Sunday 25th October
As we emerged from our beds and packed ready for the trip to Colombo we realised that this was the last day together.
It appears that every staff member in the hotel was either present or heard about our partying last night. With many smiles they all made comments about our dancing and having fun.The ones that were on duty admitted they weren't allowed to dance because they were at work. I think they found our group quite a novelty, as I suspect its usually a quiet serene place. They were quite surprised that we weren't tired after all of the fun and frivolity.
After breakfast we set off for Colombo, about 180 kms away, so that most of the group could catch a plane home tonight at 1.30am. So it was going to be a long day!
One of the things we have learnt about SL is that time is an elastic concept and it is almost impossible to estimate how long anything will take, especially if it involves road travel. Roadworks are frequent, and traffic unable to be accurately anticipated. (Admittedly loo stops are also an additional unpredictable factor). Consequently when we are told a time the question often asked is: "Is that Sri Lanka time or real time?". So the trip took 6 hours, actually half an hour quicker than anticipated!
Whilst the scenery was beautiful as we slowly made our way down from the mountaintop, for those of us susceptible to motion sickness it was hard going. The extraordinary number of extreme hairpin bends were handled skilfully and very slowly by our driver. The ginger tablets helped, and most of the bus seemed to doze off at various points - possibly the quietest we have ever been on the bus.
We were distracted by the sight of endless acres of tea bushes planted on terraces as far as the eye could see. In some plantations they had been planted in an ad hoc manner and looked like round green pincushions scattered over the slopes. Others were planted in very orderly lines and were totally symmetrical.
We saw lots of tea pluckers at work and noted that their baskets were shaped to make it easier to deposit the tea more successfully than we had managed. They need to pick 16 to18 kgms per day which gives them about 700 rupiah (approximately $7.00). If they pick more they get more: but you would need to be very skilled to pick that amount , let alone more. The tip of a tea bush doesn't weigh much!
The view at a loo stop was just stunning: a waterfall leading down through the mountains into a huge green lake in the distance surrounded by terraced mountains.
We stopped at a travel restaurant for a curry buffet lunch - which include bread and butter pudding for dessert ( the English influence is still strong!) .
To while away the hours, Zoe, our wonderful guide, ran a trivia quiz after we'd been organised into teams of two. The 64 questions included a range of categories with quite a few from Thushara to test out whether we had been listening to him! The funniest question was about the name of the bus driver, as it turned out that Zoe had been calling him the wrong name for the entire trip!! The proud winners were the Shepp Sheilas (alias Ursula and Sue N. ). Kerryn and I were amazed that we came second as our plan was simply to not come last!
We were all delighted to arrive back at the gorgeous Wallawa which was the Hotel where we stayed on the first night. The pool was used for a last wallow and dinner was superb. From here we were following different paths home: a couple to Vietnam, 6 of us to Langkawi, one to stay put in SL for a few days , but most direct to home.
After dinner there was chaos as those leaving on the 1.30am and later flights repacked their suitcases and faced the dilemma of how to transport their wet bathers home.
It was sad to see everyone leave, including the guides who have made the last two weeks so memorable. Thushara was a bit aghast at having all of us descend upon him to kiss and hug him goodbye. Not the usual Sri Lanka behaviour!
We were all reassured by Jenny that there will be future conferences and there was much discussion about reunions in the intervening period.
It's hard to pinpoint why travelling with a group of women is so powerful for women, but Women and Power works in different ways for different people by just allowing space and time to be ourselves: it's that simple.
I plan to write another blog post with some further comments whilst relaxing at Langkawi and I will put in lots of photos when the technology and I can come to some agreement, which may not be until Melbourne. This blog would have been a lot more interesting with photos of course so I am sorry I couldn't manage it.
I should also apologise for the spelling and the appalling grammar : It's hard to be accurate and write beautifully and still have a relaxing time!
your chilled-out-at-the-Wallawa correspondent,
Dianne
PS: For those at home check out the Wallawa online: it is superb. DA
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