I spent hours trying on the Internet to find a way to stay on the island and could not find anything definite. I decided to go over with a minimum number of belongings and try when I got there to find a place to sleep. I've not had much luck adding places to trip advisor when they don't have real mailing addresses but I was able to stay at The Island Hut which is directly across from the ferry dock. Their phone numbers are 0777890620 and 0773707700. He cooks dinner after all the tourists leave and locals come and eat at it. They also are connected with someone who does the autorickshaw tours at the standard price (1500 I think but I don't really remember). My room was basic but did have an attached bath. I think the workers stay in it when there are no guests. The room was clean but the bathroom wasn't very but in the way of village bathrooms…dirt on the walls, clean floor and toilet. The bed was a comfortable foam mattress and they have an extra one so therefore people could fit in the room. There is a ceiling fan so it's comfortable at night. I also met fisherman who used to work as a driver in the Middle East so he speaks a lot of English and has two young sons that are learning English (his second set of children after being away from his family for 10 years in the Middle East). He has returned to buy a boat and hand-build thatch roofed house for himself and, possibly better houses, for his daughters who also live on the island. He invited me to see them and have tea (and/or a full meal except that I had just eaten) with his family. He was very hospitable and invited me to come back and stay with him for free and I told him he should provide a village stay and charge for it. Maybe take people fishing and have his wife show them how she cooks. He has never been anywhere except for Saudi Arabia and Delft Island and found the idea quite surprising but since his nets are old and need replacing I think I have convinced him to accept money. All over the world I have found village stays organized by third parties very expensive but thank goodness for the ubiquitous cell phone. I think he would probably be quite happy with about 1000 per person per night although maybe you should pay them more. His name is Michael Pilla Jesuthasan and his phone number (in Sri Lanka) is 0778567948. I loved to staying the night and walking all over once all the tourists had gone. The Navy people jog on the streets, the bakers bake fresh sugar glazed roles, the light makes beautiful pictures, and people wave and say hi or walk with you for a little while. There are also nice shells to be found on the beach, and interesting though basically modern cemetery, and non-touristic temples and churches. I would like to have stayed several days. It was rainy season but he says the water is very still in the dry season and that there is still a lot of coral and fish to see in the water even though it might look like all the coral has gone towards making little walls all over the island.
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