5 ( Final Stop)
Another WuShu class. Today’s class wasn’t a big class due to most of the students on holiday and at family parties etc. Just a few of us their but we had fun as always. Prya and his outstanding student who will compete at the World Championships in China in 2010, asked me to teach some of the class. Imagine this , I speak English and the instructor’s went off somewhere and left the poor students scared witless with me. However, like all Sri Lankan martial artists, they were wicked and very talented with one very special girl who you will see in the DVD. The journey back was another experience , thunder floods and a massive storm. With us all tired and aching and in our wheelbarrow!!
Day 7
As anyone who has been with us here before, Day 7 means it’s nearly over. From now, the time will fly. sadly, today is an overnight trip to Negumbo to see Rath’s wife’s house. Rath is still up in the hills training and is not permitted to contact the outside. He will be there until the end of April. It is always lovely to see Bubba (his wife) and family. Seeing his mummy, I feel like I am with family. This is ideal time to rest up. Chami has met us here, which means he is boss whilst his brother is away. We took a trip to the beach and I was able to swim. My strokes are up to 300 strokes out and 300 back. Although I had not anticipated the stronger current!! Leaving Chami and all of the others is always sad. All of his lovely family are always panicking about absolutely everything.
Back safe and sound and feeling good . At least I had done some work… but generally a nice chilled day and a lovely trip with nice people.
Day 8
Omg !!! 8 days already back at Lala’s by midday, which means I can rest rest for a while and the go for a swim and go for 350! Would just like to add if the writing stops here I didn’t make it, as I won’t turn around until I get to 350. I think tonight Master Lee is coming to meet me which will be good. Spooky just got the message he is coming 31st Dec. Had an eventful afternoon, trip to Hospital!! Prya ‘s friend sent me for an x-ray. Seen straight away and results all good, which means no hip problem or joint problem. So medicine and regular massage and two weeks off. MMMMMMM I don’t think so!! Back to programme.
Day 9
Good day today. Full work out, but obviously restricted on certain movements. It’s not as I would like but with each day it is improving. Prya here to help again. What I have done is good so I am pleased.
Wey hey, swam my 400 strokes!! So pleased with it. Bought some new glasses!!! Then took the ‘’’mad bus’’’ to Kalutra. I do now know how sardines feel. Back to back to Lala’s , dinner, then Tahti, the watched some fire eaters at the Villa Ocean. Today has been a very very good day.
Day 10
New Years Eve!
Great day’s training. I really do feel that the injury is getting better. Even with disgusting medicine and Pryas massage, I couldn’t do my 500 strokes. In fact it was more to do with the sea. Too rough, will try tomorrow.
Met Master Lee, He came to Lala’s had a very long chat with him and then went for lunch at Ninja’s Cinnamon Tree (restaurant) and very nice it was too. The rest of the day was chill out and sun. The evening was a real anti-climax. Good fireworks but no atmosphere. Also although it really doesn’t bother me at all, it was POY DAY. This is a religious day where no alcohol is involved, so a dry NYE. It was weird to see so many Russians sober let alone it being NYE. I got back to LALA’S AT 12.30AM to find our very own Buddhist. Lala staff and friends slaughtered hahahaha. So lots of love and hugs then off to my bed.
January 1st 2010 New Years Day.
Wake u at 5am, Fireworks still going off. I guess as many countries and tourists reach NY at different times.
I have no idea about training today, however I do go out to the training ground at 5.45 am and train till 8.30. Next stop to Thati’s for the 1st day trade for NY. In Sri Lanka this is seen as a Good Luck thing. They celebrate NY twice, now and then again in April.
I get back to Lala’s so finished training and all went quite well. I mooched about all day, trained in the evening and had a great session and at sunset break techniques etc. It’s so hot; I had a really good day.
Day 12
A whole day of training with a few hours breaks in the middle. Did 600 strokes out to sea. In fact, nearly swam into the shipping lane. Not all the training good and my kicking is not consistent. I managed some more video which will be very good and help everyone with their training, but also a constant remember for my teaching.
Manu came to visit which was nice to see him. Trained at Wu shu again. This time was also quiet. Looked at how to better themselves. We also did a fun run and gave sweets and pens to the villagers. Running into people’s houses and lots of kihaps to let all know that we were coming!! Really knackered now. I have a private lesson with a local Doctor tomorrow. It would give Prya a lot of kudos as he introduced me to the Doctor.
