There's not much to do around here if the waves aren't working. Back in December you could catch the bus to Galle or Weligama to walk around for the day, but the afternoons are too hot to do anything. The temperatures here are similar to the hottest months in Costa Rica, but here women must dress conservatively, walking around half naked isn't an option. I would keep to my room, but it's a sweat box, literally- it's a few degrees short of being a sauna. I'm not complaining, trust me, I'm so grateful to be here- it's just that the days are long when there's no surf sessions to break it up. I was up and ready to go by 5:30am. The wind was already on it and the swell was a bit confused. The conditions only got worse as the day went on and the temperature rose. Stu and I cracked out on wifi, played cards, listened to music, played music, read, walked in circles, sat in front of the fan, watched episodes of "Workaholics", visited our swimming hole, wrestled with a coconut, took long lukewarm showers and debated about how to pacify our boredom and discussed the weeks swell forecast. We were a bit stir crazy, and with that came a slight hysteria that displayed itself through random outbursts of giggling.

There's not much to do around here if the waves aren't working. Back in December you could catch the bus to Galle or Weligama to walk around for the day, but the afternoons are too hot to do anything. The temperatures here are similar to the hottest months in Costa Rica, but here women must dress conservatively, walking around half naked isn't an option. I would keep to my room, but it's a sweat box, literally- it's a few degrees short of being a sauna. I'm not complaining, trust me, I'm so grateful to be here- it's just that the days are long when there's no surf sessions to break it up. I was up and ready to go by 5:30am. The wind was already on it and the swell was a bit confused. The conditions only got worse as the day went on and the temperature rose. Stu and I cracked out on wifi, played cards, listened to music, played music, read, walked in circles, sat in front of the fan, watched episodes of "Workaholics", visited our swimming hole, wrestled with a coconut, took long lukewarm showers and debated about how to pacify our boredom and discussed the weeks swell forecast. We were a bit stir crazy, and with that came a slight hysteria that displayed itself through random outbursts of giggling.

A daily pleasure of mine is feeding the local mange-infested, tattered-and-torn mutts that litter the beach. There's a few hairless pooches that have really captured my heart, and seeing their tails wag makes my day. So around 5pm I flag down the bread truck and buy a bag of stale, chewy bread. I buy enough to go around (even for the not-so-friendly pups) so there's no dog fights. I feed a bunch of them, but I always make sure that I feed my favorite one last- once all the others are too consumed with their own slices of bread to bother him. He's so gentle and considerate, which is probably the reason he's so skinny compared to the other dogs. Of all the strays that I've encountered in third world countries over the years, this group is the most sorry looking bunch. My favorite pooch always has happy eyes and a wagging tail when he sees me, but he never gets too close, still too timid. His skin is full of open sores, his eyes are nearly swollen shut and still his spirit isn't defeated. *Gush* I love dogs. So I have become known around town as the crazy dog lady, but I don't mind. I spend 50cents and I make a bunch of dogs happy and a little bit less hungry, which makes me feel good. Oh yeah, and I also feed the cows. They seem to love bananas and now that I feed them these they love me too. I got a bit jaded being in India, where the cows aren't afraid of humans. Here they are a bit skitzy, and the first time I went to pet them they ran away afraid. But now the few that I feed regularly will walk up to me and let me rub their heads after I slip em a treat. So, lots of games, reading, music and feeding of animals...and then what? We paced, practiced handstands, giggled, and took cool showers. And then the conversation went something like this:

Stu: I'm so hot.
Me: Me too.
Stu: Are you hungry?
Me: No. You?
Stu: Me neither. We should have something though.
Me: I'll have a soda I guess. Yeah. A coca cola. I haven't had one of those in ages.
(Stu goes into the kitchen and gets us a soda. We share it.)
Stu: We should have something.
Me: Peanut butter and jellies?
Stu: Nah, I've had too much bread today.
Me: Beer? I don't really want to drink though.
Stu: Yeah, no, me neither.
Me: how about some steamed veggies? And some rice?
Stu: Nah. Neither of us are hungry. If we are going to eat when we aren't hungry then it should be something crappy, not healthy. How about instant noodles with peanut butter, kinda like a pad Thai type thing?
Me: Ew. how about French fries?
Stu: yeah! French fries!

And so, with complete awareness that we were eating because we were bored, we enjoyed a plate of French fries...and played a few more rounds of cards. Long, hot, uneventful day...Pray for surf. We are giving the swell here one more day to show itself, otherwise we're headed east.....


Cailin Callahan
www.cailincallahan.blogspot.com