Mothertongue Knowledge | Larry T Hill | Crowdfunding Campaign
Channel: Dylan J Prins (FKA Larry T Hill) 
Date: 07/08/2014

Turn on captions http://pozi.be/mothertongue | https://www.quietbackroad.tumblr.com | https://www.facebook.com/quietbackroad main video is hosted at vimeo | 0:10 Motorbike hitching on Langkawi Island, Malaysia 0:20 Neil Island, Andaman 0:22 Port Blair, AND 0:23 Yogjakarta Bus Indonesia 0:25 Darwin, Australia - West Kupang. 0:27 Yogjakarta 0:32 Port Blair, And, 0:35 Sunrise DWN - KPN, 0:38 instructions. 0:41 ALS bus from hell, Java to Sumatra  Indonesia 0:45 Sunset then Dus. 0:54 Blue star V berth by night, 0:57 DWN - KPN, 1:03 Blue Star Thailand - Andaman Islands, 1:07 Bike hitching in Langkawi, Malaysia, 1.12 Jeep taxi on Havelock Island, Andaman, 1:17 Surin Beach Pier Phuket TH, 1:21 Port Blair, Andaman Is, 1:28 Kupang, West Timor Indo, 1:32 Blue Star mast Bay of Begal - PT Blair- Galle Sri Lanka, 1:37 Ferry to Bali, 1:40 Blue Star, Baron Island Andaman, 1:46 Blue Star, Sri Lankan fisherman 300miles from SL,  1:49 DWN - KPN, dusk, night, dawn, day, 2:14 Maps DWN - KPN, 2:19 Bike hitching in Phuket, 2:21 Hitching monks in Thailand, Ranong, 2:24 DWN-KPN, 2:31 Indo fisherman, 2:33 Ranong-Myanmar visa run long tails Thailand-Myanmar, 2:36 Leaving Neil Island on the Ferry, Andaman Islands, 2:40 Blue Star to Sri Lanka, 3:03 Upcountry train to Nuwara Eliya - SL, 3:06 First took took trip after arriving in Galle, SL, 3:09 Ranong, Thailand, 3:12 DWN-KPN, 3:15 Sinhala practice with my cousin, SL, 3:25 Ferry to Melaka, Malaysia, 3:27 St Pauls church, MAPPING Festival, Melaka, MLY, 3:31 House of Donkey, Adelaide, Australia, 3:34 Phuket Thailand, Hold on clip. 
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To the less tolerant folks of that great south land: This may make you happy, you might think it’s grand. I’ve gone back to where I came from, and I’m staying here, at least thats the plan. Call it my motherland voyage, reverse migration. Of all the things calling me back to this small island nation the most apt may simply be self investigation. Who am I, what am I and where do I belong. Can I learn the local lingo, shall I sing the sacred songs?
For the longest time I wondered what it would feel like to lose all sight of land. Be completely surrounded by deep blue ocean. Immersed. Having nearly drowned as a child, I didn’t have the best relationship with the sea. Yet there was this determination to travel that way. 
At just three weeks young I was first cradled into the sky. Off to family relations from my birthplace of Dubai. Not long after we settled in Sydney, Australia. We were fleeing stolen status, not war or threatening behaviour. Regular family holidays gave temporary tastes of my motherland. The smells, sights and sounds seeded a strong desire to stay in Sri Lanka.
Eldest child of first generation migrants, raised in a relatively intolerant scene. But slowly you rise above and follow your dreams. A simple seasonal life with rewarding choices. Flourishing under poverty lines, stories sung - many voices. For over 5 years I’ve been housed by people just like you, social accommodation, mutual exchange with shared views. 
Then it came time for the journey of a lifetime, departing Australian shores no liferaft, no lifeline. The feeling was surprisingly calm, with no land in sight. The intense part was the the two-man small boat struggle and it played out like a slow psychological torture. Stuck in that small space for 9 days, running low on fuel and drinking water. That immense challenge I wish not to repeat.
Searching, searching, overland on my own steam. Could it really be such a mission to realise this dream? Looking for a ride, taking failure in my stride. I had vision, a calling and it wasn’t about the money. A six hour flight will always cost less than 6 months travelling the old way. Although I lived very cheaply on the road: the trip took twice as long as my longest estimate so my savings were significantly sliced.
Eventually I departed Thailand on Sailing Vessel, Blue Star with a stellar captain and crew. The final passage was dreamy beyond belief. 11 days with fabulous food, singing songs to the seas, dancing with dolphins and sleeping on deck in the breeze. Befriending fisherman and swapping supplies. Reading books, writing songs and sailing into endless skies. 
In my three months here I’ve searched, researched, travelled and connected with amazing teachers who can guide me with my Classical vocal studies, Language Lessons and Hatha Yoga Practice. I’ve been in very a vulnerable space slowly finding out what it is to dress, behave and speak like a Sri Lankan. I’m learning my peoples language for the first time as an adult. I’ve begun some of my classes and the savings are trickling down. I filled up the tanks in Australia performing, teaching and doing what I love. I’ve sailed into the port, secured my provisions, found my sources. Can you help me refuel? "