Day 42

I'm home! Barely 6 weeks in Sri Lanka and I've already come home for a short visit. The main reason for this is that this trip is in in transit to a really awesome 2 weeks that I will be spending in Pretoria, South Africa for a youth conference on community service. 

I was so unsure of everything falling into place because of the difficulties with getting my visa sorted. I finally only picked up my passport and visa this morning. Talk about last minute!

I went into work in the morning. I probably glanced at the time every 2 minutes waiting for lunchtime to leave. I had to wait for ages for the bus to fill up and leave on the way back. How time slows down when you want it to hurry.

Please hurry up and leave!

The waiting lounge was like starters to being back in India. Loud chatter and plenty of pushing and shoving to get into the plane, almost as if their seats would get taken if they didn't rush in. There was a big group of elderly women on the way back from what seemed like a little excursion to Sri Lanka. One of them had misplaced her boarding pass which led to a very frantic tension in the group, delaying one of the shuttles to the plane. Airports are the best places to people-watch!

Please hurry up and take off!

The plane took off over the lovely Negombo coast just as the last few colours of the sky sank into the horizon. I always chose an aisle seat. But on these short flights, I can ignore the claustrophobia and enjoy the changing landscapes from the plane. Taking off at sunset over a coastline is beautiful. City lights and a few dotted lights from ships on the shimmery water. Most of the flight was over the clouds, except for one very brief moment where I spotted the coastline of India as the clouds moved over for a bit. Landing over Bangalore city lights is the warmest feeling. You know you are back in India, when even before the front wheels of the plane hit the runway, seat belts are already off and people are pulling out their luggage and cramming the aisles. 

What's extra nice about this short trip is that it coincides with my Mum's 50th birthday weekend. My grandpa and uncle are also here and it's nice to have a house full. 

I really don't know how often I will be able to update this blog from South Africa. But there will be plenty of exciting posts when I am back.

Oh! In my last post about Paradise Road, I wanted to post a picture of the lovely bowls I bought for my Mum. But first of all, they were all wrapped up so well in bubble wrap, didn't want to have to repack just for a picture and secondly, my Mum reads this blog, so didn't want to spoil the surprise.

Here they are. They are so beautiful. Locally made and hand painted ceramic serving bowls.