Graptolite - Tuk-Tuk and Arrak
Graptolite's Sailing Log
Martyn Pickup & Heike Richter
Fri 23 Jan 2009 11:51
We fixed up a few things on the boat yesterday and got a supply of courtesy
flags made up for Sri Lanka and most of the other new countries coming up
down the road. Later Joseph took us to his house to meet his family and have
a cup of spiced tea. His original house was destroyed in the Boxing Day
tsunami of 2004 and he showed us his album of photos of the aftermath.
Joseph is a somewhat self-appointed guide for us but he's a nice enough chap
and this place is difficult to deal with without help or using excessive
violence.
Colin and I tuk-tuk'd into town yesterday afternoon. It's a chaotic place
with tuk-tuks and motorbikes everywhere; Bollywood music blaring out and
piles of tuna and other fish being chopped up at stinky beachside stalls.
In the evening we all went with Joseph and Leman, the tuk-tuk driver, to sit
on the old sea-walls of Galle Fort as the sun went down and we drank arrak
and coke and ate cashews and fried chilies. Very cool.
Back on the boat I carelessly slipped over in the heads and I think I've
done a bit of damage as it hurts like hell to move around. I had to delay
our elephant trekking trip. Seems to be improving though.
Leon left the boat today and returned to real-life; his version of it
anyway. Thanks for the crewing, Leon. I hope to see you back on the boat
again sometime.
M