We Spied ‘em

After a very long day on Friday (two assessment interviews in two towns, visit to a Hindu temple and a Buddhist temple) we arrived at Yala Village, an eco friendly accommodation at 8:00 p.m. On the way into the resort, we spied a leopard that was crossing the road. What a thrill! He didn’t run away but took his time getting to where he was going. We checked in, ate dinner and headed to our cabins for a shower and a quick sleep as our safari started at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday.

We had a Land Rover driver, Suba, who thought he was Mario Andretti but the truth was he was trying to get to the leopard spying area first, ahead of the other visitors to the park. Sure enough, we saw a leopard right off the road in the bush. We stopped and watched and he also took his own sweet time and crossed the road at his own pace, allowing the three cameras to click away. Bill has an excellent digital camera with a telephoto lens allowing him to get some great shots. Ron and Wes have digital cameras but don’t have the big lens. We couldn’t have been happier. There are about 50 leopards in Yala National Park, the largest concentration in the world. Yala is located in the southeastern corner of the island. Unlike the wet zone with its lush vegetation, this area is a dry region with lots of scrub land with enormous rocky outcrops. It is hot and arid here. You are not allowed out of the vehicle once you are in the park.

We kept exploring various areas of the park. In a space of three hours, we saw a bear, an elephant quite close to the road, a jackal, many water buffalo, countless peacocks, 10 or so wild boars, lots of spotted deer, an eagle, a brown wood owl, painted storks, grey heron, black headed ibis, and green bee eaters. We were grateful to have seen such a variety with the crowning moment of seeing the leopard.

We came back to the resort that is located within two kilometers of the park entrance, ate a huge breakfast and showered, as it is quite dusty riding in an open-air vehicle in an arid area. We rested, read and managed to mosey on over for lunch. We head back out at 3:30 for more viewing, having requested Mario (Suba) again since we had had such good fortune with him this morning.

Our resort is called Yala Village. Once it is dark you are not to leave your cabin or go to your cabin without being accompanied by a resort staff person because of the animals that come into the area at night. The accommodations are cabins built on piers a few feet off the ground. The floors are wood and the interior walls are plaster, exterior are stucco. There are lots of windows with hand painted curtains. The furniture is rustic, made of wood. We were issued a cloth bag on arrival and requested to take any trash we generate home with us. What a great way to make us aware of how much trash we generate. We are to take home any bottles or cans, cellophane wrappers, paper, disposable razors, boxes from toothpaste tubes, etc. We have a fan and air conditioner in the room as well as a mini bar and TV. We are asked to conserve water and given the opportunity to use our bath and bed linens more than a day, reducing the amount of water and detergent used. This is the first place I have seen in SL where I was given this option. Environmental issues are not in the consciousness of Sri Lankans yet.

On Friday Ron and his team were doing an assessment in Hambantota. The Asia Foundation had given the local authority of Hambantota a grant and part of that grant had been given to children who had lost one or both parents in the tsunami. On Friday the local authority was presenting each recipient a saving book and the money is to be used for educational and medical expenses. The chairman of the local authority asked Ron to say a few words on the behalf of the Asia Foundation. This was unexpected and I wasn’t there but Bill and Wes who have been doing the assessments told me about it and said they were quite touched by Ron’s words. I asked Ron what he had said. He said “I am honored on behalf of the Asia Foundation to present this award to you. Like others in the international community we were heartbroken when we heard about the effects of the tsunami but it was nothing compared to what you are feeling. The money in this bank account can never replace your lost family but you have an opportunity to use it and make them proud of you.” I am in tears as I write this and oh so proud of my dear, sweet husband.

It’s time to head out for safari part two!

It was one dusty afternoon on the safari trail. We saw two mongooses, three elephants: a mama, a juvenile and a baby. We saw more peacocks, a huge painted stork and some huge crocodiles. No leopards but we can hardly complain since we saw two within 12 hours. We saw lots of deer and then a small herd of elephants. All in all it has been a very rewarding trip to Yala.

Tomorrow we head for home, a minimum of six hours on the road. We get dropped off in Colombo, Wes and Bill will head up to Chilaw with Veena our neighbor who will serve as their interpreter. They will have an additional two hours on the road but will stay at Club Palm Bay, one of my favorites: right on a lagoon facing the beach.

Monday
We arrived yesterday exactly six hours after departing from Yala. We were welcomed with lots of rain. I did a load of wash just in time for the sky to unzip. This morning I hand washed six blouses/shirts and hung them out to drip dry. As I was getting into the shower I heard the rains again. I was told by the cab driver this morning that it will now rain for a few months. I think doing laundry will become a real trick and I will experience a new level of mildew and mold…

That’s it from paradise five degrees above the equator.

PS
I came home from running some errands and was eating my lunch. I noticed something on the dining chair next to me. Upon closer inspection I noticed there were little white specks all over the chair. It has started: the season of mildew and mold. Yikes!