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by Dr. Granville Fernando

News that plans are afoot for the construction of a bridge across the Palk Straits connecting Talaimannar with Ramesweram brings back interesting remembrances of a memorable ferry boat ride I happened to make on these same waters way back in the early seventies.

A picture "Anai Vailankanni' which I had seen in one of our local cinemas started it all. I was anxious to go ever to Vailankanni that famous Marian shrine in India. In that bygone era travel was not that easy. No exchange was allowed. So we took across soap, spices and such like which we bartered on Indian soil.

And there were certain restrictions on travel. Those going over to India could fly on the out ward journey, but were complled to come home by boat.

I for one was anxious to hop over to Trichnopoly from the Pallaly Airport. Taking the Jaffna Night Mail we reached Jaffna right on time. Staying over night at a 'Guest-house' it was on a sunny monday morning when we emplaned for the South Indian city of Trichonopoly.

After a few days sojourn at Vailankanni it was time to take the pilgrim staff for home.

Leaving Vailankanni we took train and reached Kathikudy an important railway junction in the darkness of the night.

A five hour train ride drawn by the old coal and steam engine brought us to Ramesweram almost with the first streaks of sawn. Ramesweram was a city of contrasts. Some sections of the city were dirty while other areas looked bright with modern houses with neatly laid out lawns.

We soon spotted a suitable 'lodge' where we stayed just for one day. As there was plenty of time on our hands we did a city tour of course by foot. Being Sunday we were on the look out for a Catholic church where we expected mass to be celebrated. Soon we were successful in our mission on. Right on the sea shore in an old cadjan thatched church we fulfilled our Sunday obligation. Sea side settlements reminded us of scenes closer home with fisher men mending nets and urchins playing on the sea shore. Soon it was` time to disembark.

There was a terrible scramble at the immigration counter.

As we waited in the hot sun many of us were thirsty. Soon we were munching luscious red apples which they were selling for a song. One rupee to be exact. It was almost even tide when we were called up to large barges that were to take us to the ship that was puffing curls of black smoke yonder in the deep blue waters mid sea.

Climbing a long rope ladder very gingerly we got on to deck.

The upper deck was more costly. Ours was economy class. So we had to occupy a middle deck. Dusk was falling as we started moving.

Before long we were in mid sea. It was blue and blue all around. The vast expanse of the blue ocean mingled well with the canopy of the blue sky.

The tiny speck of a little ship being tossed in a fairly rough sea made us look heaven wards. I soon began reciting my beads. Then we sighted the welcome lights or Talaimannar. Home at last'.

The Night Mail to Colombo had already left. We were now compelled to take the day train home.

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