Hambantota, Sri Lanka Travel Blogs

And so the team blog continues
Oct 25, 2008

... , as is most of the floor! We also entertained ourselves with our very own warpaint!   The afternoon was spent in Hambantota town, as we needed to pick up a few things. E.g. Simcards, phones, henna and use the Internet café. The Internet was fixed ...

Do you have servants?
Jun 11, 2007 (3 photos)

Today I was amused by one of the questions Melanii (a teacher) asked me...."do you have servants in England?" The thing is, it was a genuine question so I explained indeed we didn't.   Today the older preschoolers started to learn how to write the ...

Rain andd no electric-a perfect Saturday!
Sep 22, 2007 (4 photos)

Yesterday was a picnic compared to Thursday's antics! The older preschool class where drawing with stencils and grasping the concept of using scissors. The younger class colored in a bunch of bananas that I had drawn - that's the height of my creativity. ...

Summing up
Nov 10, 2007 (1 photos)

A video to sum up the past 5 and a half months.....enjoy!! www.smileinternationl.org 

Team weekend no1
Oct 27, 2008

... they were despite how little they had.   On Sunday morning we attended, quite possibly, the longest church service in Sri Lanka. It started as 930am and finished after Midday. The service was translated into English for us, and was lead by Anita, ...

C for Crocodile
Jul 17, 2007

... preparing them. They also have exams in maths, Sinhala and I think the final subject is along the lines of Social Studies. Had another Sri Lanka breakfast today. This time it was noodles and potatoes in a sauce. It's funny how this now seems normal!!

Back to the South
Aug 2, 2007

We left the hotel at 5am to travel back to Hambantota. Made it back just before 10am so it really pays off to set off before hitting the rush hour traffic.   Yesterday was a very relaxing day at the hotel. While Mark slept for a few hours, I caught ...

One big birthday party
Jun 6, 2007 (5 photos)

... supposed to be taking it, but ended up doing so. So the first thing we played was "musical statues" - that's culture for you!  Sri Lankans have some good dance moves! They enjoyed it and by the end of it, it was hard to get anyone out. I then taught ...

Up late tonight!
Jun 5, 2007

... our new housemate (translator) is coming on Friday after his driving test. To be fair, from experiencing their driving, you wouldn't think Sri Lankans took driving tests, but apparently they do! It'll be good to see a few different faces about the place.

This is the day
Aug 25, 2007 (4 photos)

Today was the start of the 2.5day kids camp at church. It is running from 8am-10pm, and finishing before the Sunday morning church service. Ages range from about 4 right up until 15 and I counted around 40 kids. All the children are sleeping in the church ...

Little power
Jun 6, 2007 (2 photos)

... ; Again after school was "Body parts". The class today was older so had more knowledge. They didn't know "arms". - it still hasn't been perfected though as there are around 15 kids running around Hambantota with 2 "orma".  We'll get there eventually!

Bringing out my artistic side
Jul 18, 2007

In Preschool today, they were drawing fruit bowls! It is something else when a 4/5year old can produce a better drawing than you. There was also a parents meeting for the preschool parents. This was to inform of the Sports day that is happening at the ...

And she's down....
Aug 9, 2007

... empty, which will fill overnight, so we have 1 shower between 5 of us! On the plus side, we were at the beach to see Sri Lanka's amazing sunset.   And as I type, Mr Gordon is flying back to England. He shall return as he's left his beloved hat!! It ...

Everyone say cheese
Aug 6, 2007 (3 photos)

... night!   The comical highlight of today was Gordon learning how to cook! He wanted to know how to make this delicious Sri Lankan steamed pudding so Parody (the cook) with Gourie her able assistant, came over for a cooking demonstration. Mark and I ...

It's raining, it's pouring....but it's still warm!
Jun 14, 2007 (1 photos)

So it has rained on and off all day today, but our spirits weren't dampened! I was interested to see how the day would work, especially for preschool, as they spend most of their time outside. It all worked out well - we were able to improvise and all in ...

