Winter Holiday

More photos of our trip home. Deb and I freezing at new years, Snow!, and we managed to meet up with Erin and JP for dinner in Bethesda at one of my favorite Restuarants, RAKU. I hadn't seen them in forever and now they are married. Sorry I missed the wedding.

To the States and Back

We spent a wonderful if busy 4 weeks in the States with family. I wish we could have only had a bit more chill time. We spent a lot of time driving unfortunately from one house to the next for meal times. We ate a lot, talked a lot, catching up on news and packing in all the goodies before we returned to the land of rice and curry.

Didn't take too many photos especially since this is a new camera bought just before New Years. We spent New Years Eve in the Hollow sans electricity, keeping warm by the bonfire. Deb came for a visit from the South, I hope I didn't freeze her that night sleeping in the camper. And we had one more day with Tanya in downtown DC. Thank so much for making the effort to meet up even though it was brief.

The cold was an unpleasant jolt back into the modern world. Putting on all those layers takes a lot more coordination in the morning. Shopping was fun, as we imagined all the things we could take back to help us unwind back in Sri Lanka. (Food, books, Wii). Though we didn't end up getting the Wii.

Counting down the days

I am so unbelievable excited about being home for Christmas this year. I only just realized that I haven't been home for Christmas in almost 4 years! Where have I been?

We are counting down the days, just 8 more days until we fly East on the biggest jet airplane in the world. I am daydreaming about all the shopping I am going to do at the new Dubai terminal 3. I will probably end up being too inundadated with consumer stimulation and holiday decorations, and people, and bustling crowds... Its another 5 days after that until Christmas day, I feel like such a big kid getting so excited about the holiday. I've been craving all the goodies that are associated with this time of year such as Gingerbread, sugar cookies, pumpkin pie... I was going to try my hand at the classic homemade decorations such as gingerbread ornaments and popcorn/cranberry garland until I decided that it would all end up a feast for the ants. I got as far as dried red and green chili garland and a pomander orange stuck with cloves which I predict will mold by tomorrow. (sigh)

My Birthday Weekend

We spent the weekend in a little boutigue hotel just south of Hikkaduwa. It was amazing, we never had to leave the room, just look at the pictures of the place. The toilet had a view of the ocean!. It was a bit dark and rainy (just how I like it). And the food was amazing served to you at any time of the day. We felt very spoiled.
We also took the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving early because I thought it was on the 20th rather than the 27th. We had lobster, no turkeys here.

They even organized a birthday commemoration with some flowers on the bed and a chocolate cake.





Just a few more days before Christmas holiday!

Asanka got married

Asanka, Our logistics Manager, got maried at the begining of October. Finally do I get the pictures off Richard's camera. We all got dressed up in Sarees for the occasion. Asanks had a traditional Kandyan do complete with the portuguese inspired costume, and the bride dressed in white, she looked beautiful. It started early at 5:30M, but we showed up around 8:30AM. Some of the ldies from the office posed in their fancy outfits. Vasanthi helped me to buy a nice Saree and Bhanu and everyone helped dress me with many many safety pins. I don't know if I will be able to do it myself. Congratulations to Asanka.

This is home

WAR

Ah

Around the World

From Sri Lanka to DC and back again. Only to return to circumnavigate the island within one week, stopping at every checkpoint in the country.

Libby came with Ben and Esther to distract us from our ever increasing stressful jobs. Esther was so cute and amazing. Talking and singing like a maniac. Kinda like her mom in that way. "Somewhere over the rainbow!, Way up high" She was quite the entertainment. We had a great time showing them around our new home. We started in Negombo, near the airport, headed north to Kandalama to see the monkeys, Sigiriya, and Polonnaruwa. Then south towards Kandy and the tea country. We took our time, not stressing about getting anywhere, enjoyed each other's company. We took tons of photos and must post some soon.

Not too long after Libby and Ben left us, did I have to return to the States myself. A quick unexpected trip home. A very strange, almost surreal experience. Hadn't been in the USA for almost 2 years. But it was like I never left. It was the perfect time of year, summer time, not too hot. I could go shopping for clothes I could wear in Sri Lanka. It wasn't much of a holiday, but a nice break/excuse to visit family.

Then back to work, which has been piling on in the midst of all this traveling. Arg!

Been a while

It has been too long. Since Galle a lot has happened. Not the least of which is that I got a J O B. Finally! Ridiculous. Jumped right into the project. But that was after a holiday in Australia. There are pictures from that somewhere. ANd I saw my Amy-poo in Hawaii. Yeah! Hawaii! I had a great time doing some American shopping now that I have an income - Sort of. Got totally eaten by something (sandflies I bet).

The work is fulfilling, they are keeping me busy. There are pictures on that as well as soon as I find them. Had to break in a new computer, so everything is missing.

Galle

Finally pictures of when we were in Galle/Unawutuna. Libby take a look at what you will be seeing when you come! I love the extremely tall palm trees reaching to the sky. We'll be there again in a weeks time trying to relax, away from the stress of work and city. Not a bad place to do so.

The only event we participated in at the Galle Literary Festival. Channa Dassanayaka's Cooking workshop. Yummy Sri Lankan curries good enough for the Dalai Lama. Feel good food.

Looking a bit confused on the Galle Fort Wall. Hot hot day. Richard loves catching me making faces on camera. But the Fort is pretty cool and deserves a mention. Too bad a photo can't do it justice. Suffice it to say, Galle Fort could look like New Orleans French Quarter or at least Algiers in a few decades with lots of improvements. Its got lots of Dutch colonial flavor in a Sri Lankan culture.