This is the story of Six Local Guides, three meetups, two nights and three days, 718 .6 kms on wheels.
This road trip was organized by six local guides( @AnuradhaP , @IlankovanT , @IsurangaD , @NiroshaJ , @AsankaJayasuriya and Dilib) in Sri Lanka to cover all meetups of the Map Your World Week meetups organized in Sri Lanka.
The Start
The journey was started around 6.00 pm on March 16, 2017 at the entrance of the Southern Expressway Kottawa. Five Local Guides came on time and there was a one as in any group of friends who got late by 40 minutes. A simple explanation, he wants to cut his hair before the road trip.Asanka, there was no change in your hair style.
Short-cut to Giriulla
AnuradhaP suggested a short-cut to Giriulla via Minuwangoda, oh… god that short-cut was 40 minutes longer than the normal route. One condition from Ilankovan, we would only use A and B class roads. Luckily we had Goolge maps to help us. Otherwise, we are still roaming around Mirigama.
The Telecom Man
@RajithaP our Telecom Man(Level 5 Local Guide) from Giriulla was waiting for us at one of the telecommunication towers he looks after. He warmly welcomed us, and showed the inside of control room. He explained everything inside, and he is very clear about what he explained to us. We handed over his Sri Lanka Local Guides T-Shirt, badges, and stickers to him. He invited us to come there to climb a telecom tower.
The Savior
The magnetic “Sri Lanka Local Guides” poster we had on our vehicle saved us several occasions. Normally during the night time, the police will stop your vehicle and questioned you, especially in rural areas. In several locations, we were stopped, and as soon as they see the “Sri Lanka Local Guides” poster, they allow us to go without questioning. Maybe they thought we are from a Non-Government organization. Who cares, it saved us.
The Moon Hotels - Batticaloa
We reached our destination on the first day around 2.30 am (next day) in the morning and stayed at the Moon Hotels in Batticaloa.
Sri Kishna Cafe - The best vegetarian hotel in Batticaloa
@IlankovanT and Dilib took us to the best vegetarian hotel in Batticaloa. I agree with both of them, the food they served were superb. I would love to go there again.
The Meeting point
We met at the Batticaloa Gate for the Batticaloa meetup. The organizer, Ilankovan explained the activities, and first, we started map editing. There were a lot of places missing, and we used the “Uncover missing info” feature of Google Maps mobile app.
What a coincide !!!
I went to bank some money to the Hatton National Batticaloa. I was wearing a Sri Lanka Local Guides t-shirt. The person behind the counter saw the t-shirt, and he asked whether I am a Local Guide. I said “Yes”. Then he said he was also a Local Guide and he has 200+ points. We discuss a little bit and I gave him a Sri Lanka Local Guides badge and car sticker. He was jubilant. Then Ilankovan came, and he gave a Sri Lanka Local Guides t-shirt to him.
Ilankovans friends
Ilankovan gave some badges to foreigners.
Friendly shop owners
While we were updating the missing information, we met two shop owners who appreciate our work. One shop owner offered us soft drinks. He explained everything about his business, and he encouraged us to take photography.
The Art Work
Next started the most memorable moment of the trip. Ilankovan had organized a fun activity to draw a Sri Lanka map and mark the important places in Sri Lanka on it. The final product was excellent. Ilankovan, it was very creative.
The unusual Biriyani
We went to had our lunch at New Ibraim Eating House, Batticaloa. IlankovanTand Dilib told this was one of the best restaurants in Batticaloa to have Biriyani. The Biriyani was unusual. They served us the Biriyani with a lot of curries, not like in other restaurants, where you will have Biriyani with two or three curries.
200 meters to Home……
Our destination on the second night was @AsankaJayasuriya 's relatives place. He said it was 200 meters from the main road. He could not remember we were Local Guides. When we reached his relatives place, we checked the distance; it was almost 3 km.
The Kandy meetup
This is the meetup with the highest number of participants in Sri Lanka. Dinesh, a friend of mine brought his photography students to the walk, and it was awesome to walk along Dinesh, who talked about photography during the walk. Thank you @Virangya and Dinesh.
Lunch for Sri Lanka Local Guides
A Level 5 local guide, Udaya hosted a lunch for none local guides who participated the Kandy Photo Walk. It was really nice. The launch and Spice World was excellent.
Missed meetup
We left the Kandy around 3.00 pm and we missed the meetup organized at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. We did not see any post on the Local Guides Connect about this Meetup.
Back at Kottawa
After 718.6 km on wheel, we came to Kottawa around 8.30 pm.
Kalutara Meetup
The Kalutara Meetup was organized to have a chat about the meetups held during the Map Your World Week.
Tin-Tin and his wife
The Ilankovan came with his wife for the meetup. This meetup was her first meetup after one year. Welcome back for mapping… Ilankovan was like Tin-Tin in the photo below.
Reviews on Wall
During the Kalutara meetup, we did some map editing. We came across some restaurants in Kalutara North with some review about the restaurant on walls and ceilings. It was really nice.
Birthday
At the end of the Kalutara meetup, we went Domino’s to have dinner. March 19, 2017, was my wife’s birthday, and we celebrated her birthday with Sri Lanka Local Guides.
It was a very nice trip, and we came to know more about Sri Lanka Local Guides and the importance of the Local Guides program.
Photo credit goes to participants of the road trip and other meetups.
Thank you Ilankovan, Nirosha, Isuranga, Asanka and Dilib.
Related photo albums.
