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
1 comment:
Loved the great picture of the lizard! I think it's a Green Garden Lizard (Calotes calotes) or Pala Katussa in Sinhala. One of Sri Lanka's many agamid lizards. Look out for one that changes colour like a Chameleon. Keep posting the wildlife pictures!
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