The Otter Aquatic Club
Humanitarian work and maintaining one’s physical fitness don’t usually go well together. Often you’re posted in locations where it’s not safe to participate in outdoor activities and indoor sporting facilities aren’t available. However, in the case of Colombo none of these limitations is true. Therefore, following a couple weeks of physical inactivity I’ve been off to a surprisingly active start to 2008. This is because I am now a proud member of the Otter Aquatic Club.
Established in 1931, the Otter Aquatic Club is a full-fledged fitness centre and social club with tennis, badminton and squash courts, a decent exercise room with fitness advisor, restaurant, bar, meeting rooms, kids playground and three outdoor swimming pools. The big pool is about forty yards in length and never seems to be busy. Swimming in a near-empty outdoor pool is a wonderful thing. Running on a tred-mill isn’t quite as wonderful but it will help me retain some level of fitness. Also, I am able to sign-in one guest with each visit, which has made me an even more valuable team member in the eyes of my Head of Mission, Ard.
To be honest, I’ve only obtained temporary membership Status. However, my six-month membership will sufficiently cover my last three weeks in Sri Lanka. When submitting my application the lady teased me that maybe I would find a Sinahlese wife. I thought that she was serious for a moment and was intrigued that this was one of the club’s membership options. I jokingly asked her if she was trying to get me kicked-out of the club and advised her that I have less than a month remaining in Sri Lanka and frankly, I’m not that good.
The club has a definite colonial feel to it. Along the wall of the restaurant, under the spinning ceiling fans, are old framed photos of club swim and water polo teams from days gone by. A plaque on the wall proudly lists past club presidents and captains. One can easily imagine all of the activities that have taken place here since its inception three-quarters of a century ago. Although my favourite place to be so far has been watching the sun set on the Indian Ocean from the Galle Face Hotel’s outdoor bar (which also harkens back to colonial times), the Otter Club is a close second and has more importantly provided me with the opportunity to show that humanitarianism and exercise don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
posted by Ian at 4:43 AM
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6 Comments:
i'm at the very start of a two-year stay in colombo, feeling disorientated and wondering where to go to swim. Your blog is a sign! Thank you
8:09 PM
What a great description. It reminds me of the clubs that graced my early childhood in Suriname. What a great memory.
- Ali
4:41 PM
dear all
nice to see some wonderful thoughts of our club in a blog spot.any way thanks for the former member who published about the club...
any who wishes to join the club while sri lanka feel free to mail on "otters@sltnet.lk" or fax
+94114511196 and very soon by middle november we wil available via web www.otter.lk.
thanking you,
Mayura Amarasinghe
Hony.General Secretary
9:09 AM
every good moment in my life is tagged with otters.the first time I kept my foot at the age of three.since then every Saturday and Sunday I went Religiously.I remember those good old days when my uncle who is a major inspiration to me for his socialising used to take me on the public bus to the otters we used to walk a mile to catch the 154 or the 144 bus and used to reach there in exactly 40 mins.used to swim for 2 to 3 hours made a variety of friends,socialised with all communities and played at the children's park.attended every occasion religiously the Members day the Sinhala Tamil New Year function,and of course the Christmas party it was totally a time of my life wher my uncle used to buy a plate of french fries and shared accordingly.after a long swim.was a very interesting part of my life,there was the elite crowd which were regular visitors.Sir Aruthur C Clark used to be there on every Saturday evening I did have many opportunities in Playing table tennis games with him.also he would tell me abt the stars and there existence,what a personality he was!Although Otters still remains the same the members are missing in the sense everyone moved out of Colombo and went to all parts of the world.but whenever i go to Mother Lanka I do visit Otters at the first given opportunity and jump into the pool after chatting with Piyadasa Uncle,who is the changing room attendant there he has been there from the time I know otters.what a lovely and memorable place Otters IS.
3:09 PM
Dear Evolution977,
Piyadasa is still there. But Perera passed away few months back. If you remember Lal, the pool supervisor, he also not there now 'cos the management didn't renew his contract.
But I personally strongly believe that workers who had been working for many years should be in the Club as they know who we are and we know who they are to recall memories once you and me visit our most beloved club.......
5:34 AM
Good news is that Club has been in existence for 83 years now.
Lal Cooray, the pool supervisor, is back at the Club as the present Committee has re recruited him back. Yes Piyadasa is still there....
Long live Otters' !!!!!
2:39 AM
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