The A9
The open road
The A9 is a strange, mythical road. I have never been past Vavuniya, till yesterday. I’ve also never gone without a fistful of Ministry Of Something paperwork and a heart full of trepidation. This time we hopped a really nice bus in Wellawatte, went through one checkpoint and saw a bunch of crazy stuff along the way.
There are few roofs in the Wanni. Well, there are houses without roofs and roofs without houses (rooves?). There are people living under takarang sheets and then full, big foundations with the roofs missing. It’s eerie. Kilinochchi is a ghost town, with the awesome downed remains of a water tower.
I’m in Jaffna now and have to crash for a big day tomorrow (eclipse!). Suffice it to say that this is a tragically beautiful place, with incredible people.
Fallen water tower
God pointing out a land mine
One side of Elephant Pass. The entry to Jaffna is a narrow strip like this on both sides. I’ll get a better pic
I really can’t wait to see your pictures of Jaffna. And of the eclipse too!
If you’re going to be there for several days, would you mind scoping out the deaf school in Jaffna? I’m curious how the school – if there is even one – has fared with years of isolation and separation from the rest of Sri Lanka’s deaf community and network of deaf schools…
Looking forward to your pics as well! From the pics you’ve posted so far it Vanni looks quite green – has it been raining? Also have heard elephant pass is really beautiful – can imagine wild elephants crossing that in the olden days, must have been magical.
And may be you can get a vid of the eclipse ( if it’s ok for eyes ) ?
Oh gee – so it’s you that’s promoting Sri Lanka as a whimsical tourist spot – what about all the mass graves, the starving people, the hookers being shipped in from the south to service the army, the disappearances, the torture, the murder, the landmines?
Oh you absolute fools. If you think for one moment that tourism is going to be your saviour – THInK AGAIN!
Bla.bla.bla.bla..
Tell us how to get at you. There are lots of people willing to smack a wanker like you.
Are you as brave as Indi to travel to Jaffna? You cowardly nut.
You are such an idiot smackthewanker. Firstly, most of the hookers are from the north and they have been serving the Sri Lankan army ever since the war began in brothels in Jaffna and Anuradhapura. Secondly, tourism is definitely set to grow in Sri Lanka – the NY times just listed the island as the number 1 place to vist in 2010.
Hookers! WOW!!
The last time I went to Jaffna was in 2003 – night mail to Vavuniya, bus to Omanthi, another to cross ‘Eelam’ and another at Elephant Pass to get to Jaffna. The situation at that time was such it was possible to go afar as Naga Deepa provided one traveled while there was light… after dusk, anything was possible.
Would be nice to do that again, and I should, soon.
Even then, my impressions were that it was such a shame that we were at each others throats in such a brutal fashion, when this lad was such a beautiful one, abundant enough for us all.
I can’t wait to go see Jaffna. The pictures are beautiful!
Tourism will help the people even in a small way…and there is only so much you can do at once. But maybe, hopefully, one day at a time..little by little, things will turn around and Jaffna will be restored to it’s true glory!! :)
Wrong you sicko – Tamil women are forced into being raped by your army. They do not “serve” them and they then go on to hate them with a vengance. The reason why more hookers are being brought in from the South is because if hookers are not provided to these men who have now developed a taste for rape, they rape their own. Homosexual rape and aids as you should know (because your brain is actually in your arse) is an increasing and on-going problem in the army. Deal with it you pathetic idiot.
Tourism is not going to be a big deal at all in Sri Lanka, because Gotabhaya has stolen billions and run off to Singapore with a gun up his arse (sorry, with a “heart-attack”) and Mahinda is probably going to get done like a dogs dinner. Following your so called “free and democratic” elections you will have nothing but a hole to live in.
And who but who is the last party left to start supporting Fonseka – the JHU! Oh my GOD! Haven’t you all got such a future. Sticking up for Mahinda.
Indi is part of the establishment and is a complete fake to the extent that his articles have become almost delusional. However, they are a true reflection of Sinhalese society.
And how do I know this? Because we remember him back from the Tsunami days and because we know Sinhalese people who don’t go to Jaffna to take some really, really bad photos (gee, what was the moron thinking). We know Sinhalese people who are focused on doing the right thing. I guess the Norwegians thought he was rather quaint but us poms knew him for the snake he truly is.
So allow your women to be subjected to the most disgusting treatment and do nothing about it. This too will come back and bite you in the arse.
You stupid arrogant fools.
Look, Prabhakaran is dead as a dodo… he likely had a hot rod shoved up his ass too and an axe to his head. I’m sorry you haven’t been able to get over his death, really I am. If you want however, you can have a big, long sob while you watch the dream of Tamil Eelam crashing down all around you. Have fun.
Gotta love how you quote “facts” in every line without an iota of proof…haha. as for Gotabhaya running off to Singapore, funny, he was live on TV last night.