I could have ended up in one of those travel horror stories, the ones where the media scrolls your Facebook page for the appropriate photo to portray you in a certain way, making up stories about things they can only speculate. But it’s 6am and I’m safe and sound, laying on my on my bed staring at the ceiling, THANKING THE UNIVERSE for keeping me safe and reflecting on the events of last night.
It started with a balmy sunny afternoon, a bottle of vodka and a stranger with a guitar, that in itself is a dangerous combination, for me. He was the friend of the friend I was with, admittedly I had only known my friend Laki a few days. And I’m not exactly sure where I am, it was one of those ” I know a place you can stay in the jungle, it is cheap, I will take you there” so Laki and I jump in a Tuk Tuk and off we went snaking down dusty dirt roads through the jungle, to arrive at a fantastic hotel, and to find I was the only guest which didn’t really bother me.
We sat on the verandah and relaxed, slight breeze, conversation, guitar strumming, me eating rice and curry with my fingers, them surprise i refused cutlery.This was the perfect place to chill, do nothing and recharge.
Guitar Man (a professional muso) was just there filling in a couple of hours before he went to perform in a resort town on the coast a few hours drive away. His driver would arrive shortly “Do you want to come to the gig?” I had just spent the morning on a bus traveling inland …but this sounded tempting and I’m always up for an adventure.
What the fuck am I doing??? Four Sri Lankan guys and me( we had stop to pick up another muso)in a car, driving through the wonderful Sri Lankan countryside. A joint was passed around which i politely refused ,the car is filled with smoke, a combination of cigarettes and pot, and music. Sun going down, and roadside police check, they always make me nervous, pot is illegal..isn’t it? Stay calm, I have my passport ready if needed, but all good. 3hrs later we arrive at our destination.
OMG…The Sunrise by Jetwing Passikudah, this place is fancy for some one like me, but it was OH SO MUCH FUN. I danced the night away to Sri Lanka music, a bar full of well to do Sri Lankans and me… the Aussie backpacker.
2am, exhausted, it was time to embark on the journey back to Habanara. Laki had spent a good part of the evening asleep in the car after being violently ill, I assume it was a combination of alcohol and no food. And our “He doesn’t drink” Driver” was now completely smashed, as were the muso’s. And I was sober ( no alcohol since early afternoon)and now freaking out on the inside.. Is this how i die, at the hands of a drunk driver? A road statistic in Sri Lanka? The drive back seemed like the longest night of my life. Laki slept soundly beside me, the sky was filled with stars and i was consumed by fear. The car swerves to avoid sleeping dogs in the middle of the road and roadkill, he takes the corners too quickly for my liking and Im on the lookout for wild elephants that we might see on the side of the road in the headlights, please don’t let us hit an elephant. We stop at a grotty all night roadside restaurant in the middle of nowhere, staff and fellow patrons curious at the sight of me, obviously looking for my companion. We drink tea that was much too sweet and bought fresh hot roti. I grab some serviettes and wander off out the back to find a toilet, it is dark, dirty, almost doorless, and of course squat. I’m thankful for my boots( I don’t want to know what im standing in)and my long dress, it is a quick cover up if someone appears in the door way.
Dawn approaching, when we pile back in the car. Conversations in sinhalese I don’t understand, I watch out the window as my surroundings become more visible rice paddies, cows , lakes and a distance elephant grazing on the waters edge, or is that just wishful thinking . We drop of one passenger, then Laki gets delivered to his house so his wife can care for him as he is still not well, he assures me his friends will drop me back at my hotel. I felt safer when he was in the car. Now it is just me a two men that i don’t even remember the names of, a new set of fears enter my head, they chat and laugh together in the front seats. Could they be planning my demise? My stupid imagination working overtime.
Nothing to fear, winding through the jungle my hotel comes into view. I am safe. Nothing to worry about, with big smiles, they wave good bye as they drive off.
What a wild night!!!