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...