Day 75

In contrast to the last post- My package arrived, my phone works with the bent battery and some cellotape. All I need is a new memory card and the back panel. The last two days, I got the bus all the way back. Relief.

I thought receiving letters and postcards in the mail was exciting, but a package is a whole different level of excitement. My cousin sent me a package of goodies all the way from England. Little things all individually wrapped up in the package. It felt like Christmas. So glad the customs guy didn't open all the packages; would have totally spoiled it for me.

Did some more experimenting in the kitchen. Fried up some dambala (also known as winged bean) As the name suggests, just a bean with 4 wings. 

Also picked up one of the most interesting fruits I've seen- Dragon fruit. The exterior gives no clue what what it was inside. Kind of similar texture and taste to a kiwi.

Day 71

Today has been a bit of an adventure.

I got a note telling me that I have a package at the post office. Was quite curious (read nervous) considering no one has my address except the Sri Lankan immigration.

Got to the post office only to find out that I have a letter to say that there is a dutiable package waiting for me at the main post office. I feel like I'm on some treasure hunt. It better be worth all this hassle. If the person who has sent me a parcel is reading this, please tell me what it is. It'll make filling out those forms a lot easier. My boss said he's not coming with me to pick it up in case it is drugs. :P

The whole day was nice as usual. Working in my cool office while listening to Radiohead and David Grey and eating yummy Thai for lunch. 

I got a bit carried away at work (sometimes that happens) and forgot to leave on time. The buses are quite infrequent from where I work because it is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. After 5:30 in the evening, the buses come every 45 minutes! When I finally got on, the driver decided that he wants to drive home instead of the assigned route.

I jumped off in the middle of nowhere to walk to the next stop on the parallel road. I was fortunate enough to overhear 2 other equally annoyed passengers walking behind me who I assumed were deciding to take an auto rickshaw home (I assumed anyway, don't know any Sinhalese to know for sure). They seemed like decent, non-creepy people, so I jumped in with them. 

I was quite content that I managed to save the money (rickshaws are pretty over priced. Much worse than Bangalore) and happily jumped off and didn't realise that I dropped my phone on the road till after I got home.

I really didn't expect to get it back, but searched the cracks in the road and the gutters nonetheless. Some shady guys watching us search finally handed it over. Battery is mangled and pretty much lifeless. Probably the effects of being run over and in a puddle. The phone is battered and bruised and minus a memory card. But I think it'll live with a new battery and some cellotape.

Phones and me have never gotten along. Sigh. 

Proof of damage. 

Day 70

I've been putting off updating this blog even though there have been things to write about.

It was Poya on Monday and we had a nice extended weekend. My first Bangalore visitor was here in Sri Lanka for a short visit and I got to take him around Colombo. Well, there isn't much to see in the city, but we walked around Beira Laka and then to the pretty Seema Malaka temple on the water. There was a long fancy perahera (Poya day procession) around the lake and through the city, stopping traffic everywhere. Lots of fancily dressed up people dancing, but was a bit lazy to take pictures. 

I took some pictures at the temple, but the lake was a horrible algae green and spoiled the look of the Buddha statues. So, black and white it is. We then went to the coast and did another walk from Dutch Hospital down the Galle Face along the beach. 

Dutch hospital is one of my favourite places in the city. It's an old Dutch hospital building which is converted into shops and restaurants. I love the courtyards and the ambience in the evenings. I was back there again Tuesday evening at the Heladiv Tea Club. I really enjoyed the chocolate fudge cake that I ate, but I think it was the dim lights against bright yellow walls, the old wooden window shutters and the concrete tables on the stone paving that  makes me love the place. Will take the camera along next time I visit.

The tropical monsoon weather has been particularly crazy the past few days. I got terribly drenched on my way home yesterday, despite having an umbrella. I was slightly tempted to ditch the umbrella and run through the puddles. But they might not have let me on the bus. Even this poor cow was trying to get out of the rain. :P

I did a bit more experimenting with food today. Made some Thai curry. My mum makes Thai at home and this was my first time trying it out. It didn't come out the same as hers. I lacked some ingredients, but still tastes pretty good.

The weekend is almost here. Woohoo! :D

Day 66

Perfect Sunday today.

