Granny on an Elephant





How many 81 year old people do you know that ride an elephant? My mom, my daughter Tanya and my 18 year old niece, Tia were all here, in Sri Lanka for two glorious weeks. It was Bill's and my first opportunity to host company from home and to play tour guide. Given the age span from 18 to 81, we had to vary the activities to interest an 18 year old who will be off to university this fall (anthropology), a 34 year old who wants thrills but who is afraid of them and an 81 year old who is up for anything.

So, we had them busy. We subjected them to the raucous, noise, clamour, smells and chaos of Pettah market in Colombo, we sat on the surf's edge and sipped cold white wine at the famous Galle Face Hotel, we walked the Galle Fort walls, and we purchased some gems in Colombo. We suntanned on the beach in Ganesh Gardens and cooled ourselves in the Indian Ocean.

We rode Safari in a 4x4 and gaped in wonder as we drove past wild elephants, crocodiles and exotic birds like storks and kites and flamingos. We visited an elephant orphanage and had elephant rides. Tia got bathed by an elephant (see video attached) and Tanya was freaked out by the height of her elephant. We watched the elephants bathe in the rocky streams of a wide river as we lunched in the shade. We saw monkey's everywhere, tromped through spice gardens and flower gardens and climbed to World's End.



We toured them through my hospital and they worked in a children's orphanage. They saw first-hand women who had doused themselves in gasoline and lit themselves on fire and a whole medical ward filled with people who had ingested poison. Sri Lanka has the highest suicide rate in the entire world. We played cards and hung out. We drank wine and read. We laughed and we swam. Tanya and I gave a synchronized swimming demonstration in a pool in Kandy. We entered the Temple of the Tooth and climbed to the pinnacle of Kandy to see the giant Buddha. Under a stunning sky, we ate halal food on a rooftop patio across from the World Trade Centre.



Sound enticing? All can be part of your experience as well. You just have to visit us. Contact Ickcillint Adventures Travel. Agent Bill Blair and his partner, Wendy Nordick, are at your service: nordickmanagement@shaw.ca

You won't be disappointed. Don't let an 81 year old show you up.

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