2006-10-18

Habarana Blast

Life in Taprobane
Here we go again. We were just planning to go on a jeep safari in 10 days time – to Habarana and beyond. A couple of nights in Amaya Lake and then to Kaudulla, Minneriya and hopefully, to Maduru Oya once again. We must have passed this place of incident a zillion times.

Now the trip is off. Not that we are scared, but we don't want to hurt the feelings of some of the dear ones by being 'utterly and totally insensitive' at this moment.

I still don't understand the people in this country. The country is already divided - Colombo vs the rest of the country. The beemers and the flashy cars turn to bullock carts and haggard buses just 20 miles outside the capital. It's another world beyond that perimeter. Perhaps, the 'fourth' world – if there's any such thing.

I was arguing and screaming my guts out before the last presidential elections – about the planned economic policies (or the lack of it?) of the current regime. Not even my 'educated' friends understood what I was saying, and now they are complaining of the rupee being depreciated. I'm telling them to get ready to witness the nosedive, while I contemplate life some where else...

The real issue is battling the numbers, not the terrorists.

While the races and religions divide, economies unite. When will they get this..?

2006-10-12

Keeping up the Promises

Life in Taprobane
Just heard that there's going to be a new Rs 2000 note.

Well, Chinthaka promised he'll double the salaries – this one is for the pick-pockets!

The Gentle Giants

Life in Taprobane

It's been almost a month since I last wrote.

Life in Paradise has been a bit "outdoor-sy." Since the Bradby in Kandy, haven't had a single 'sober' weekend. Been busy intoxicating, recovering, and travelling in between.

Went to Maduru Oya last weekend; to see the pachyderms in their natural habitat.

This is them, a bit alert, sensing our presence.

Never believed that the local tracker could actually communicate with elephants – until a roaring wall of elephants stopped charging us – a mere 10 meters short of us. They stopped, turned, and roared back - and we were dumb-founded in amazement, fear and shock.

Luckily, I have this on film. But it's a bit foggy - we were facing the evening sun. An amazing experience – makes it all worthwhile to live in the paradise (even with all the red-tape and annoying bureaucratic crap).