It was almost midday when I woke up. We had pancakes for lunch with chocolate fudge sauce we made with melted chocolate, butter and milk. We watched movies back to back- The Aviator and Across the Universe and now I feel like I know Howard Hughes personally with all the side reading I did during the movie. It's been quite a movie marathon actually- we watched LA Confidential last night (we even had popcorn!).

Did some cooking and had an early dinner and then it's been music, editing pictures and writing the rest of the day.

I finished my blog post about my community service. Looking through all those pictures and writing about that week made me miss it so much. I met such wonderful people that week, including the beautiful children at the school.

The past week I found something that could possibly be what I'll be doing as soon as I finish with my year in Sri Lanka. I was searching for an Indian based organisation that did architecture based community service, but only found plenty options for ones outside the country. One of my architecture friends introduced me to EMI (Engineering Ministries International) which has a base in Delhi and sends volunteer architects for various design projects in the country. Exactly what I've been looking for as an in between job project. 

Read about my week at Leratong Early Learning Centre here--

New Family in Leratong

Day 64

It took me a while to count up to today. 

I made so many plans to post here regularly  I even wrote a few drafts on my iPod to post as soon as I was in range of a WiFi connection. But alas, things got busy in a good way and then I forgot all about the blog and when I did, I decided to just wait until I was back.

Anyway, it was such a super super trip. The journey back was exhausting. The lack of sleep during the congress and the annoying travel back from country to country, airport to airport- How sick I am of planes! finally got the better of me and I now have a bad cold and am still a bit sleep deprived. 

I went back to work yesterday. I was gone for two weeks, and clients have completely changed their minds about what they want. Sigh. Nothing new I guess.

The weekend is here and I even have Monday off. Almost went on a weekend trip, but I think what I need most right now is some rest. Also need time to sort through my pictures and finish off all the blog posts.

One done today--

One Random Day in Ethiopia

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. 

Day 38

Happy Sunday.

The morning started off listening to music practice for a wedding at church. The combination of a cello and a piano is one of the best things to listen to. 

I sneaked off to Paradise Road Store while the cousins were busy. The building that the store, restaurant and gallery is housed in was Geoffrey Bawa's studio. I didn't have enough time to check out the gallery or peep into the restaurant. I've looked at the menu of the restaurant online before, some fancy pants food with just as fancy prices. The store was pretty awesome. I could spend ages and ages browsing crockery, books, and home furnishings. If I had a house here and lots of money, I would fill it with things from there. I should have taken pictures, but I'm sure I'll visit again to do that.

My afternoon was fruitfully spent discovering new music because I came across this awesome artist- Donavan Frankenreiter. Very similar styles to Jack Johnson, in fact the two were surfing buddies. Learning to surf is on my bucket list. Can't wait to cross that off.

"Being down in the open air

Living life like we just dont care
Just doing what we want to do
Not doing what we supposed to do

It's gonna be
A lovely day"

Day 36

This was the upholstery on the seats on the bus this morning. These Sri Lankan's travel in style. Torn and old, but style nonetheless. :D

This week went by so fast, I actually lost track of the days. The week ahead will only be busier. Excited.

Day 32

The weekend came and went and then it was Monday again. But somehow one month of work is not enough to start Monday blues. 

Sunday morning, the snooze button got the better of us and we made it to Freedom park for the 'jog' almost two hours after we planned to. The warm sun was already in full blaze and I will blame that entirely for my inability to actually jog more than 1 1/2 rounds in the park. Sigh. I am back to feeling unfit. How I miss my swimming days.

The park was quite beautiful. Here is picture I took last year on my holiday when we visited the park at night. The place was beautifully lit.

Sunday's picture is not as cool, because I took it while briskly walking (so brisk it was almost jogging! Hehe)  

We were at Galle Face as the sun sank below the horizon. Phone pictures don't do justice to the golden colours in the sky. The breeze left my hair in a tangled mess and my skin sticky and sandy, but it's all part of seaside enjoyment. The street food however, didn't look appetising to me.

Day 29

Four weeks have passed already. So fast!

I've always associated moss on buildings with decay and age. The last bit of my commute to work is a walk through a little residential area far away from the city centre. Moss grows over walls and staircases and the result is far from old and dilapidated. In fact it's quite the opposite. The moss lets the building breathe and coexist so perfectly with the plants around. 

Friday evenings are my time with music. Here's one I listened to today.