Priyanta Rhi, 44, is a stilt fisherman off Sri Lanka’s south coast. I talked to him about growing old, the tsunami and a threatened way of life.
“No matter what time I fall asleep, I always wake at the same time: before the sun comes up, around 5am. I’ve never had an alarm clock; my body does a good enough job. Sometimes I’d like to sleep more, but I have to go and fish.
I live a little inland from the beach, across the railway line and through the forest. First, I’ll make myself some tea. Then a smoke, usually a bidi, a tobacco leaf wrapped around sweet Sri Lankan tobacco. My wife won’t rise until after I’m gone. I leave quietly so as not to wake her and our four children.
I don’t go to my stilt every morning, only the days when the fish are running…”
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