Day 356

How on earth did time fly by so fast?

One year already? 

I'm awake at 2am half packed and realized that this blog needs it's final post. 

The past month has been pretty crazy. Sinhala New Year meant a lovely extended weekend. I did one final trip in Sri Lanka. I went on a completely unplanned trip with the interns from work. Four girls from Bangalore with an extremely limited Sinhala vocabulary, but ready with our backpacks, sunglasses and cameras. :) We took the bus to Dambulla. Visited the Kandalama hotel- Geoffrey Bawa's crowning piece of work. The hotel was stunning. Nestled on the side of the hill, 1km in length and split up on 7 levels with breathtaking views of the Kandalama tank and Sigiriya rock in the distance.

We managed to make it to Sigiriya by evening and climbed up and down before sunset. The heat was torturous, but the view was totally worth it once we got to the top, drenched in sweat after 1700 steps. 

New year weekend meant that the towns were desolate, shops and hotels were all closed. We had to skip out on Anuradhapura and were lucky enough to get a bus back in the thunderstorm. 

All my pictures are on my camera. I don't know why I didn't take a few on my phone. But I do have two to remember the funniest incident of the trip. Between Kandalama and Sigiriya, our auto ran out of petrol. The driver deserted us and went off on a cycle with an empty bottle. We were left in the middle of nowhere for what seemed like forever. He did eventually return on a motorbike with petrol after we had attempted moving the auto by ourselves. (Tanvi might just kill me for posting this picture)

The following weekend, Cheryl, Andre and I got haircuts. It was a fun day with lots of posing.

Work has been the usual. Alternating between busy days and not so busy ones. Rainy afternoons with coffee and good music followed by wet muddy journeys home. 

I had to get sick at least once in this country. A few days of fever and being stuck in bed with no voice and no appetite and in between them- dragging myself out of bed to go to church and preach! 

The final few days in the country meant winding down with work, finishing off all last minute things in the few days before I left. I hate goodbyes- farewell surprises and last meals and final fun days with my new friends here.

I visited Geoffrey Bawa's Colombo residence on my last day- beautiful house with such intricate details in the house design, the interiors and the exquisite furniture- all so perfectly fitted together. Perfect way to spend the last day.

I should probably finish packing. 

Goodbye Sri Lanka- couldn't have asked for a better year- The people, the beautiful beaches and mountains, the food and a great work experience. 

:)