Travel
The Sri Lankan Odyssey – Exploring Sri Lanka
The sun had just been rising slow as the blue waves splashed into the beach front, the horizon stretch at Negombo was slowly spreading with orange and occasional pixels of black dots at the end of it, in constant motion. Wide beaked seagulls strutted across the beach, hopping. Hiding away from their eyes are puny crabs. They run diagonally into the tiny holes on the wet sand. A little amusement and awe at that splendid image is only going to add into my stash of visual fortunes and so I stopped in curiosity.
I paused near the shore, white and golden sands all over my feet, wind that blew and pampered me, head to toe with the flip-flops studded with mud that shone; I waited for a good view of the huge boats and their bounty. Coconut palms agreed in unison.
A long walk on the white sands gave me a lot of memories to paint my heart walls with. Those tiny pixels from far the horizon had now turned into huge boats as they approached the shore. One of them came over right in front of me! It was one of the best sights that my eyes treasured! The boat made a creaking noise, as though it wasn’t so happy to have gotten back into the land. A few fishermen onboard, still in their prime of enthusiasm even after the rough seas, jumped off the trawlers, tugged at the honey-coloured ropes fasted on one of the brass beams. I watch, in utter amusement.
The pointy wooden nose of the large boat dripped wet, salty from the sea. The large sails fluttered happily, in the wind.
I peeked, into the large belly the boat had, and I found fishes piled, colourful with button eyes and the relieved smiles on the fishermen. The large boat swayed on the loose waves and the fishermen pulled the ends of the rope to bring it to rest, on the shore. They pulled hard, raising many ‘ahoy’s that echoed through the pristine, breezy beach. The boat although, hardly was in a hurry!
I couldn’t miss this golden opportunity in no time and so I kept down my flip flops, took an end of the thick rope from an old fisherman, tugged at it hard, twining it around my wrists and pulled hard, towards me. The boat moves in, tearing the waves beneath. For a split second, the waves touched over my feet, sending a trail of goose bumps through my spine on the balmy sunny day. The large boat approached the shore as the oars made clinking noises as it clang the padlocks on the inside of the boat. The padlocks safeguarded an iron trunk that probably contained the passports and documents of these fishermen, just in case when they battle the sea and it’s mighty bounty. The fishermen, who were left on the trawler, jumped off and gave me a warm smile for my team play.
As I continued my walk on the beach, with the flipflops in my hand a tune on my lips, I turned back, looking at the large boat. The fishermen are engrossed in unloading the fish into small buckets and boxes. A bunch of crows are snooping around, swooshing and flying crisscross, in the hope for some fish off the boat. Dogs are at a distance with puppy eyes, in hope as well. Cats lurk behind the boxes, only to be shooed away by the menfolk. A few people have come and stood by the boat, talking to the head fisherman. He is arguing, sometimes disagreeing, and shaking his head vigorously. He is happy for sometime and immediately to another man, he shouts. At work, I see that he is.
He probably owns the ride and masters it.
Unpacking. Transferring. Bargaining. Buying. Shifting. Whispering. Hustling. Whistling. Cacophony.
I retreat into my cozy room at the Catamaran beach hotel at Negombo. It’s a peaceful property on this calm beach front. Rich with heritage architecture and excellent client service, they are just a pleasure to be with. We see wonderful ethnic wooden furnitures abundantly used on this property. Outside the hotel, on the sands and overlooking the sea, some vendors who sold rugs and curios are calling out at tourists for their share of earning. How buying has influenced us all so! A little girl who sold antique jewellery pieces calls out at me, displaying a chunky necklace she lifts up from her tray of goodies, “madam, this! This! You want?”
A huge badam tree not so far off, has a couple of young boys playing cards under. They shout in excitement at the poker game, startling a dog that was sleeping in the shade. A lonely cycle was resting on the tree trunk as I sipped my apple mojito at the Catamaran hotel Bar on the first floor. Looking down the balcony, I see a large swimming pool with blue water and an aquamarine beach ahead of me. Life just felt good.
But I had more to discover in this tiny beach town. As evening comes, I am off, to a flea market at the end of the beach. I can’t wait to lay my hands on beaded jewelery and sip some hot piping tea. So, tell me, when do you want to come over?

lazing around

closer view.

aqua blue pool

Lazy warm benches for rest

hawkers

sellers who sell rugs

The view through the Catamaran beach hotel at Negombo.

beach hotel – the inside
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