Hoo-Maniya Blowhole - Kudawella

On last Wednesday's Poya Day (the full moon holiday which occurs every month in Sri Lanka), we took a trip with our host family and some friends to the Hoo-Maniya blowhole.

We all packed into the back of their van and bumped the five miles or so to the town of Kudawella. This name means small beach, and it was unfortunately very badly hit in the Tsunami. As part of the village's redevelopment they have had some help rebuilding the path to the blowhole and with the construction of some stalls for drinks and souvenir sellers. However because of the wider problems in the Sri Lankan tourist industry it was not that busy.

The blowhole itself is a natural crack in the rocks, and when the wind blows in the right direction the water shoots up the cliff and into the air

We picked a good day to go as the water was shooting up to about five metres above the cliffs, and a good fifteen metres above the sea!



The water shoots up above the cliffs at quite a speed. The first part of the name Hoo-maniya comes from the wooshing sound of the water.
































Some people stand and watch from a safe distance.


































The size and speed of the water spout can give you a fright. Norny was certainly surprised!


































Here is the rest of our party, including our host family, some cousins and friends from the next town who were getting a rare day off from running their grocery store.

Giant Buddhas and Tangalla

Some of our neighbourhood buffalo walk with us in the morning.























The clock tower in the centre of Tangalla.






























A typical Sri Lanka style bus with passengers.























The giant eight story Buddha at Wewurukannala Vihara temple near Dickwella and Tangalla.
























Seated Buddha in the temple shows the position of touching the ground.















































It was a typically hot afternoon, and we were able to climb up the back of the Buddha and receive a blessing while looking into his head from behind.



























This is a typical Dagoba or Stupa, and the three rings around it show that it contains some kind of Buddha relic.



























Here, some people pray by the sacred Bo tree, each one grown from a cutting of the one under which Buddha is supposed to have sat.

Mulgirigala Cave Temples

Here are some photos from the cave temples at Mulgirigala near Tangalla.

It is a very beautiful place and we are grateful to our guide, Vijay, for showing us round.

I have signed the photos as people tend to have a relaxed attitude to intellectual property here!






The temple from a distance





















Steps up to the top - 500



























A dagoba containing a Buddha relic - indicated by three rings
























Some Hindu influenced painting and Vijay





















One of the reclining Buddhas - size approx 12m




















Peacock, elephant, lion, fish, pig - some of each in there.





















Seated Buddhas




























The view from the top of the rock

Working in Sri Lanka

So, what am I actually doing here in Sri Lanka? This is a question I have begun to ask myself!

The purpose of the programme that sent me here is to provide sustainable assistance to aid development in an area that was affected by the 2004 Tsunami. More specifically I am working with a rural women’s organisation to help build their capacity. This means not just helping the organisation with tasks right now – though that is part of it – but also helping them to be a stronger organisation once I have moved on. Depending on the volunteer this can take various forms, but one of the areas I am hoping to work with them on is developing their strategic planning. Unfortunately, because of the unpredictable social and economic situation in Sri Lanka people are not that inclined to plan too carefully, so this will be a challenging brief.

So that is my role, but while I have been clarifying that I have also been beginning to understand what a rural women’s organisation does. Some of the main things they are doing at the moment relate to livelihoods, living conditions and empowerment and rights. Examples include setting up a brick-making company for low-income people, installing hygienic toilets in people’s homes and providing people with vocational training and motivation to improve their position. Last year for International Women’s Day they organised a procession for the local women through the town of Weeraketiya. They also do micro-finance work through their community based organisations, and all of the work they do specifically targets women, though men are involved too.

Much of the work they do is in partnership with international non-governmental organisations INGOs, who have provided so much anti-poverty funding in this area. They like to work with local charities who know the best way to get things done in the area and can target programmes at those that need it most. It has been really interesting to hear about some of the really valuable work that NGOs are doing here in Sri Lanka, but also get an idea about some of the challenges they face.

One of my first tasks here is to help the organisation complete a funding proposal – in English and Sinhala – for a major project. This is a great way for me to learn more about how things work and what my partner organisation will need to do to have a sustainable future.

Some pictures from my first couple of weeks.

Trying a new brick-making technique near Tangalla.
















This boy proudly showed me his mother's finished bricks




















The brick factory





















Opening of my local host organisation's new office in Weerekitya
















Boiling of the milk at special time.





















My colleague the lamp for the opening.

Tangalla Wildlife and Unawatuna Hospitality

A wildlife update... On the walk down to Tangalla beach on Saturday morning we passed a pond where locals come for a dip and a wash. While sitting admiring the view we saw a dark shape moving across the water. At first we thought it might be a crocodile or some other throwback to pre-history, and in part we were right - a monitor lizard we are told. Unfortunately from its point of view it had a big stick in its neck, obviously it had got too close to someone's house or children. Worryingly they are apparently quite common here!

A two metre long water monitor, with sticks in its neck.

Interesting green lizard - suggestions as to its type welcome.

Unawatuna

On sunday we were at Unawatuna by Galle for some more CWW induction and training. This small fishing town is very popular with backpackers and tourists, and has a very westernised feel to it compared to Tangalla. On the beach you can eat pizza and drink beer as long as you don't mind a typically local 90 minute wait for your food!

While there, we did some basic Sinhala lessons (the main language in the area of Sri Lanka we are working in). The language is simple in some senses, and they use a lot of loan words from English. However, out in the rural areas where I will be working the level of English is very basic so it will be invaluable to have some knowledge of the local tongue.

Unawatuna beach at night

Introductions and starting work

Now it is time for some more introductions...

Where we are staying is in a "leafy" area of Tangalla - and as you may have seen from my previous photos, when I say leafy I mean it's in the jungle!

Anyway, our host family are very kind to us and have helped us a lot in our first couple of weeks here.

Amma (Host mother)





















Tata (Host father)





















Ranil, Chamila and Usha (Host brother and his wife and daughter)
















Usha having her dinner





















Also sharing the house are Ranil's brother and sister, his granny and at different times, loads of other friends and relatives. Norny and I are two among many residents here, which means there is often a lively atmosphere in the house!


Ranil and I travel to our work by motorbike on one of the best roads in Sri Lanka. Our office is about 20 minutes away and there is always something to see on the journey, particularly as we pass several irrigation ponds and lakes.


















































On Friday we went to visit some people in the village built for rehousing Tsunami victims in the Tangalla area. Many of them were helped to survive in the immediate aftermath of the Tsunami, and were rehomed, but now have limited employment opportunities. Ranil spoke to them about the possibility of producing high grade "extra virgin" coconut oil in small batches. This would be a really good way to generate some income for them, as it would add value to a product they are already making at a time when the economy here in Sri Lanka is not doing too well.















So, having got to know our host family, we are now getting to know our colleagues and also the clients and beneficiaries of the work we will be doing.