The old and the new
Aug 23, 2007 (6 photos)

Today we left at 8a, for Galle. Galle is the fourth largest town in Sri Lanka and is divided into the old town, which is contained within a fort, and the new town.   Before exploring Galle, we went a few miles outside to a beach where you can go in ...

Is it Christmas already?
Sep 29, 2007 (10 photos)

It's been a busy and tiring few days. Wednesday was Poya, which is a Buddhist festival. It happens every month when there's a full moon so everywhere, including the school, are closed for the day. On Tuesday after school we traveled up to Colombo as we ...

Lots and Lots of aliya
Aug 16, 2007 (4 photos)

Today we went to an elephant park where 500 wild elephants roam free over 73000acres, or maybe it was 7300acres! This meant another jeep ride, although I have to say it was the tamest so far. The elephants came right up to the jeep. The tour guide seemed ...

It's been a month
Jun 21, 2007 (3 photos)

How independent the preschoolers have come - today they didn't want the teachers to do the Hokey Pokey with them, so we had to stand back and watch from afar. Well they needed some prompts now and then!   Today didn't do too badly with the lack of ...

Weekend round up
Aug 19, 2007

Yesterday afternoon while sitting outside listening to music, a lovely snake crawled out in front of me. It's been a few weeks now since the last sighting. Maybe it was the mysterious one that was never found in the school or perhaps ones of its friends. ...

Indescribable
Jun 25, 2007

After 5 weeks, we are well into our Sunday routine! It has also become the day that makes up for our lack of exercise throughout the week! We make the 1.5 km stroll to church and back again. In the heat of the morning, it seems like quite a distance! Then ...

Saturday minus electricity
Jun 2, 2007

Have just put dinner in the oven - am very hungry so looking forward to our chicken, potatoes and carrots! the electric has been off from 9am and came on again around 5pm so it's been a very laxy day. The height of our expeditions was a walk down to ...

Moths, baby food and plane tickets
Oct 9, 2007 (4 photos)

... Hong Kong has been on a spending spree with my card, totaling 3000! This is the second time it has happened to me while in Sri Lanka - it happened in August with someone in Oz living a fine life on my money! If you are by chance the person who is spending ...

Still raining!!
Jun 15, 2007

Another Friday and another afternoon of rain and power cuts. As I keep saying, I can't believe the weekend has come around again!   The afterschool class on Friday is the one that has the most knowledge so they are actually the most challenging ...

Psychology at work
Jul 10, 2007

Today we had a teacher's meeting with Naomi. She is an American lady who we met at the pot luck dinner. She's has trained as a child psychologist and came along today to find out the problems and issues the teachers had with the children and then advise ...

Ham, Ban and Tota
Sep 4, 2007 (1 photos)

... climbing through the windows-no fish deserve to die in such a way! I think we'll just have to come to the conclusion that Smile Lanka won't have any fish as mascots! Sadly we already had the names picked as well- Ham, Ban and Tota the fish!

It's all a little fishy....
Aug 3, 2007 (3 photos)

... ! It is at times like these that I'm sure people are wondering if it was wise allowing me to be let loose on the kids of Sri Lanka! Anyway there was fits of laughter so all enjoyed - as they say back home, it was the best craic!   Preschool again ...

The one without a title
Sep 11, 2007

Today Mark and I were tasked with being in charge of the Preschool's entertainment from start to finish. When this has happened before, they usually told me 5mins before the class was due to start but this time we were told yesterday. We did everything ...

Practice makes perfect...or does it?
Oct 4, 2007 (1 photos)

Today the Preschoolers spent almost 2hours trying to prefect their band playing for the opening! They all have very good rhythm and can keep the beat, but when it comes to walking and playing, it's disastrous! They are in lines of 3, but they all can't ...

They could nearly be counted on 1 hand
Sep 15, 2007

... us so he said he'd call in tomorrow instead. That means we have a task for tomorrow-to find out how to make a cup of Sri Lankan tea! It's not a case of putting a teabag in a teapot and adding water, they use tea leaves, powdered milk and about half a cup ...