Dutch Bay Primary School: First meeting

Primary Students, Dutch Bay School

Dee has promised to take us to the Dutch Bay Primary School for this area which is largely fishermen's children.    Today is the day.

  

 Dave and I picked up some art supplies in Nice that we wanted to bring the kids.   The rest of the gang pitched in with some exercise books they bought on the way.  Waruna offered a box of pens.  

 We took these things to the office first to be distributed by the teachers later.   It was the English teacher who showed us around the three room school as the others spoke Singhalese.  I am pretty sure that this school goes from grades 1-5. 

  Most of the children here are day students.  A few come from single parent homes where the parent is struggling with alcohol or poverty.  These live full time at a little house on the grounds with one of the teachers.    Also, some of the children's parents object to school as they feel that the child would be of more help at home although in Sri Lanka school is compulsory to grade 9 . 

 But I do get the feeling for the rest of the families school is highly valued. 

Primary Students, Dutch Bay School

The youngest of the primary children are so excited to have visitors. They spill out the doors rushing to see us, laughing and surging forward.   The teachers just let them greet us for a while and get used to looking in our cameras at their images and comparing henna on some of their hands to nail varnish on some of ours , and trying to understand each other without a common language.    

Dutch Bay School

These are enchanting children,  always touching each other but never pushing, not boisterous in that way, not loud..... so attractive and basically shy.

 Primary student, Dutch Bay School

. 

Dutch Bay School

Pupils at Dutch Bay

 Sutdents, Dutch Bay School

Pupils at Dutch Bay School

Pupils, Dutch Bay School

Primary School , Dutch Bay, Sri lanka

Pupil at Dutch Bay, Sri Lanka

Children of Dutch Bay, Sri Lanka

It is a magical moment of exchange....  but finally the kids settle down and go back to their seats. 

Dutch Bay School,  Sri Lanka

  I had such a hard time culling this lot of photos.  I can't resist looking at these images, frankly.  Glorious kids. 

Spinner Dolphin boat trip

Indian Ocean beach,  photo by Dave Puckett

The next morning we are off to see if we can locate the spinner dolphins.  One of the staff at Dutch Bay has made us some rudimentary benches so he can transport us to the sea in his jeep.   We board our boats near a fisherman's hut. 

Fisherman's home on the Indian Ocean, Dutch Bay

Pauline standing while we wait to board

 But first before we start searching,  our boats must register with the authorities of animal welfare.  We land on a strip of fisherman's beach while we wait our turn. 
 Nothing better to do than look around.   There is all the business of fishing but in the middle is a policeman with his striking blue and black uniform.  He must be the one that oversees the registration and collection of fees.   I must say he is handsome. 

We then set out and it is not long before we encounter hundreds of dolphins.    I didn't really capture the thrill of it with my still camera.   Oriel just sent me some of her good photos though.  Thanks, Oriel.  And thanks Anna, too for that nice one of Dave. 

Dee and Dave up front, Jo and Anna behind

That is Dave in our partner boat, photo by Anna Mayall

photo by Oriel Sufrini

photo by Oriel Sufrini

photo by Oriel Sufrini

photo by Oriel Sufrini

photo by Oriel Sufrini

Why do they leap out of the water? ...I don't think anyone knows for sure.  What about just for fun.... and "cause they can".  

 One dolphin kept leaping out in the same place 5 or 6 times as if to say, "Dummy, get the photo will ya?"  

I have a cool video but as luck would have it , I can't get it to compress and show itself.  I will have to post that later.  

Dutch Bay : Kalpitiya Peninsula

March 15 we have a late breakfast "al fresco" at the manor house with more Sri Lankan breakfast treats by the Manor House's smiling chef....

 and then we are off to go to Dutch Bay at the northern end of the Kalpitiya Peninsula to see the spinner dolphins. 

  After passing terrain dotted with coconut plantations, we make our way across a rutted road to the tip of the peninsula where the bus can go no further.  We pass fishermen's cottages and huts for selling and cutting fish along to the sea edge. 

  There small boats are waiting for us to take us across a narrow channel to the island of Dutch Bay.  

Our Destination ,Dutch Bay Resorts

Tip of the peninsula where we unload our suitcases onto boats.

Anna, heips June.  Dave and Pam in background.  

After a scramble into new, unpackaged life jackets, we get a glimpse in the distance of "chalets" hidden in the mangroves, our destination.

 As we will find out from the introduction from our host, Mr. Neil,  this afternoon, these are the beginning of what will be an extensive luxury complex that is being built by Dutch Bay Resorts.  

Pier being constructed into the enclosure of the resort

Salt water pool and open dining area at Dutch Bay Resort

Our eloquent host,   "Neil"

This place is a happy surprise.   Every chalet is freshly painted.   The rooms are commodious and chic.   There is a separate lodging for each of us solo travelers with a king size bed,  a couch, a tv,  a few picture books, a large outdoor shower room, a private terrace, and a dressing area with a refrigerator and a wall safe and hey.... fluffy bath robes.      

dressing area,  photo by Dave Puckett

When they get it completely finished and the place is running  smoothly it will be a 4 star destination and very private.   

  And there are no mosquitoes ( at least on me) or creepy insects so I love the outdoor shower room this time.

We finally get our luggage sorted to our rooms and look forward to a cocktail hour and barbecue tonight. But first,  there are massages available for about 40 euros an hour and I sign up for the masseuse to come to my chalet before dinner.  

For cocktail hour, I have figured out that fresh lime juice, always available with tonic water is really refreshing and if you dare you can have a shot of vodka with that.   Yes, they stock liquor here which is not always the case in Sri Lankan guest houses.

The barbecue this evening is shellfish with two kinds of marinated tuna with  white and red sauces ; a rice dish,  a pasta dish and more accompaniments.    For dessert there is the Sri Lankan specialty of Buffalo curd with honey or there is ice cream if you prefer.  

  This I hear is also a good chef and he proves it over the next couple of days.   

Faces of Sri Lanka

Pupil at Dutch Bay School

Cool hair guy,  Galle,  photo by Oriel Sufrini

Children at Dutch Bay School

Tell Tale staff come to cut coconuts for us all, Galle

Gemstone polisher, Galle

Weaver, Galle

Shopkeeper, Galle

Lacemakers, Galle

Tea producer, Hanunugoda

Cinnamon producer, Koggala Lake

 Ceremonial Drummer, Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy

Hopper Chef, Unawatuna

Lace maker, Galle

 Guide,  Yala National Park

Fisherman, Dutch Bay

Cat ,Manor House, Kandy

Pupil  at Dutch Bay School

Puppy at Fistherman children's school, Dutch Bay

 Staff manager at Dutch Bay Resorts

Batik maker

Pupil at Dutch Bay School

Wood carver , Galle

Pupil  at Dutch Bay School 

Pupil at Dutch Bay

Small donkey , photo by Dave Puckett

Staff worker at the Manor House, photo by Dave Puckett

Pupil at Dutch Bay

Pupil at Dutch Bay

Pupil at Dutch Bay

Pupil at Dutch Bay

Pupil at Dutch Bay

 Primary Teacher at Dutch Bay School



I like taking photos of people.  In two weeks I managed to shoot quite a few quick portraits. 
 I find the people of Sri Lanka to be beautiful,  dignified, engaging and soft spoken .    Whenever I got a chance, I talked to people and it was always rewarding.   The Sri Lankans I met radiate contentment, even happiness even though I know that many of them lack the material wealth we take for granted. 

 The children of the poorest seem the most charming of all.   As you can see, I couldn't resist them and will post more of their images later.