Full moon

Main street of Vavuniya, called Kandy Rd

March 7, National Holiday

Today the clinic is closed due to the National holiday, for the full moon (something which I think we Canadians should adopt... a holiday for full moons. Why not?). I spent the morning skyping with friends and family, which was really nice. Then I got ready and set out on the town. I had wanted to map out my route to the hospital and see how long it would take me to get there. I also wanted to grab some lunch.
I was told that young women really enjoy going to Danis for coffee and food, so I thought I would check it out. After looping around the shop many times, I realized it was only for cakes and coffee, not much of a lunch menu. I must have looked lost, because a man asked me what I was looking for. I asked him about a lunch menu, and he said to go upstairs for meals. On the top floor was a restaurant that served ... can you guess? More rice and curry, or fried rice with cury to add a little variety. It was tasty, but I am so sick of rice and curry. I don’t understand how people don’t get bored of this menu?


Bustling streets of Vavuniya

After lunch I spent the afternoon just walking around the town to see the sights. There were people everywhere. It is certainly a busy little town. Even the cows were out, crossing roads or sitting on sidewalks checking out the sights. The town's colors are amazing; women dressed in the most colorful saris, brightly colored buildings mixed between tin roof shacks, vendors selling more saris in all colors of the rainbow, fruit stands with bright ripe produce, the dirt roads are a burnt red color, and the heat has turned the vegetation dry and brown. The atmosphere of the town is hard to describe. It is a blend of so many bright colors, yet run down by poverty. Of course, I was the object of many stares during my walk, due to my blonde hair and white skin. Lots of men saying "hello miss". Police men kept asking if i was lost. I took some pictures of the town. I almost got hit by a tuk tuk while doing so, but luckily a few men came to my rescue and yelled at the driver.

After circling the main streets I decided to head home for a siesta. I turned down a street to my place to see a man in wheelchair waving at me frantically. I thought perhaps he was someone that worked at the clinic (there are many wheelchair users employed by the clinic, because they want to show they are contributing members to society and are not a burden, as most think of disabled people here)... but no, just a very friendly man wanting to speak English. He had lived in London, England for several years but was coming back to Sri Lanka for treatment for a spinal infection. We talked for a bit, and then I left.