We start at 6am.
Day 13 January 03.2010
Day starts at 5.30 waiting... Whilst waiting for Doctor I carry on my own regime of sit-ups push ups and light stretch. Just an hour with the Doctor and very basic. He’s a nice guy and very educated. I’m shocked that he speaks 4 different languages. Today at 4pm, Monica will be here. I hope I can get some really unusual photos with her. General lazy day and making most of the sun before heading home.
My training will start to slow now; will have some good stretch lesson though. I feel that my lesson/ training with the Doctor was ok. Great guy, starting out with his training quite late, however he has determination. Unusual for Sr-Lankan’s to be unmarried at late age. Not sure of his age different each day hahahaha.
After the session we all had breakfast, chatted and had a very chilled day and a chance to evaluate a lot of things.
Sure enough 4pm comes and our beautiful elephant arrives. A bit daunting knowing what I want to do. Not sure Monica will go with it. She reared up which was very unusual. Anyway I explained to her owner what I wanted to do. He is a lovely guy. I have got to know him and her over the years and I am really convinced that Monica knows who I am as well. I lay down and watched this multi ton animal attentively place her foot down on my stomach. I sensed that she really didn’t want to and I am sure that she was scared of hurting me. Strangely I was not frightened at all. This gentle giant and potentially killing machine, was just playing. We then carried on, with her holding the pad in her trunk (and me stupidly asking her to position it correctly) but she knew!! Lots of posing fun was to follow and this has to be one of my highlights from my trip.
After she left we continued filming and I just felt invincible. The energy and feeling I got from Monica was immense. A surge of power physically and mentally. A great great day.
Day 14 January 04.2010
Last full day, up at 5am. Traditionally we do this to watch the sunrise. Although I have done this most days and even though I have another sunrise to go, this was the last one at Lala’s. Some light training, last of my sit-ups and pushups. Met Tahti at 5am to go to Colombo. I often do this on my last day. I take the train and ride the coastal line. With this you see the beauty, Poverty, the remains of Tsunami although 5 years ago, the village life, the fishermen and the loving (courting couples under the parasols) and as you finally chug into Colombo the big ships are waiting to enter the port.
Haircuts and shopping and meet up with Ranjit. He is in uniform and his new two star major status. Again a gentle giant but also a killing machine and a decorated war hero. It was so good to see him. On returning to Lala’s I stopped off at Prya’s work where he undertakes the role as a post worker. I received a lovely welcome from his boss and they gave Prya the rest of the day off so he could spend his time with me. For the whole trip, Prya has been my devoted servant. He has spent the previous night up and awake editing the DVD for me the went straight to work at 5am... Prya hadn’t ate all day and night, so I took him to Lala’s where he got food.
Traditionally I went for my last swim and the showered and change of clothes and headed to Prya’s for the premier of my trip. We have crammed as much training into the short time we had as is humanly possible. Training and fun. Off to Tahti’s to say my goodbyes. Always sad, but this time a real gut wrenching moment. So many emotions, I will come back, I have too, I need them and he needs me.
Goodbyes at Lala’s were equally hard. Lala himself, was a bulldog of a man, turned into a soft cuddly bear that you want to hold and keep you safe. The two security guy’s that watched over me every day and night, brandishing proudly their gold watches I had brought them (fake of course). Then u have the waiter wearing my size 5 shoes with his size 6 feet. They will feed their families on the smallest of wage. These people have lived through knifings, war, beatings, Tsunami, but they smile and never complain and are great friends of mine.
This time saying goodbye to Prya was exceptionally difficult. I could see it in his eyes he was empty. I thought to myself what will he have tomorrow? For me I have a full programme back home. Family, friends, work and club. Fortunately he does have his Martial Arts and for the non-martial artists, believe me I would struggle to survive especially in 2009.
On a good note I was finally going to see my Asian brother. Back from his course for three days. (unexpected leave) Seeing Rath was a heart warming moment.
Just thinking in the morning it will be heart wrenching moment when I have to say goodbye. As I have not spent all my time with him, I won’t worry as much about him. He has a beautiful wife who is expecting his baby, a career and a good prospective future. I am very proud of my brother as two years ago his state of mind was that he couldn’t carry on with anything including life.
Last Day
I met the Major, brief chat but sweet. Again another dear friend of mine.
I arrive back to UK
The end …………… for now
Del
xxxxxxxxxx
|