A Trip toTrincomallee

The trip trip to the East coast was very interesting. Sean stayed in Colombo for this one due to security concerns. It took all day to get to "Trinco" were we spent the night a a lodging right on the beech. In the a.m. we were off and headed for a rual clinic NWMT opperates in Tyriai. It took a 2 hour drive N of Trincomalee, and a river crossing by " ferry", to get us to a restored building that is on the outer border of the government controlled the area. It is 200 yds. from one the most beautiful beaches in Si Lanka. There was very little else around except a small army checpoint on the side of the red dirt road. Animal life was a usual very cool! We spotted 10-15 peacocks, some big monkeys, (about 4 ft. tall when standing), about 20 of the usual medium size monkeysand some weird type of cranes in rice feilds.
Meeting some Veddah's. The coolest thing was a chance meeting with a indigenous man and his son. Our driver Kiru noticed them as we were driving down a sungle road. So we stopped and backed up to meet with them. They are called "Veddah" none are over 5 ft. and all speak a language no else understands. They live in the jungle just as they have for thousands of years and shy away from the normal Sri Lankans except to occasionally come into a rual village to trade for stuff. After tading some beeds and small carvings they had made the man extends both hands straight out to grab mine, says somthing twice in their language as he bow at the waiste. this apparently seals the deal....to learn mor about these little people you can go to www.vedda.org

The picture below is of a large cobra den that the local Hindu population built a shrine around. They worship the cobra, and will come by, place a raw egg at the shrine and tap the pavement, the King cobra comes out takes the egg and heads back to the den, (Kinda like the toys in the U.S. were you put the dime on the top of teh box and a hand comes out to grab it). I of course had no interest in "tapping" the cement. The trip to Tyriai clinic felt like Christmas time because the country director was handing out permanent contracts to the workers. They are all very happy because this represents secured income for them and everyone in there family for many years.