England vs Sri Lanka

My first Cricket experience in one of the best cricket venues in the world. Kandy. It was England vs. Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka won four days later. I don't know how these guys can last in the heat and stress for five long days playing the same old thing. I could barely last 2 hours. On our way home there was a bit of traffic on the Peradeniya Road - because the elephant was making its way to work. I was such a tourist when I took this picture.

Anuradhapura

While everyone else was doing work in the military camps, I wandered around the ancient buddhist ruins of Anuradhapura. Once apon a time there were over 80,000 Buddhist monks living and working here. And they built several of these Dagobas, big mounds of mud bricks - no one knows why or what they are for - crazy!

It was a hot hot day - walking around in the mud in my barefeet - checking out the Buddha.

Sri Lanka so far

I have pictures to post I promise, I just haven't gotten around to downloading them off of my stupid camera that barely functions. What with this new "job", weekend with the husband, Birthday, Thanksgiving, I am pretty busy and stimulated - I must say.

They are keeping me busy in the office, or rather I am keeping myself busy trying to catch up with the progress so that I know what is going on and how to jump in. So far I am remembering how frustrating it can be to work in a developing country. But last monday was interesting, I found myself sitting in the middle of a military transit camp trying to be as inconspicuous as possible as the single white American woman in the vicinity. I don't think I blended in very well. I remember melting in the car with flies driving me crazy as I waited for the surveying to finish. Now I am stuck back in the office. I think I have the mosquito thing under control - basically slather the repellant on exposed area in the morning, maybe once again in the afternoon and they pretty much leave me alone. No Dengue for me.

Met up with the husband after a 3 week break - the longest we have been apart in a year (sick!). I caught a beast of a bus to Habarana - 3 hours away. They dropped me off on the side of the road next to a sign for Cinnamon Lodge, but I didn't know where I was supposed to go so I called the husband and waited for him to come pick me up in the dark. I hear a clank, clank, clank and down the quiet road what did I see - an elephant walking towards me. A little man was on top and the clanking was the sound of its chains. Later I found out that there are actually wild elephants in the area and should be careful not to encounter one. I could only laugh at the strange sight and wish I had a camera with me then.

Temple of the Tooth

This is how I spent last Saturday. Exploring the Temple of the Tooth, and paying way too much for it. I should have bargained more and told the "guide" to beat it. Ah well, it was my first day in the town on my own - I'm still learning my way around. Its the place where the buddhists house their sacred tooth relic said to be Buddha's tooth - but no one can see it because it is housed under lock and key under gold domes. I barely caught a glimpse of the gold. The place was interesting despite and I found out that I didn't know nearly as much about Buddhism as maybe I should. Now I know a little bit more.

Finally made it to Sri Lanka

We've arrived!!

We got to Colombo one week ago today after waiting and waiting and waiting for our visas to arrive at the Sri Lankan Consulate office in Sydney. What a hassle. So I was the lucky one who got to spend two extra weeks staying with the in-laws twiddling my thumbs because we couldn't really do anything as we expected to leave any day. As soon as we got the final approval, we zoomed over to Dubai for a 16 hour stop-over. Got some shopping in and I got my Christmas/Birthday present! I love my new MacBook, but I am still learning how to use it. Nice and shiny and white.

Colombo is bustling, hot, sticky, polluted. Everyone stares at you because you obviously stand out as a foreigner. So much for wanting to be inconspicuous. There is good food for cheap, everything from lunch packets that you can get on the side of the road to fancy decadent dinners. For our engagement anniversary we went to Richard's favorite restaurant, The Gallery Cafe, and stuffed ourselves with a three course meal. The coconut souffle was particularly yummy - but I don't think it was really a souffle, more of a pudding. Hmm. I guiltily went shopping yesterday, but everything is a bargain compared to back home, especially in Australia - so I didn't feel too bad for too long.

Its raining in Kandy. The mist creeped in over the hills creating a romantic tropical scenery and the rain started pouring down in buckets. While there is a water shortage in Australia, there is plenty of water in Sri Lanka. I love the rain.

I arrived in Kandy this morning after the most rocking train ride I have ever been on. While the scenery was gorgeous from the "observation deck" - another name for the caboose on this trip - it was most uncomfortable. I was lucky to get a seat next to the only other white person who happened to be one of those unfriendly Europeans. I keep running into them here. Three hours later I arrive in Kandy, my new home for the next three months. Don't ask me what I will be doing yet - I haven't found out yet. I just need something to keep me busy while Richard is away in the north, in a town called Killinochchi, in a region called the Wanni (pronounced Vanni (I think)), where the LTTE reign. There is lots to explore...

