The idea of this reunion which was initially mooted in 2011 at our Coorg meeting was a dream that finally came true this week. Most of us looked forward to this even though we did have a stopgap meeting in Delhi and Jaipur last year. It was necessary, just in order to keep up the continuity of this wonderful tradition that we have now followed since November 2008. We have yet to agree on the next meeting but with a little time to dwell upon this issue we should be able to come to a consensus on it.
We collected at Colombo on various dates leading up to the 9th of February with only a bare outline of what lay ahead of us for the next few days. Little did we know of the great time that we would
have, right until the time we parted company yesterday. Saturday the 9th started with a hearty breakfast, with a few of us barely making it to the table before it was unrigged because of the late night that we had on arrival. There were no fixed plans for the day so the ladies, led by Queen Bee Sonia headed for the shops whilst we did various things –
sightseeing and some of us discussing serious world topics and getting well lubricated by vodka and tonic in Nain’s room to set the mood of the meeting.
Our official program began at 1900 that evening with all of us gathering at “The Ivy Room” for the inauguration of our reunion. Captain Rajagopalan, himself an ex‐Dufferin Cadet ‐ who had some
choice words for us during our tutelage under him ‐ had very kindly, along with Mrs. Rajagopalan, accepted our invitation and served as the Guest of Honour for the occasion. We began on a solemn note with our customary homage paid to our batchmates and Capt. J.L.Tucker who had “gone before us”. Thereafter the mood lightened when the time came for photographs and then we proceeded to “Splice the Mainbrace”. There are many descriptions for this activity, thought of as essential for lubricating the soul, especially the motor centre in our brains and the tongue, but frowned upon by those of a more puritanical mindset.
Capt. John Paisley finally overcame his shyness and took the “bull by the horns” – the microphone, and gave a swinging start to the music and dance session that followed. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed that occasion‐ as all of you must have seen. It was a good time which set the mood for the rest of the holiday. There were some scintillating dance numbers performed by a troupe of young ladies which added to the vibrant atmosphere of the party. This was the first of the surprises sprung on us by our anchorman Lester, and his Lady Sonia. Dinner was a sumptuous buffet which could not but be enjoyed, right from the salads to the desserts on offer.
Sunday the 10th mostly consisted of a road trip through the day from Colombo to Kandy. Surprise No. 2 was the luxurious coach and a very knowledgeable guide, Mr Shah – with the unique hairstyle – which were our mainstay during our trips around the country for the next four days. Enroute to Kandy our midday stop was at Pinnawala which is very aptly named the “Elephant Orphanage” and is described in detail in the brochure handed out to us. Highlights of the visit were photographs that our group members had got taken with the baby elephants. A riverside lunch followed where we were treated to the sight of elephants being bathed in the river – what a life – roll in the mud, sunbathe, get bathed and then roll in the mud again!!! However, the sight of lame elephants who had got legs blown off by land mines was a sobering sight. Thank God that the civil war is over and Sri Lanka is on the road to a splendid recovery.
Surprise no. 3 was the Earl’s Regency Hotel in Kandy which was an excellent example of blending architecture with nature. We spent three days in these sylvan surroundings which were so different from the urban jungle of our cities. The evening of the 10th was a cocktails and dinner affair out in the open on the Pavillion Terrace of the hotel. The weather played along so it was a very pleasant evening. We had started with intentions of coming to some conclusion about the next reunion but that evaded us so that matter remains in abeyance as of date.
Monday the 11th was spent in shopping and sightseeing around Kandy. Lester managed to get a few intrepid members of the group into the sacred inner chamber of the Temple of The Buddha’s tooth at the day’s beginning. After breakfast the whole jing bang set off on, first a visit to the jewellers and then a silk shop after which we went to see the Botanical Gardens. Unfortunately, the rain started off and though we still managed to see some of the garden, the time spent there was well worth it.
Unfortunately, some of us decided to have something to eat which took a long time to come so we made do by sitting in the verandah of the café and enjoying the vast lawn stretching before us with all kinds of exotic trees growing around it. The double coconuts were awesome, they take five years
to mature and are the biggest fruit in the world!!
For the evening, we got together again on the Pavillion terrace for drinks and dinner, but it was now time for surprise no. 4. Kandian dancers with drummers performed some classic numbers and then we had a most graceful and sinuous, classical dance performed by a beautiful young danseuse. This was really high class in every way, we have to thank Sonia and her daughter for arranging this, as well as the dancers in Colombo, for us.
Tuesday the 12th was mostly a journey to and from Nuwara Eliya, the headquarters of the tea plantation business in Sri Lanka, where we had lunch in the most historic surroundings of the Hill
Club, which has also hosted royalty in the past. Unfortunately, rain played spoilt sport most of the day but it could not prevent some determined shoppers to visit Bale Bazaar to buy warm clothing
branded with the most famous names in outerwear – euphemistically termed “factory over‐runs”
by our redoubtable guide. Some of us did manage to visit the famous “Sita Amman Kovil” which is
one of the places where Sita Devi is supposed to have stayed during her captivity in Sri Lanka. We
got back in time for “Happy Hour” which had to be indoors but we had a band to make some music
for us. We had to bear with John’s silence because of his sore throat but Lester stole the crooner
from the “Mountbatten Lounge” to really bring the music to life. It was dance time once again and I
had the honour of a dance with Sonia. She is a very good dancer. Drinks and a wonderful dinner put
the ship on course and we retired for what was to be our last night in Kandy.
Wednesday the 13th saw us back in the bus on the return journey to Colombo which was
punctuated, first by a stop at “Spice Island” where we were given a guided tour around a minibotanical
garden growing aromatic and medicinal spices. Many of us bought medicines and
flavouring herbs – the days of joint and systemic ailments are upon us. Second stop was at a
roadside restaurant for refreshments and then we were on our way back to Colombo.
Our last evening was at Mount Lavinia Hotel, the most famous hotel in Sri Lanka. We had to endure
a long bus Journey through heavy evening traffic but it was worth it. Our venue was on the beach
next to the hotel in a thatched dining space called the Sea Food Cove. A mellow string band started
with sober music but then changed gear into a more catchy rocking style that had a few of us on the
floor again. A gap in the rain allowed some of the more adventurous ladies to enjoy a brief wade in
the sea. The Barbecue Dinner, which, for most of us was to be our last meal together, was again a
very sumptuous buffet which provided a very apt conclusion to our gathering.
Thursday the 14th brought our meeting to an end. A few of us had breakfast together but all could
not make it because of our spaced out departures.
To conclude this report here without thanks to the following in their order of appearance would be
blasphemy so I take this opportunity to convey our collective thanks and appreciation to them :
To those of us who thought of this outing in the first place.
To Lester Weinman [ who got a lot of flak for opening his “big mouth” from you know who].
To the Organising Committee, who have done a “Masterly” job for the last so many reunions and for
this one.
To Captain & Mrs. Rajagopalan for having been with us throughout this reunion.
To John Paisley, Soman Mani and Capt. Rajagopalan [again] and many other un‐named and
undiscovered singers who regaled us with their performances and anecdotes during our long bus
journeys.
To our guide Mr. Shah and his excellent staff – the driver who so safely navigated the whole tour like
taking a huge supertanker through the Singapore Strait and his helper who silently served us all the
way.
To Lester, Sonia and their family for having so wonderfully exceeded our wildest expectations and
for having provided us with so many memories that we will treasure for ever. They have set
benchmarks for us which might be equalled but would be hard to beat.
From Shabnum and myself to all those who made it to the reunion. It gets better and better every
time so keep it up guys.
Thoma [U.V.] Gokhale
Ship’s Roll No. 1790