Manjoo our co-ordinator has finally arrived here after having spent 5 months with his wife and baby in Japan. A bit late in the day as we'll be into our last week soon. Anyway he has invited us to his house on Sunday afternoon, though the girls are a little suspicious as to his motives! They think he's going to get us drunk - I'm sure he's very respectable.
Yesterday was Poya day (full moon festival)- This one is the celebration of the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lankan so a very big celebration.
Each school/town/area celebrates with their own Perahera and we went to our schools on Tuesday afternoon. The children were all dressed in traditional costume and carried flowers or musical instruments and we walked in procession to the temple where the monk received the flowers and blessed the children.
Wednesday morning the chanting started at 4.15 am and then the family had more chanting on the TV at 5. Ranjani went to the monastery at 6 am and stayed there till 6pm. She was exhausted and had an aching back by the time she got home. The girls and I caught up on school preparation and then went for a long walk along the canal.
AT 6.30pm we were all going to the temple and wore the appropriate white clothes. Just as we were about to set off for the long walk, Nimal said he was taking his motor bike and did I want a lift - RESULT!
Loads of people were at the temple and they all bring flowers, light candles and burn incense, then listen to the monks. We went to 2 temples - the 1st was very solemn but the 2nd was like Blackpool illuminations - really bizarre.
Today is Thursday and we went to the school to find that only 4 children turned up because tonight the town celebrates their Perahera - so we'll all be out from 8 - midnight- way past my bedtime. We've been told no school Friday either as the children will be tired after the night before. It certainly wouldn't happen in the UK. It's unreal!
All for now folks.
Love Sue xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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5 comments:
Hi again...what wonderful pictures you are painting of your experiences...xx Karen
Wow! Wouldn't happen in the US either, you can't get the kids away from their computers and TVs.
Reminds me of our holiday in portugal when the townspeople brought out all their statues and paraded them around the town.
You and motorbikes, Susan!!
Hi Sue Well you seem to be having loads of fun and lots of different experiences! Are you married yet?! I suppose the chat up lines out there go something like "let me show you my elephant....." Anyway, you might like to consider bringing an elephant back home with the way petrol prices are going! Can hardly believe you will soon be moving on yet again - where does the time go to? As always take care and have FUN!
Love Trish xxxx
I am so loving the pics! and you look so well!! tanned and laid back..........almost bloody horizontal! bugga what will life be like when u get back! Good on you Sue....I can see you are having so many memories! Oh to be in your space!!
Just spotted Kev's message...oh and I so agree...you and motorbikes, Susan !!!!
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