Common Craft Blog
The Best Christmas Gift - From a Driver in Sri Lanka
By leelefever on December 25, 2008 - 12:32pm
On Christmas Eve of 2004, Sachi and I made a decision. We decided that, in one year, we would depart on a year long trip. We reserved a web site address that night: www.theworldisnotflat.com (TwinF). In January of 2006 we departed, dedicated to blogging the whole trip.
After a glowing recommendation from another traveler along the way, we added Sri Lanka to our itinerary, with some apprehension. Sri Lanka experiences some domestic terrorism, but it mostly stays in the northern part of the country. Further, the southern part of the country was devastated by the tsunami a year before. We knew it would be an adventure.
Thanks to connections via Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree Forums we were introduced to Mervyn, our driver for 10 days in Sri Lanka. Like others in the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, Mervyn depends on tourists coming to their country. Tourists who start their plans by searching the Web.
This is Mervyn showing us how to drink a King Coconut:
We became friends with Mervyn and had a wonderful time in Sri Lanka. We always felt safe and Mervyn was a perfect driver and guide - he gave us a local's perspective and became our friend. He introduced us to Arrack, a favorite alcohol of locals. We told him that we would write about him on the Internet and hoped it would help his business. It was the least we could do.
Last night, on Christmas Eve, 4 years after deciding we would go on the trip, we received this email message from Mervyn:
DEAR SIR,
HOW ARE YOU? I AM FINE AND ALL OK WITH ME. I HAD GOOD BUSINESS FOR THIS YEAR. THAT IS BECAUSE OF YOU. THIS YEAR 90% FROM THE BUSINESS I GOT FROM YOUR WEB SITE THAT YOU RECOMAND ME. I SAY AGAIN AND AGAIN THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WISH MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR WIFE.
MERVYN
This message made our Christmas extra special this year. Mervyn is honest, has a good heart, is very hard-working, and deserves to have a successful business. It's inspiring to me, as a blogger, to think that a couple of blog posts can make such a big difference to someone like him on the other side of the world. Our post is the #3 result for "Driver Sri Lanka" on Google. I hope we can continue to help Mervyn's business in 2009.
Our photos from Sri Lanka
Blog posts from Sri Lanka
Merry Christmas -- you bring joy
Merry Christmas for the joy you bring.
Pati
yes, drink coconut like that
yes, drink coconut like that its same ways like in my places....
Never thought that such post
Never thought that such post can make a big chance on people life. I think I should try to promote my local people in the same ways as you. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas & happy new year
wew drink coconut like that, Merry Christmas & happy new year ;)
Your Driver
Let's hope this second post will help Mervyn have another position on Google.
Merry New Year!
That was a very nice email that cab driver sent you. I wonder how much business you actually helped him out get. If it is anything substantial then he should open up his very own cab business. I hope you and your family had a blessed Christmas and have a Happy New Year!
Brian
great story Lee
great story Lee. Nothing better than helping others out like that - nicely done!
@mwalsh
That's wonderful!
That's wonderful!
It is really a great thing
It is really a great thing that something as simple as some recognition in a blog post can have significant impact on a person's ability to thrive, half a world away.
Thank you for the links to your travel blog and the Lonely Planet's "Thorn Tree Forums'. Both are fascinating reads. The idea of traveling for a year is a dream I have had for a long time.
Merry Christmas
I was able to visit Sri Lanka several years ago and will one day go back. When I do I hope to use Mervyn.
There's a happy bunch, proud
There's a happy bunch, proud to be lankan myself :)
Nice of you to dedicate this post for humble driver from the outskirts of rural Sri Lanka, Mr.Lee!
Regards
TeenProBlogger
good on ya
I am a Sri Lankan who loves your blog and the work you do. I was particularly touched to see this post. Thank you for giving a hand to one of these honest and hard working men. They have gone through a lot particularly after the Asian tsunami. Tourism is the life blood of people like Mervyn. Wish you all the best and a happy new year!
You have made me smile
Yes, you have made me smile and gladdened my heart. This is a wonderful tale of how we can impact on the lives of others. Thank you for sharing it.
touching
a nice example of doing good to your friends, buddies, you get back something in return that will be useful to your life
Fun
I like the photo with the mervyn drinking coconut. It's fun :)
What a great guy!
I surfed over to your other blog about you and your wife taking a trip around the world. You see, that is what you have to do to feel alive and I bet you were enjoying every moment. Thanks for the reference to your blog, I am now saving my money to go some of the same places you and your wife visited.
Putting a value on Word-of-Mouth marketing
I LOVE this story. For all the blogs full of TLA's (three letter acronyms) about WOM (word of mouth) marketing and ROI, yadda yadda yadda... this is a real story of not only how effective personal recommendations can be, but how much impact they can have. I imagine that Mervyn's life is enormously better off because of your simple actions.
I just read your 18 lessons learned in 2008 post... and I think this is a fitting response to Have a Positive Impact.
"If you think you're too small to make a difference, you've never been in bed with a mosquito"
Christy, Community Manager, WorldNomads.com