28th December 2009
It’s been another fantastic week here at the Seenigama Sport project, with a whole host of different experiences. However, one of the main ones took place a long way from the sunny palm frond environs of Seenigama, but required just the same level of physical exertion if not more.
I was invited by the Laureus contact out here to climb Adam’s Peak with her and her parents on Christmas day. Given the way I knew my family and friends would be spending the day I thought it would be fun to do something a little different. Adam’s Peak, or Sri Pada as it’s known in Sinhalese, at 7500ft high is the second highest peak in the country and a special site of religious pilgrimage for Buddhists. The climb starts from the village of Dalhousie, which is a 7 hour bumpy twisty ride from here. Having left just after lunch, we arrived at our guest house just after 9pm in time to wolf down a huge plate of fried rice before heading straight to bed. It was lights out at 10pm as the alarm was set for just after 2am! Somewhat bleary eyed we met in the reception and at 2.30am started walking. As we’d been told, the route is lined with little kiosks ready to sell pilgrims bottles of water, cups of tea, roties or sickly sweet blocks of ant covered congealed honey (at least one aspect of which was not intentional)! However, contrary to what we’d been told the temperature was positively balmy compared to back home, particularly once we’d started climbing the never ending supply of steps, and the layers were quickly peeled off as we steamed our way to the top. The climb was pretty tough going even for someone like me, and I’m considered pretty fit, so I was very impressed by the number of elderly people doing it or those carrying small children and particularly by those doing it in bare feet! The ascent itself took about 3 hours. After a chilly hour watching the sun rise at the temple at the top (where those layers finally came in handy) it was time for the long slow painful descent and we eventually hobbled back into our hotel at 9am, however not before taking in the sensational vistas that the mountain affords.
18th December, 2009
After a 21 hour journey and a few tearful goodbyes at the airport I finally arrived at Seenigama Sports centre, one of the Laureus supported projects. I spent 2 weeks as a tourist here last Christmas and loved the place so was very keen to come back and get to know the country better. Having been inspired by one of my fellow foundation team members to volunteer over the xmas holidays I asked a Seenigama representative (Quen) who visited our offices in March, whether they took volunteers. On being told that they did I jumped at the chance to make the most of my xmas break.
The project has a whole host of sports on offer and despite the exceptionally high standard almost everyone and anyone is welcome to join in. Following on from the recent Beefy visit there is a real Laureus buzz in the air and it’s actually quite moving to see the pride which the kids take in wearing their Laureus t shirts.
