On the road to Trincomalee

I wanted to take photos on the road to Trincomalee because I saw many sights of staggering poverty on the way as well as sights of great beauty in the landscape. Unfortunately, the bus never stopped long enough to take proper photos so I shall have to try to paint word pictures.

After showing the beautiful hotel in which I indulged myself, I did feel guilt in passing scenes of such poverty, but wondering how I ,as a westerner, could do anything about it. One of the most upsetting sights was a group of women wearing dirty old clothes, sitting outside a very stark and inhospitable shack. They looked far poorer than anyone else I saw. Noticeably, a lack of men may have meant that they had very little money, vis-a-vis what I was saying about what women and men can earn. Is it the survival of the fittest here, or is there any helping out of each other? My respect goes out to those NGOs still working in this field, although many now are withdrawing.

I also saw some awful corrugated iron shacks which are the resettlement camps of the displaced refugees after the war. I know many now may have been properly housed, but many still remain in dreadful conditions. I saw women sweeping between this long shacks, in an attempt, obviously, to maintain some modicum of dignity.

This is the coolest time of year (still over 30C) so I cannot imagine what conditions must be like once the temperature soars. Let us hope they all will be rehoused very soon. For many, a house still seems to remain a corrugated shack, however. This is all in close proximity to the most beautiful landscape of Trincomalee bay, (not shown on my photos) with  picturesque mountains behind. Perhaps these Tamils could teach many of us a different way of being content. I do not pretend to be able to live in difficult conditions at the age of 64 with leg problems, but I do wish there was some way of helping these people.