I recently told a friend in Weligama, Sri Lanka, that my first visit there in 1981 was one of the greatest experiences of my life. He wrote back and asked me to explain why it was such a wonderful experience. These lyrics of a song I wrote at the time went some way to answering this question. Below are some further thoughts - not in any particular order.
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I was absolutely amazed that almost complete strangers would take me in as their friend
and share their lives with me.
It was my first experience of living in a place where people
lived ‘hand to mouth’. Titus, Walter and others went fishing every morning, got
money for the fish at the fish market, and took it home to their wives who went
shopping, and made food for the family for the next 24 hours. And then the cycle
began again the next day. It taught me a great deal about life, and how simple
it can be. And I saw that poor people can live a happy life if they enough food
and a place for sleep and shelter.
I became a much more confident swimmer often swimming out to
Louise’s island:
I realised that my skills as a musician were really valued.
I did so much singing in Weligama!
People would often dance when I played guitar and sang. I felt like a troubadour!
It was my first experience living in a non-Christian culture
and I learnt a lot about Buddhism. Titus and I would sometimes talk about the
difference between Christianity and Buddhism.
Playing karam on the beach at night with Titus while drinking
arak. Magic!
The huge surprise when we came back to Weligama one day and Titus had built us a cadjan house!
Amazing parties out on Louse’s island:
Playing with the children each day in the sea:
I learnt that I was extraordinarily privileged. As Titus
told me, “You can come here anytime you want, but I will never see your country.”
Though fishing families in Weligama had enough food and a place to sleep and
shelter they had no real freedom to move out of that world. Having spare money –
money left over after you have paid for your house and food – is a huge luxury.
Louise and I had a magical visit to ‘the Prince’s island’ - Taprobane. There really was a prince living there and he happily invited us in and treated us to tea and cake!
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| Taprobane: the Prince's Island |
I learned that people in places like Weligama people do not
like to be alone. People would often watch me read, or write in my journal!
I learned that when you live right by the sea the world is never
silent. Every night I would fall asleep to the sounds of the waves breaking on
the shore
I learned that poor people can be incredibly generous.
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| Titus and Lilian in 'our' new house |
