Visit to River Kwai and Kithulgala

We disembarked and waited until three boats were piled on top of each other on to the trailer that was fixed to the truck. Rain, good company, kitted up as if we are being taken to Mars, we clung to the iron bars of the truck, breathless for the experience that was awaiting us…. Whitewater rafting !!.

Orders were given for us to disembark. We had arrived at the top of the road, where the first leg of our exciting journey would begin…. After a cup of hot plain tea, we started down the mountain – where cement steps have been placed, to make the journey easy. Several able bodied men carried the boats to the river. We followed, each carrying his or her own paddle – with Wade leading the way.
At the river, we were given thorough instructions in safety methods. How to hold the paddle, how exactly to sit with our feet tightly under the air barrels that are a part of the boat, how to row, how to obey the commands of the leader, rescue operation, above all, the importance of team work without which, white water rafting can be fatally disastrous. We came across several unique words and situations….

Blue Room – is s situation where the craft capsizes over a rapid or in the river, while floating down. It is called the Blue Room experience, simply because once capsized, all heads bob out of the water to the space between the craft interior and the water. You can only breath …!!!

Oh Shit Line – is the thick rope that runs the circumference of the craft. “ It is so name, because the first thing a person utters when falling into the water is that word…. !!! Then, what he does is to hang on to the rope, until he is taken back in …” so the name – Oh Shit Line !!!

All this while, James was a silent listener, helping in and quietly going about what he has been assigned to do. He is the kayak champion – who leads the way and tells that all is well and the coast is clear for the boats to ramble on. Sometimes, the river carries bamboo or sticks thrown in by villagers, which can damage a craft and wound its occupant. James, clears the coast – or rather the river for others to follow. His, is a responsible job, with eye for catching any trouble. Kosala, Ranjith and Nisham help Wade in navigating boats and helping in the general operation. Nisham manages the logistics.

So, we were in the boats….. paddling down the river. The first rapid was easy. Called Virgins Breasts, it is a shallow rapid, with not much movement in it. We squealed in glee, thinking we had overcome. It was a cake-walk… we thought – till the next rapid hit the boat and turned it around like a tea cup in a storm…. Kosala was shouting orders. “ All paddle forward “, “ Left Forward right backward” “ stop” or ‘” down “ – which means is to keep our heads down.

This was fun…. Adventure, beauty, good company and …….. till the third rapid hit us like a ton of bricks on the bottom of the boat …. !! Swirling raging swollen waters of the river, was all around us… this is scary… I quickly said a prayer… Kosala shouted “ left forward ‘ stop stop stop….!!! We were turning around in the churning waters and paddled when we were asked to and stopped when we were told to …. After several minutes which seemed like eternity, we were out of the rapid and in a calm lagoon like water way…. Yelling and congratulating and back-slapping all followed. Some jumped overboard and swam around the boats……

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