Tea plantations and temples

We are back in Midigama after our weekend adventure. Our trip started of with a bus ride at 5 am Thursday morning, and as ”only one” bus ride soon turns out to be 2-3 bus rides and ”a little few minutes” is never just a little few minutes, it took some time to get there. But we were all happy about going on an adventure so no one cared; they hadn’t been on a holiday in about seven years so everyone was very excited!

Our first stop was somewhere outside Ratnapura, and we stayed at Manike’s uncle and aunt’s place; a cute little pink house in the middle of a tea plantation. The days in Ratnapura were great. We went to the river, Manike’s cousin showed us the gem mines and we visited small temples; the kids were happy and playing all day as we went around to visit Manike’s family.

Ravihan exhausted after playing outside all day.

I also got to see a cobra snake, although a little too close to my liking. I saw it under the tea plants at the backside of the house and apparently it lives somewhere there so the kids where not allowed to play at the back of the house. They said it was no problem at the front because it would never go to the front. It’s just like in Bentota earlier this year we were told there was a crocodile living in the river so you could not go swimming on the left side of the bridge, but the right side of the bridge was safe because it wouldn’t cross under the bridge. Not so sure if I would trust this and I didn’t walk around in the tea plants after I saw the cobra (not even at the front of the house).

Tea and coconuts

I sort of feel like I have been tested ever since I mentioned comfort zones. On arrival I was told we were going to have a bath outside. And no I’m not talking some fancy designed outdoor shower in a 5 star resort; it was just a shower – outside. And with no walls. Normally I have problems changing in front of people and will lock the bathroom door even if I’m home alone, so you can say I can be a reserved person at times, and now I was about to have a shower outside with the rest of the family. I kindly declined the offer of showering with the family and said I’d do it later; I think they understood because they all laughed. At least I showered the proper Asian way with a sarong wrapped around me outside, and in the middle of a tea plantation. 

And no matter how much I travel in Asia there is one thing I cannot get used to and that is squat toilets! It doesn’t matter what you say there is no way anyone will be able to convince me that this is more hygienic than ”normal” toilets and toilet papers. And of course when there is no inside shower there will most likely not be a western toilet, so I came prepared with toilet paper (and Imodium for worst case scenario). I also find it difficult to share bedroom with other people than my boyfriend and all of the sudden I am sharing room with a whole family and almost their extended family as there is no doors and the rest would sleep on the floor outside our room.

I find it amazing how Manike’s family gave up their bed and slept on the floor to let me sleep in the bed. I felt so bad about it I convinced Manike to let the girls sleep in the bedroom as well; it would have been too awkward sleeping alone in a bed while eight people slept on the floor outside the room.

Not sure what all this is going to teach me and I don’t know if it will make me a better person, but it definitely gives me a different perspective on things. People who have nothing will give everything and the one thing there is no lack of here is hospitality! Never have I experienced so many people trying to make me feel as comfortable as possible; every time I got up from a chair someone would be there to ask what I want, or if I come inside a room someone would come running with a chair and maybe a cup of tea. I am not even joking when I said I had two plates of papaya on my lap. First one person gave me a plate with papaya and before I even had a bite the next person put another plate with papaya and mango on my lap and asked if I wanted some tea. No one even seemed to think it was weird that I was sitting there looking confused with two plates of papaya in my lap.

Yesterday we arrived in Colombo for Vesak Poya day after another early start. I asked someone what was special about this celebration and they said: ”You know big alms (meaning big monk), big big alms?? He born and dead this day.” Buddha’s birth and death is celebrated every full-moon in May, as he also died on this day.

Colombo was beautiful; everyone was happy and the streets were decorated with colourful lights and prayer flag. Little stands where set up for the occasion where you could get free ice-cream, tea, rice and curry and some kind of vegetable soup; every time I ask if I wonder about some vegetable I am told ”it is very, very good. Eat.”

Vesak Poya day is definitely not like our Christmas; it seems to be a lot more religious in a way and they take it very serious. Colombo was full of people dressed in white and many had been at the temple since early morning to listen to the monks and for prayer and worship. Some had brought blankets and chairs to stay at the temple for most of the day and some even stayed for 24 hours. The temple was covered in flowers and fruit that people had brought as offerings.

My little friend in red.

I am so glad I got to see Vesak Poya day celebrated at the Kelaniya Vihara Buddhist temple before going home. I absolutely loved it and I am even more fascinated about the beauty of believing. I have met so many beautiful people on this trip and I have really been touched by some of their stories; there are many tragic stories here but the people still stay strong and grateful for life. And not least they are unbelievable welcoming and they would do anything to make me feel comfortable. I cannot express how happy I am to be able to experience and see all this; it has been an amazing trip. Work is calling and tonight I will be catching the bus to Colombo to fly back home and I am just about to take the kids to the beach one last time.

And by the way, I saw a turtle on the beach yesterday!!