Sunday 20th May 2012 - Jaffna, Sri Lanka

Today I decided to check out Point Pedro, the northest point in Sri Lanka where there was a Lighthouse. My guidebook said there was also a beach nearby so I put my bikini underneath my clothing just in case.    The bus journey was so long and was as usual bumpy. I got off the bus and got pointed in the direction of the bus I needed to change onto. The next bus took me for maybe ten minutes before the conductor and a local lady indicated that it was now my stop. The local lady got off the bus also and pointed me towards to lighthouse.  The lighthouse was a massive disappointment and couldn't be explored as it was now looked like it was under occupation by the navy. The whole area surrounding the lighthouse had little huts that were occupied either by a soldier or a member of the navy.  I walked past the lighthouse and the men came out of the bases asking me where I was going - I told them I was just walking and looking. I then walked back in the direction I had come from and another man came out of another base and started chatting me up! He spoke very little English but managed to tell me I was beautiful and stood in the middle of the road watching me walk away towards to beach.  The beach was called Munai beach and was absolutely stunning. The two other beaches I had seen in Jaffna so far were on the north side but this beach was on the north eastern side and the water was shockingly cold on my feet at first but so appreciated in the sweltering heat. The water was so clear that I could see the coral from outside the water.  The beach probably hadn't seen a tourist in years and away from the sea the sand had formed dunes - behind the dunes were fields with crops and cows. I continued walking and could see a massive group of guys so despite desperately wanting to jump into the water I decided I would walk further up the beach first.  I got close to the guys and was horrified when all the younger guys from the group - maybe 10, got out of the water and circled me asking me loads of questions. They were maybe 16years old and in the water the men looked like they were in their late 40s. I replied to the guys questions whilst trying to walk away from them - with every step I took they took a step eyeing me up and down like a piece of meat. I nervously pointed that I was going to walk and they should stay here. They still walked though. Then I stopped walking and one of them got the point and instructed the others to stop walking with me. I then walked maybe another twenty minutes up the beach and laid my towel down. I sat down and was applying sun cream on my shoulders. I then pulled down my top to reveal my bikini top to apply cream to my stomach when I looked in the direction of the guys and saw all the boys running down the beach towards me. I pulled my top up so fast and picked up all my stuff and started walking further up the beach. I then stopped looking behind me and saw that they were starting to walk back and some of them looked to have disappeared so i looked towards the sand dunes and saw them there. But then even closer to me behind the sand dunes some movement caught my attention - I could see heads behind the sand dune closest to me ducking and diving. I started walking further up the beach but then realised that was the worst thing I could do as the beach was even more deserted further up so I picked up a coconut and put it in my bag for protection looking towards the sand dune waiting for the heads to pop up. I saw two people fully dressed in short sleeved shirts and trousers making me realise it wasn't the young boys as they were all wearing swimming shorts. One of the men was wearing a black motorbike helmet which made me realise that this wasn't a joke - why would you be following a lone female traveller on a beach with a helmet on?! I stood there shouting towards where they were hiding asking why they were following me and telling them to go away. The guys obviously realised they had been spotted now and started walking out towards me. I walked so fast up the beach towards the group of guys intending to go to the army guys for protection. One boy asked me what was wrong and I pointed towards the guy that was following me. The stupid little shit did sex movements basically indicating that the guy was obviously coming for sex. I furiously pulled out the coconut showing him that if he comes near me I will beat him! Eventually the guy slowed down and I continued to towards the army base calling my mum to tell her what had happened. I tried to explain to the army man what had happened but he didn't bloody understand and despite my breaking into tears it still didnt register with him that something was wrong and he just kept asking me questions about my phone.  I just got up and walked towards the bus stop figuring that the guy wasn't following me now and wouldn't be stupid to come that way because the army were there.  I got to the bus stop and had two young guys telling me there were no buses now because it was Sunday - i didnt trust them! Stupid boys! Then two older men came pass on their scooter (no black helmets!) and I asked them when the bus was. They told me an hour but then asked if I wanted to jump on the back of the scooter. I was so eager to get away that I agreed as I knew it was only a five minute straight drive and plus loads of people saw me get on the bike.  They dropped me at the bus station for no charge but whilst getting off the bike I burnt my leg on the metal exhaust on the side of the bike. It touched for literally a second but killed bad! I jumped on a bus eager to get back to my room. I decided that was it, I was leaving Jaffna! I got to the bus station and asked the men what time the bus was tomorrow to the next place on my map (Trincomalee). They told me 6am. I stocked up on loads of chocolate, peanuts and a beer and headed to my room depressed!!