Jafffffna

Day 77 - 79.

Our route to Jaffna would be our longest trip to date on this little Island, and boy was it a brutal one.

The bus ride can be best described as the high speed purple Harry Potter bus, but without the beds and instead as cramped and hot as the tube on Monday morning, we were unlucky enough to turn up late for this particular bus (never again) which meant standing for the full journey, a cool 270km..

On the plus side the bus made only 3 emergency stops, either narrowly avoiding a fatal collission or slamming on the breaks when the police came into view. We took some small solace in the fact 30 people would be through the front windscreen before we got even close to it ourselves. They sold sweet corn for breakfast too so that was a plus, I guess.

Checked into Tonys homestay (toplad), although it was called a homestay it was more of a hostel and it was out for dinner for 8 in no time. Met a great couple from Australia, both trainee doctors who have spent years in South and Central America, their stories subsequently got us very excited over some great Indian food (assuming we choose to put aside the 3 times they were mugged, "Once every six months isn't too bad hey")

Set out exploring today, lots of k's on foot around Jaffna. Highlight was the library, full if elderly Sri lankan men peacefully spending the day examining the daily newpapers together. Not a woman in sight mind (apart from Limbster), presumably because they have a tendency to fall asleep on the tables. She did them proud.

Next day it was out on the scooter, 170km covered around the Jaffna loop today. Incredibly fun ride along lonely coastal roads, bananna tree farms & at sometimes almost barron lands. Super interesting as aftermath of the war and Tsunami are still clear here. Stark contrast compared to the rest of Sri Lanka. People here are some of the nicest however and it's hello / goodbye at every corner which we are happy to reciprocate.

Few wrong turns today, that darn arrow just can't keep still. It wasn't all down to limbster mind, hidden army bases often caught us by surprise. But they were as keen for us to explore the sights as we were so would quickly have us on our way, all in all one of the most fun days on this island to date!!Meer informatie