Happy Wanderers: February 3, 2019 - Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

February 3, 2019 - Trincomalee, Sri Lanka - Sunday, Day 28

Today we docked at another industrial port. Shuttles are provided to the port gate because it is a working port and this provides for passenger safety. At the gate local Tuk Tuk drivers and taxi drivers will vie to drive passengers to the town, which is too far away to walk. We will avoid this because we have booked a ship’s tour. We are going on Sri Lankan Village Experience.

By 8:00 we were on the coach and underway. A 2 hour ride took us quickly through the city of Trincomalee and out into the countryside. We enjoyed the scenery along the way, the properly scheduled rest stop and the encounter with a mother and baby elephant/ These 2 were meandering down the road at the edge of the jungle. Elephants are protected here. We stopped until they had safely walked past the coach. This gave us an opportunity to take a few pictures of a sight we are not likely to encounter again.

Eventually we arrived at our destination. It was raining and we donned our ponchos as we waited to receive our king coconuts. These had been pierced and were served with straws so we could enjoy the sweet nectar that is their juice. It was very refreshing and our guide explained that it was also a very healthy form of hydration.

As we walked away from the coconut station the rain stopped. we stowed the ponchos and continued walking down the path. We were not sure where we were going , but it soon became apparent that we were going for a ride in a small twin hulled boat. These were called catamarans, but they were not like any catamaran we had seen before. 6 people boarded each boat. we sat on a plank floor above the hulls with our feet down in the hulls. It took a little effort to wiggle into position, but proved to be surprisingly comfortable. One shortcoming was that the 3rd to 6th passengers had to sit on the deck where the first 2 had walked. The rathe to get here was gravel and the rain had muddied it. In other words 4 of us sat on muddy footprints. Nothing the laundry can’t fix.

Our local captain paddled us out into a small lake. There were many aquatic plants growing all around. Some of them had pretty violet colored blossoms. Our captain pointed out various species of water fowl as he paddled on. We had been hearing an unusual to us bird call. Soon the captain pointed out a peacock high in a tree on the edge of the lake. This is certainly not something we would ever see in Busse Woods in Elk Grove. Another novel travel experience.

After some more paddling we disembarked the catamaran at a narrow pier in the bush. With contortions we extricated ourselves from the boat. The pier was a suspended wooden walk just 18 inches wide. Thank goodness there was a railing on one side.

Once off the pier we made our way down another muddy trail to a traditional hut. The walls were made from ant mud and cow dung. It was explained that the earthen floors were also of cow dung and mud. The cows graze on beneficial herbs as well as grasses. For this reason people go barefoot. The herbal benefits are absorbed through the souls of the feet. The roof of the hut was made of thatched palm leaves. We were treated to a demonstration of how the leaves are split and woven. Fascinating.

Local women now showed us how rice grains are prepared for cooking by grinding the grains by hand and winnowing the remains. They had prepared a dish of rice, mild curry and coconut for us to try. It was very good.

Now it was back to the narrow pier and the boats. After a very short ride we exited at a better pier and started off on yet another trail through the bush. The trail was well maintained, but the rain did leave its mark.

After a longer walk on this trail we were met by ox cats. These high carts were powered by 2 large oxen. It was a high step to get into the cart, but 6 of us made it nicely. Much easier than boarding the catamarans. We were taken on a nice ride over a bumpy trail past rice fields and several homes. Alice commented to me that the rice looked ready to harvest. our driver, who had been silent till now and was sitting directly in front of us, explained in excellent English that its golden color indicated it is almost ready to harvest as Alice had observed. In 2 weeks they would harvest it. At the end of this enjoyable ride we exited the cart in a compound that included several benches, a few dining huts and happily the restrooms.

We made our way to one of the dining rooms since the restroom line had already achieved Wrigley Field length. We no sooner sat down than 2 men wound their way through the group offering large bottles of Sri Lankan beer. Alice and I each took one. Another man insisted that we each take a bottle of water because it was also included. We obliged, knowing that we would carry it back to the ship. Lunch was served buffet style. It consisted of rice, dahl, curried banana flower, curried eggplant, herbed salad, dried fish curry (very hot we were warned), dried lake fish and a bread.

We tried everything and were amazed at how tasty it all was. The banana flower was pleasantly sweet. the eggplant was mildly hot. The dried fish curry was amazing. I may have been the only one who thought so as the bowl was still pretty fun went I returned for seconds. We had been told the dried lake fish was meant to eat in its entirety. This meant bones, fins and head. Boy, it was good, but some of the bones were pretty tough. I must say that all of these flavors blended well to make a varied and delicious meal. It rivaled lunch in the dining room.

After a comfort stop it was back to the coach and return to Maasdam. Alice and I talked about the tour on the way home. We were in agreement that the content was all excellent. The only shortcoming of the tour was our guide. She offered very little insight into the culture and customs of the local community. This left her far short of her peers we had experienced in other cities. She was not new to tourism either. This was a disappointment, but it did not ruin our experience.

The local people who paddled us around the lake, drove the ox carts, demonstrated domestic arts and cooked and presented such an outstanding lunch made our day. It was everything we had hoped it would be and more.

At dinner we heard complaints from some people who had shunned tours that the town was too far away and had too little to see. This was no Columbo, Sri Lanka. We hope that Columbo in 6 days will heighten their opinion of Sri Lanka.

It is hard to believe that we have completed 4 weeks onboard. We are having a grand time on this non Grand Voyage. We have no serious complaints. We continue to experience a spirit of euphoria that came over us in Fremantle. We cannot remember another cruise that has had us feeling so happy and contented.