Surfing Season coming to a Finish This Month

Well as November is here now, we are not expecting the "flat" on the daily surf report to change.... but you never know. The boys have enjoyed the last swell of "season." All the local boys are now busy fishing, and some have headed to the other side of the island where its sunny and "season" there. We are now entering rainy season and its getting so green and beautiful. Just praying for no flooding!

Fish, Fun, Fellowship, and Food

Cody met a friend here visiting from South Africa named Charl. He hung out with us the couple of months he was here. He helped Cody spearfishing to have barbecues for family night, where he also joined us. He has become a good friend that we hope to cross paths with again and continue to share Papa's love with him. When he left yesterday, he gave Cody two spears, a speargun, a surf board leash, and some wax. What a blessing! We were out of all of those things. Thanks Charl!

Thailand Visa Run

We reached that time again.... 6 months in Sri Lanka and time to get out/back in for our visas. We found the cheapest tickets to the closest place.... Thailand. We were fortunate again like last time to get Cody's brother Brady's discount on his hotel in Thailand. We had a great week... mostly relaxing, sleeping, swimming in the pool, watching TV, eating, spending good time together as a family. We went out of the hotel into the busy city maybe two times; once to shop for things needed that we can't get in Sri Lanka and the other time to a place called Dream World. Dream World is like Disneyland, just maybe a quarter of it in size and in price... PTL!!! We got to give the kids a fun day for a cheap price. It was kind of a strange place with weird things, but still fun. 

Driving in a tuk tuk through the city

Don't touch those electrical chords!!!! (driving through the city)

A local food shop on the side of the road

DREAM WORLD EXPERIENCE:

Their hilarious bathroom signs 

 And fun/funny statues 

Some fun little rides

And lots of joyful smiles all day 

Fun Family Times Together

Swimming in the pool at our hotel

 The city lights from our window in our hotel 

Dilke's Birthday Party

Cody and I made Dilke a butterfly birthday cake and she had a small party to celebrate

Had to post this pic- so cute- like husband and wife posing- hehe :)

Disastrous Winds, Rains and Small Tornadoes

What seemed like a normal rainstorm in A-Bay turned into a big disaster. Cody was at the surf club getting ready to put a tarp on the club roof to hold out the rain, when the rainstorm took a turn with a huge wind. Cody and the boys watched two boats being carried into the sky in tornadoes and thrown to the ground. He yelled to the boys "get off the club boat- its gonna go too." And sure enough, they bailed just in time. After working for a month to make the Surf Club, with one tornado/strong wind, it all came down. Some of the club's boards were destroyed in the storm. Cody and the club boys spent the next day completely tearing it down. They will use our canopy for this last month of the season, then they will build something stronger next year. A very sad day for many people. 

Asanka also experienced some damage at the point, with the roof coming off of the look out tower and some of his restaurant

The STF (life guards/navy) tower came crashing down also 

Beach Time This Month: Surfing, Playing, School, Etc...

These boys have so much fun together on Surf and Swim Saturdays

.... from being thrown into the lagoon

to surfing together....

Dixon getting really good! 

This is our little setup on the beach with our canopy for shade. We have 3 soft tops provided for boys to rotate with and a few short boards, and STN property has a handful of boards also available. For the ones waiting in rotation for boards, we have nice shade now. So thankful for our canopy. Sometimes the girls will come out now and watch since they have shade, and they are so afraid of getting darker- because its culturally looked down upon for being too dark. 

A couple of fun swells came through this month with some nice size. Cody on the wave of the day, just bummed he had to dodge so many people on this epic wave

Asanka also enjoying this swell and where he usually is- in the barrel

A nice little family day away at Elephant rock; climbing rocks with the kids, taking turns surfing, resting

A Good swell that came through at Pottuvil Point- Cody enjoying the ride

 The back wash was so big that day- I captured this shot just at the right time 

 That day we had school on the beach with the kids. Sure makes for nice recess for them, swimming and exploring. Also helps them to do their work since they want to play :) I had a great morning teaching them and getting some surfing footage.