23 Nov. Jaffna

Today was a brilliant day :)
Breakfast was a slight letdown, but it got me up and out, and heading for the town centre buses.
I'd been intending to head for the ferry that goes to an island off the west coast called Nainativu, so I tried my best not to get lost.
It didn't quite work. I ended up going via the old Jaffna Fort. This might sound like a bonus, but it's really a bunch of walls and rocks near the coast. Still, I've seen it now.
The bus I'd been recommended to take by Tony the manager was the 776 from the central bust station. Blimey, they don't make it obvious, but I'm getting to recognise the system - for what it is.
Quick observation:
All the buses are rickety or on their last legs, and stuffed to gunnels with locals getting around the town, cheaply and relatively unscathed. A seat would be a bonus though.
The journey was great - on an increasingly rocky road linking spits of land with small islands. (Think the Florida Keys without the awful American tourists.)
The colour of the water got clearer, greener as we got closer to the last island linked by road. Then it was everyone off and a disorganised scramble for the boats docking to take us all across to Nainativu.
The boats!?
Hardly a ferry at all; cramped and only tiny openings to get a look out.
It ran through my mind that I might be able to claim asylum on the island. Now I have an inkling what it might be like to bob around in an overcrowded boat with dozens of sweaty strangers, unsure if we'll get there.
(I'm such a drama queen, I know.)
It was actually pretty good. fun.
Nainativu island is quite small. In fact, apart from a few side tracks off the main coast road, there didn't seem to be any reason to venture far from the coast. Near both the boat's drop-off jetty, and return jetty there were some very impressive Buddhist shrines, stupas and so on.
Shoes off again!
Very photogenic goings on. The Sri Lanka Buddhists certainly like a ceremony.
All in all, a real highlight of the trip so far.Read more