Jaffna Eclipse Soon
The new bus route
A brief solar eclipse will pass through Jaffna this Friday. Taking the bus up there to check it out. Jaffna is the new destination, full of political candidates and all and sundry. I have never been and for much of my life considered it off limits. This is a place with LTTE memorials, where last election the LTTE forced a boycott. But now the road is open and, god willing, Jaffna can take its place as a kick-ass city in the world. I am excited for the 10 minutes of eclipse, and also to see Jaffna for the first time.
You can drive to Jaffna but I think it would take like 10-12 hours. I think one can get to Vavuniya in 6 or 7 hours, and it looks like at least three more up. And that’s in ideal conditions. Still might drive, but it would also be nice to sleep. Can rent some push bikes or scooters up there I think. I don’t know how long the bus takes but I can sleep almost anywhere. It costs Rs. 3,600 two way, you can contact 011 242 9673 in Colombo. It’s run by the state owned newspaper printer, strangely enough.
I don’t know too much about this eclipse, but it seems to take a very narrow path, only showing a full eclipse in a 300km strip that passes between Sri Lanka and India. We literally have to go to the edge of the island to see it, but why not. Now we can.
Today on the 
Janith has updated 
This is highly dubious. Miss Travel is a travel/social networking site that connects ‘Generous’ and ‘Attractive’ travelers. To, like, travel together, I guess. It all seems a bit like arranged prostitution and trafficking. This is part of a broader online trend to connect rich men to younger, attractive women. Sites like 
Sri Lankan domestics never say anything, they just stop coming. My maid just stopped coming and when I finally pressed her she said I needed to get a washing machine. I was hoping to ride this one out, but I’ve run out of underwear and I have no choice. I finally caved and bought a washing machine, from 
We’re going too. Taking train or a van or something. Coming along?
If the guy you supported in 2005 had won that election, by now you would be waiting for your visa to go there. Enjoy !
True! lol.
Thats great. have fun. Looking forward to reading all about it in your blog and Leader. You will be able to get material to keep you going for a while. Looking forward to your photos too.
takes abt 5 hours by train to vavuniya i think. then 3 hours. checkpoint at vavuniya needs to be cleared at round four. pays to get there at least by one clear the queue.
I don’t think so dude, Vavuniya is a ways past Anuradhapura. I took the APura train and that took a while
Well have you seen the latest daily mirror article ?
http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/817-no-private-buses-along-a9.html
:-)
We went there during Christmas. 7~8h drive from Colombo, depending on traffic. (We never hit speeds over 100~110KMPH, we just managed to maintain 80KMPH a lot of the time)
You’d see once you are there that Jaffna has been a kick-ass city 30 years back, LTTE just screwed all that. Now, the local tourists has taken up that task…
As in garbage and littering?
That plus showing the “we conquered your land, we are superior and you are inferior” attitude to locals…