The Rafikian

Apart from Gord and Amar, we did not know the others (Wayne, Brian, Karen, Mary and Doug) until we came on this trip, although we did briefly meet Brian and Karen this past summer at Gord and Amar's, but I cannot tell you how easy it is to interact with all of them and they all have similar stories. We are not Canadians (well, I suppose we are...) nor are we white (yea...I suppose we are that too, except for Amar...) we are human...living amongst 7 billion other humans. Certainly many of the people on this planet have their differences, but if you break it down into parts, we have so much in common. I have met Locksmon (I have probably mis-spelt his name...for this I apologize, but Sri Lankan names are unlike any others I have experienced) who operates a "bed and Breakfast"... he does not advertise in any way...merely watches people pass by his place and strikes up conversation if the cards fall in that manner... .he is truly a man of the world, even though he has spent his entire life in Sri Lanka. He does not hate anyone, but chooses who he likes (and that is the difference) and I can't help but think there is some divine force at work  here. He meditates multiple times throughout the day, has a true appreciation for the things that surround him and is obligated to live in harmony with the environment. He welcomed us into his home, and was proud to show us his CBC Radio mug (he listens to it regularly), which he treated as one of his most prized possessions. He did not ask for anything, although I got the feeling he was looking for "investors" to help him improve his property, but not just anyone, he is seeking like-minded people, someone that can share his vision of a simple, eco-friendly place where people can enjoy the surroundings. He owns 3 acres (waterfront, but not the swimming beach kind of waterfront, but stunning none-the-less) that has been in his family for generations. Like everything else here, it is not full of material things, but kept tidy and neat. He has a large house where he lives on the lower floor, with a very large but simple apartment on the top floor...I would stay there in a heartbeat, and would certainly recommend it to anyone. He also has two other buildings, one of a more western style and the second a more traditional Sri Lankan house, and to call it rustic may be an understatement...but again, it was neat and tidy. He explained that it was this traditional style building that was more sought after, and was being rented by a Czech couple who were intending on staying there for six weeks. One would have to be brain dead not to notice the tranquility on his property.....he  took us to the beach, which required a bit of a climb up through a "tunnel" cut through the cabbage trees, and as we walked he showed us otherwise un-noticed details in the jungle surroundings. His waterfront was spectacular...composed of solid granite with intrusive seams of softer rock, primarily quartz. He is a knowlegdable man, explaining the cyrstalline make up of the quartz, pointing out various shades and explaining how they were formed. We sat on the edge of rock, with the surf gently tugging on the shoreline and talked about the tsunami that struck here. He explained that he was aware of its impending arrival, and came to the very spot we were sitting to watch for it. It was a small series of waves that passed by...not much more than a large ocean swell, but moving at a fast rate of speed. The ocean level raised very little from his vantage point, yet a little less than a kilometre away the tsunami had a devestating effect. The fact that he remained realtively unscathed (his property did get flooded however) was due to the fact the the ocean dropped off to a depth of over 1000 feet therefore not allowing the wave to grow...he was one of the few fortunate ones.....it is a classic example of Sri Lanka being a country of extremes. We have met many people who were directly affected by this disaster, and many of these people lost family and friends...with one person telling us that while it caused a "broken mind" they have learned to remember, but not to re-live....resilliance at its best.....

more to follow....