On our drive to Sydney

We took our merry ole time getting to Sydney, leaving at 3pm. Took two days, stopping in Coffs Harbour overnight. This is the Big Prawn in Ballina. We missed a photo op with the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour.




Then we finally got to Sydney and got stuck here for over a week with the in-laws. We took one Sunday to visit with Richard's cousin Elvis downtown in the city. We had lunch by the Sydney Opera house and the Harbour Bridge and tried to fit in with the hip city crowd. Don't think it worked. I'm not looking so wonderful.

ADF Ball

Dean and Libby

Our only friends in Brisbane, Dean and Libby (center), invited us out to a black tie charity ball for the Australian Defense Force September 30th. Since both Dean and Richard are Army boys, they thought it would be appropriate. It was a first for us, I've never seen Richard so dashing in a tux. We had a good time as we always do with Dean and Libby and her brother and his wife, Kylie and Craig. Thats me there wearing my wedding dress that has since been hemmed and my impossibly high heels.

Our home is no more

We have packed up and headed out. The packing up and storing was the worst part. I hate keeping all the stuff I won't see for who knows how long. But its done now. I only have three bags with all my belongings now to sustain myself in the next few months. Don't worry I understand there is plenty of fun shopping in Sri Lanka. If we ever get there. Our flight has now been delayed one week and I get the joy of spending that extra week with the in-laws. Someone please tell me, or maybe there are no rules, but I can't figure out how to deal with these strange people. They probably think I am just as strange. I'm hiding. Waiting, waiting to get on that plane. And I've made some contact with a Tulane professor in Sri Lanka. Lets hope he has some work for me.

Our home

Packing - Again

I hate packing. Goodbye to our tidy little home that we've made for ourselves as a married couple. And once again we get to judge our possessions and decide what stays for an indefinite amount of time in storage, and what is worth lugging around the world. Streamlining to fit my life into two suitcases. I hope we don't have to do this again. At least the bulk of our furniture and discount electronics have been sold. I think we'll sell our car and get some money back as well. Sri Lanka here we come.

When it rains, it pours

Splat! I ran into a bird today. I think it was a crow or a raven. It crashed into my windshield as it was trying to take flight out of the road. I don't think I killed it, or even injured it (too much). It landed on the side of the road and I was too startled to even think about stopping to check if it was dead. I wonder if it is bad luck to kill such a big bird. Because then,

A stupid redneck woman starts cursing me out in the supermarket carpark, in front of her children sitting in the backseat, for parking too close to her car and in a mothers-with-prams-only spot. I apparently didn't even have a car seat to satisfy her nerves.

And the stupid building manager of our resort apartments has decided to unfairly abuse my husband with accusations of criminal behavior and doing something wrong. When there was no wrong doing. Asshole!

I hate mean people. Why can't everyone be nice and civil to each other.

I hate packing

I should be good at packing up all my belongings and putting all my essentials into two bags by now. But boy do I like shopping, there is no point going shopping if you can't accumulate things. Dilemma, dilemma. At least this way we can save money that we have yet to earn.

In an attempt to empty my pantry, I made chocolate chip cookies. But I never seem to get them right. I hate it when they are too cakey. Arg. I need a foolproof chocolate chip cookie recipe so they come out chewy and gooey, and yummy.

New Adventure

We are leaving for Sri Lanka! Richard got a job there and we are off to a new home. Don't know how this will all work out. But I am still scheduled to arrive in the US for Christmas. This all means lots of pack and organizing, living out of a bag again for a few months maybe, Sri Lankan food... I don't really know. Big changes. Time to get out of Cabarita and back to the real world.

2 AM

2 O'Clock in the morning is now our usual bedtime. Which means that we inevitably end up waking up around noon, sometimes 2pm (in my case). Its a sad sad situation, one that we can't seem to break out of. Whats even sadder, is that at this moment the two of us are sitting in bed, 2AM, with our computers in our laps. This after I enforced a "no computers in the bed" rule for so long. Nothing important is getting done and nothing will get done tomorrow once we wake up by mid-day. Sigh.

