Tuesday 24 September - Habarana

What a great way to start our day -- with a visit to a village school!  We spent time with each of the 4 classes, looking at their work, giving them candy and singing "Head and Shoulders" with them.



There were some students away attending a ceremony so the ones there have a story for them when they come back.  We left our gifts with them -- beautiful CANADA teeshirts for each child from Marie-Angelica, fabulous balls, books and pens from Sally-Jo, some teachers' resources from Cathy and notebooks and skipping ropes and coloured pencils from us.  The teachers were pleased and we had fun with the kids.
From there we travelled to an elephant transit house - a home for orphaned elephants who will be released into the wild after 5 years.  One poor baby had been badly burned from wandering into a brick kiln and must stay isolated to avoid further injury. 


 The others live together in a herd of 5 youngsters.  


There is also a blind deer that lives on the premises.
While we were there I tripped, wrenching my problem hip and for an awful moment both Larry and I thought I'd hurt it all over again.  I quickly realized it was not as bad as when I first injured it, but I've re-activated my limp.  Drat!!
We had another lovely village lunch, and Sally-Jo was brave enough to try chewing betel nut.  It turned her tongue orange but did not discolour her teeth.  Also made her dizzy.
Next stop was a batik operation, then a silk place.  There was shopping.
When we got to the hotel, Marie-Angelica was ready for a rest, Cathy for a drink and the rest for a swim and drinks.
In the evening we enjoyed a really special private bbq on an island in the adjoining lake, where we saw the most spectacular huge moth ever.
Back in our rooms we found beautiful flowers on the bed and a good luck message spelled out on our table.  
A truly great day! 
[Pack up and off to Kandy tomorrow ]
 

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