he ups and downs of a day on the waves – Jetliner tour by ET Club
Saturday, October 30th, 2010From the bow of the Jetliner the sea ahead is blue, untroubled and sparkles inside the sunlight. To the right the ocean stretches to the sky. Giant container ships are tiny specks on the horizon. To the left, about four nautical miles away, the Sri Lankan coast basks in the morning sun. Ribbons of white sand meet stretches of green palm trees. Hills rise and fall inside the distance. The coastal landscape is punctuated by telephone masts, kovils, temples and lighthouses. Close towards the ship turtles dive, fish swim, seagulls play and butterflies dance. The view from the stern is of the wash from the ship: the deep, blue-green water is churned into tumultuous white foam. Rainbows dance inside the spray. Further distant, the water calms down leaving a gentle pathway showing where we’ve been.The 15th of November saw 434 passengers step aboard to enjoy the four hour cruise from Colombo to Galle. A lot of pressed themselves against the railings to soak up the full experience of the wind, the sun, the salt spray, the Calypso band and also the scenery. For most men and women, this was their first time on a ship, their first time on the ocean waves. When the heat of the sun, the wind and also the noise of the engines got too much, several went inside to enjoy other entertainment: the dance floor, music on the lounge and kids films.
There was a demonstration of ice cream kottu: fruit, nuts, biscuits, ice cream and topping mixed together kottu-style. A great spectacle and very tasty. Commodore Niraja Attygalle welcomed us onto the bridge and talked about Jetliner’s history and its present role. During the conflict it served the Sri Lankan Navy transporting troops and civilians in between Jaffna and Trincomalee. Now, it truly is introducing many Sri Lankans towards the wonders of the sea. It provides valuable revenue for the Navy and serves as a unique venue for private and corporate functions.