sri lanka

My summer of transition is going well. I returned from Sri Lanka a week ago, dazed and baffled. The whole two weeks spent there were an absolute dream.

At some point last year my friend and I thought that we were capable of flying half way across the world for two weeks at the ripe old age of sixteen. It was only until we stepped off the plane into the almost insufferable heat that we realised quite how momentous it actually was.

The first few days were a blur of jetlag and foreign noises/food/everything, but beyond that we seemed to forget our past lives and fully engrain ourselves in the thick of it.

The mornings were spent looking after Kumara (meaning Prince), a magical elephant who had sustained injuries from his former life in the tourism trade, but who appeared to be happy being pampered by westerners. The afternoons were either spent sleeping, exploring by tuk tuk or tagging along to the orphanage. The orphanage was an emotionally-draining experience but i'm glad I went; actually seeing the lives and societal position of these children in the flesh really did have an impact on us.

 We were mainly transported by tuk tuk, which is the most fun mode of transport I have ever experienced. Not only can you encounter the sights and sounds of Sri Lanka, the drivers also enjoy playing banging tunes at top volume. Some of my favourites included Mysterious Girl by Peter Andre and One Love by Blue. Pure nostalgia.

Here are the developed photographs from one of the disposable cameras I didn't mislay in a tuk tuk.

 

 

This is Bob, one of the tuk tuk drivers. Everyone in Sri Lanka has a mild obsession with Bob Marley, so (i guess) his nickname is due to that.

 

 

 

The pattern on a temple ceiling

 

 

The long descent from said temple



A lone woman, spotted on a boat ride

 

sunbathing on hell roof (named so, by myself, because of the temperature - I spent 10 minutes up there and my eyelids started sweating)

 

 

 

View of coconuts from the top of hell roof



The sweaty but aesthetically-pleasing bus ride to Mirissa, where we spent the weekend

 

 

Glorious Mirissa

 

 

attempting to take a photograph of a thoughtful quote in The Handmaid's Tale. I think it was "But maybe boredom is erotic, when women do it, for men", which I find interesting. The novel is full of intriguing notions from the narrator and protagonist, Offred. It was on my summer reading list for sixth form but it has become enjoyable to read rather than a task.

 

 

Glorious Kumara, the only man in my life

 

The wicked view we looked out upon whilst washing Kumara

 

Caught in a torrential downpour

The town
 



I hope all your summers are as peachy as you hoped.

 

suzie