LIFE FINDS A WAY EVEN AFTER TSUNAMI….
While enjoying beautiful coastal drive to reach Bantota, driver Lalu asked if we wanted to see the fort. Even before we could answer, he had driven inside the fort. Scorching sun outside made me apprehensive of getting out of air conditioner.
Since he had stopped, we stepped out and started exploring the fort. Like many forts in India, this fort also had a small establishment inside. Built by Portuguese, it was standing tall in the small city of Galle. While teenage lovers had occupied nook and corners of the fort, city looked beautiful from the top of it.
A beautiful bus stand opposite to fort, a cricket stadium, a port and fishing Warf were beautifully maintained. While returning to the vehicle, Chinnappa said that there was an Indian restaurant there and we could try lunch in that place. He told me that a girl gave some pamphlet about the restaurant. I had seen a girl in black dress and black cap talking to people and presumed that it was she. Since Prasad had already left for India, I, Chinnappa and Radha aunty headed to the restaurant.
The Moksha restaurant was inside fort complex. A small, but neatly done and only North Indian dishes were available. A very young girl was trying to understand the English slowly and taking orders. The girl in black dress entered the restaurant and asked what we had ordered. She reconfirmed our orders and asked the younger girl – Shalini to do something. They were conversing in Sinhalese and gave direction to the chef also.
The girl, may be in 19 or 20, was very smart and active. I noticed that she had wooed another four to five groups of customers to her restaurant. She took charge immediately and started doing most of the works in the restaurant. We three were in all admiration for this dark, short girl.
Her name was Shubha and Shalini looked like her younger sister. When I asked about the restaurant, Shubha said that it belonged to one Dr Gupta, an Indian and famous cardiac surgeon in the town. The restaurant was one month old and she was taking care of it. I complimented her saying that she was smart and she would travel a long distance in life, if she kept up her spirit. Even Chinnappa endorsed my views.
As we started our journey towards Bentota, Lalu said that this was one of the worst affected cities during 2004 Tsunami. Over 65000 people perished in the city and it was rebuilt. I remained silent for a moment and slowly said: ``the fort doesn’t look it was hit by Tsunami at all.’’
Even Chinnappa was wondering the same, when I suddenly remembered Shubha, who conversed in bit of Tamil with Chinnappa. The girl would be less than 10 years when Tsunami struck. Had I remembered that we were in the same city, I could have asked her if she remembered anything. The city is so beautifully rebuilt; one cannot believe the devastation Tsunami caused just 13 years ago.
On the way, we stopped for a boat ride in mangroves. I asked the boat driver about Tsunami. He was also in his early 20’s. ``Not much here…. Water had swollen by seven feet. But, they say that mangroves saved it from bigger disaster.’’
Tsunami had occupied my mind completely and the people here appeared to be spirited. At Turtle hatchery, I asked Vasanth, the person who was guiding me through. On the beach, he was showing me tracks of a huge turtle that had laid eggs previous night. ``It was not as big as Galle. But, 800 people had washed away. Even my hatchery had washed away and I had to rebuild it. For the first two years, tourists did not come at all. Life was very difficult and looking after turtle eggs was hard. Slowly they started coming back. Now, everything is alright. We are good now,’’ he said.
I could see entire coast line bustling with either fishing or tourism. Entire sea front, barring turtle breeding area has been given to tourism facility. People are busy making a living and also being very friendly. After all, life finds a way even after a Tsunami.
Since he had stopped, we stepped out and started exploring the fort. Like many forts in India, this fort also had a small establishment inside. Built by Portuguese, it was standing tall in the small city of Galle. While teenage lovers had occupied nook and corners of the fort, city looked beautiful from the top of it.
A beautiful bus stand opposite to fort, a cricket stadium, a port and fishing Warf were beautifully maintained. While returning to the vehicle, Chinnappa said that there was an Indian restaurant there and we could try lunch in that place. He told me that a girl gave some pamphlet about the restaurant. I had seen a girl in black dress and black cap talking to people and presumed that it was she. Since Prasad had already left for India, I, Chinnappa and Radha aunty headed to the restaurant.
The Moksha restaurant was inside fort complex. A small, but neatly done and only North Indian dishes were available. A very young girl was trying to understand the English slowly and taking orders. The girl in black dress entered the restaurant and asked what we had ordered. She reconfirmed our orders and asked the younger girl – Shalini to do something. They were conversing in Sinhalese and gave direction to the chef also.
The girl, may be in 19 or 20, was very smart and active. I noticed that she had wooed another four to five groups of customers to her restaurant. She took charge immediately and started doing most of the works in the restaurant. We three were in all admiration for this dark, short girl.
Her name was Shubha and Shalini looked like her younger sister. When I asked about the restaurant, Shubha said that it belonged to one Dr Gupta, an Indian and famous cardiac surgeon in the town. The restaurant was one month old and she was taking care of it. I complimented her saying that she was smart and she would travel a long distance in life, if she kept up her spirit. Even Chinnappa endorsed my views.
As we started our journey towards Bentota, Lalu said that this was one of the worst affected cities during 2004 Tsunami. Over 65000 people perished in the city and it was rebuilt. I remained silent for a moment and slowly said: ``the fort doesn’t look it was hit by Tsunami at all.’’
Even Chinnappa was wondering the same, when I suddenly remembered Shubha, who conversed in bit of Tamil with Chinnappa. The girl would be less than 10 years when Tsunami struck. Had I remembered that we were in the same city, I could have asked her if she remembered anything. The city is so beautifully rebuilt; one cannot believe the devastation Tsunami caused just 13 years ago.
On the way, we stopped for a boat ride in mangroves. I asked the boat driver about Tsunami. He was also in his early 20’s. ``Not much here…. Water had swollen by seven feet. But, they say that mangroves saved it from bigger disaster.’’
Tsunami had occupied my mind completely and the people here appeared to be spirited. At Turtle hatchery, I asked Vasanth, the person who was guiding me through. On the beach, he was showing me tracks of a huge turtle that had laid eggs previous night. ``It was not as big as Galle. But, 800 people had washed away. Even my hatchery had washed away and I had to rebuild it. For the first two years, tourists did not come at all. Life was very difficult and looking after turtle eggs was hard. Slowly they started coming back. Now, everything is alright. We are good now,’’ he said.
I could see entire coast line bustling with either fishing or tourism. Entire sea front, barring turtle breeding area has been given to tourism facility. People are busy making a living and also being very friendly. After all, life finds a way even after a Tsunami.
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