Just got in from Mullaitivu a few minutes ago. I’m EXHAUSTED. Up since 05:00 and travelling since 06:00 this morning. As always, check back in the next few days for the transcribed entries of what happened in Mullaitivu. Here’s what happened today. Let T = Transport.
T1 (05:45-06:00) : Bicycle Rs.0 – Luckily, 2 of the labourers had agreed to take Krishan and I to the bus station in town if we got delayed and had to rush for the bus (we did).
T2 (06:00-06:30) : Empty Bus Rs.20×2 – THE mistake of the day was that we thought the bus to the checkpoint left Mtvu at 05:30. It left at 05:00. That bus would have been empty and gone straight to the checkpoint. We ended up catching a bus to Puthukudiyiruppu where we would take another bus to the Puliyankulam checkpoint.
T3 (07:30-09:30) : CROWDED Bus Rs.65×2 – OK. I know people in Canada who don’t take public transportation because they like their personal space. I’ve taken the bus in Sri Lanka before. I’ve even been on a bus that was so crowded I stood on the steps. I’ve NEVER been on a bus that was this packed. Everytime I thought it was full to capacity, they were letting more people on!!! Note: By “full to capacity” I mean kids were sitting on strangers’ laps, people were standing on both my feet, someone’s elbow was digging deep into my back, someone else’s arm was interlocked with mine and my nose was securely lodged in someone’s armpit. I honestly thought after being here (and travelling quite a bit) for 5 months, THIS was going to be the time I would have to [embarrasingly] admit that I threw up while travelling. Thankfully they stopped the bus to get some shorteats in a small village. I hadn’t eaten all morning, so I thought that after I ate a bit I might be OK. I was wrong. I tried to get back on the bus and I just couldn’t do it. We decided to get a 3-wheeler to the checkpoint. Better to pay an extra Rs.300-400 than to blow chunks! I’m proud to say: I have YET to vomit while travelling! Had I stayed on that bus, this may have not be the case! 
T4 (11:00-11:30) : Small motorcycle Rs.200×2 – As luck would have it, there were no 3 wheelers around. Someone suggested we rent a motorcycle. K and I thought they would rent us a bike. No. It meant that someone would hop us on theirs and bring us to the point. They’re not allowed to have 3 people on a bike in the Vanni area, so K and the biker said they would go check if it was OK at an LTTE checkpoint and be back in a few minutes. Again, seeing as how this was my lucky day, at that very moment, an LTTE guy came by and began asking me several questions. I muddled my way through the conversation in Tamil, but finally told him to wait 5 mins and someone would come explain everything properly. The guy was very nice in the end.
T5 (11:30 – 12:30) : Random van Rs.100×2 – Finally we got lucky. As soon as we reached the checkpoint, we saw a van with some old gentlemen in it. They offered to bring us to Vavuniya for only Rs.200.
T6 (13:30 – 19:30) : Intercity AC Bus Rs.250 – K and I got some prices for things we need to purchase, had lunch and I got on a bus back to Colombo. K is staying is Vavuniya. I was one of the first people on the bus, so I had a seat the whole way! A girl ended up sitting next to me. She smelled like Musk. Weird for a girl to smell like Musk, but that smell brings back fond memories of makeshift flamethrowers (I’ll explain later).
T7 (19:45 – 20:15) : 3-Wheeler Rs. 220 (I gave 250) – I know where the bus stand is relative to my place, and I was prepared to pay Rs.250. The first guy I asked said 300 was his last price. I went and asked another and he said 250. I lowered it to 220, but gave him 250 when I got out. The guy took me around half of Colombo and said he was taking a “short cut” I said: “No, this is a LONG cut!”
Very tiring day. Happy to be home. Need a shower and a good night’s rest.