I haven't been able to sleep so well in the past few weeks. I wonder why. This damned sleep cycle could have something to do with it, and just plain laziness.

Goal: To stimulate our brains with meaningful activity during daylight hours so that we can get to sleep at a normal time and break out of this crazy insomnia cycle.

Goal 2: to continue to regularly update this blog even though I know that no one reads it.

Good night, or rather good morning.

Some Honeymoon Pics

At the Louvre

Versaille Orangerie - Paris, France

In Dubai, UAE



Safari Dinner - Camel riding

Riverboat dhow dinner cruise, Dubai UA

We had an amazing time in Paris and Dubai. Just two days in each city and we did so much. We visited the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Moulin Rouge, Dhow dinner cruise, Safari dinner with 4-wheeling in the desert, Camel Rides, Massages, exquisite shopping, etc... I love my husband.

My Husband

This is my favorite picture of my husband.

More wedding photos

Crazy brotherAnd another crazy brother
Sisters
The upright cake by Amy. My croquembouche.
Father of the bride
Flower boys David and Matthew
My crazy girls, Erin, Deb and Tanya

We're Married!

Pula, Croatia 18 July 2007

A new addition to the family, Richard Schmidt - and I guess that makes me Rachel Schmidt.

Aw, Happily Ever After...

We had a surprisingly wonderful wedding, and a good time was had by all. There was dancing, tons of good food, dolphins and flowers falling from the sky.

Wedding Plans

One week now til we leave for Pula. I think we are ready for a summer vacation. Australia needs a break from us and I think our travel bug is biting. I am especially looking forward to the mini-honeymoon in Paris and Dubai on our way back to Oz. We have been making our plans - wedding attire, venue, accommodation arrangements, transportation, entertainment, etc. This wedding stuff is a lot of work.

Upcoming

The countdown is something like 6 weeks until the wedding day. Don't think that we are anywhere near prepared for this international-destination wedding that Richard and I naively agreed to. What were we thinking? We leave July 2nd, and have a lot more preparations to make when we get to Pula. Hot summer weather, gourmet salamis and cheeses (and olives - though not for me), European cuisine (bakalar, octopus salad - doesn't sound too appetizing, but Mmm), the Adriatic pool, and everyone speaking a language I don't understand. It'll be a little whirlwind family reunion.

Another weekend

Our first fishing excursion. My husband caught a fish! Is that it?

And thats all we got - It was yum

Country market

Mother's day was spent at the Channon country market. Me in the Chai tent and my crazy husband taking in a different perspective. I love my husband.

Life is simple now for us and we struggle to maintain the get-up-and-go drive we thrived on not too long ago. Now we go to any market we can find and prefer to stay at home cuddling in each other's arms. We're like love sick puppies. But hey, what else do you live for? I just wish there were Sheep & Wool, and Faerie Festivals here. We only have a few months more of the mundane to endure, so we should really enjoy the inactivity before things go crazy again. Sounds like I am trying to convince myself. A clinging sense of guilt persists while I sit at home doing nothing. I just feel that there are careers to pursue, families to plan, - our whole future is passing us by day by day. But I must realize that things will happen as they are meant to and now is the time for this kind of life.

Nimbin Mardi Grass

It was a weed festival, thats a weed-lizard, and Richard was under strict orders to not eat anything while we were there. Rumors had it that the police were stopping those leaving the festivals and performing drug tests on drivers. I guess youare supposed to camp out in the town all weekend and let the "fun" run through your system. And thats what Richard wants to do next year. There were all sorts of interesting people and quite the experience at least. I preferred the first AFL experience for this Australian immigrant the next day. Thats AFL for Australian Football - did you even know that such a thing existed? A quick, rugby-sort of game, that was enhanced by the free food and lots of free booz provided in our box seats. I think I like AFL.

We bought a block of land

Amusing ourselves with Mini-golf one Sunday afternoon

We live in Australia now

This marks the beginning of a need to organize my head and archive my thoughts as I embark on this new journey with my beloved partner all the way over in Australia. Yes, I have become an Australian, and I must say that I am fighting against it at every chance, clinging to my existing identity. Do I really want to be an Aussie? Too late for that thought now. There is nothing to complain about. The weather is gorgeous, beaches are beautiful, people are friendly. But why is it that I can find no Filipino food in a country so close to the Philippines? And what are these sausage rolls with barely and sausage in it? Things are just a little bit different and its hard to understand why.