A Silent retreat at Haputale!

Dh had been praising wonders of this beautiful place he discovered entertaining clients, and we both got the opportunity to travel and stay a night at Haputale. The first thing that strikes you is the beauty of the resort which overlooks mountains and forests. The second thing is the silence, pin drop!

Melheim in the morning!

Melheim resort, Beragala Haputale.
http://www.melheimresort.com/

The service of the place managed by Mr. Dias and his crew is exceptional. The food (me being vegetarian) was divine.

The night we stayed they set out a candlelight dinner in the garden, and it was just one of the best ambience.

When I had thought that their culinary talents were spent for the dinner, they surprised us with a proper Sri Lankan Breakfast.

Melheim At Night!
 

The Bandarawela and Haputale area food are truly yummy, maybe for the climate or that they have some exceptionally good cooks in that area.

Travel Friend!

I always wanted to get into a train and meet this travel passenger who will become a great friend. Such a dreamer. So there I was in Chennai flight yet again. As i was the last passenger and the ground staff were least friendly I heard a voice. Hemm is that the voice in my head? No actually someones calling my name.

To cut a long boring story short mums friend this aunty was off with a buddy and they had one first class seat between them. So they wanted to switch seats with me. There I was in the first class with this bear of a man next to me. The snooty air hostess was being herself. I felt the bear sorry the Man next to me struggle a bit. U know how the snooty air hostess was not going to help him. I helped him to put the Seat belt. He smiled this big relief and off he was on his story.

This was a fisherman from dickwella going to save his boat which was taken away by the Indians. He was on first class cause he could not get a seat. After ten minutes I was filling out his Indian immigration forms and listening to how the boat was taken away by the Indians the full version. This guy who cant speak English on his way to Vizag to save his boat. If he was scared of getting lost in Tamil nadu. Dear lord Andra is a maze. As a gesture of thanking he wanted me to visit his family that this and the other and wanted my number. Seriously I must be some organised person travelling I did not have my card as usual.

Later alarm bells were ringing, nope not in the flight but in my head. This guy says his boat went into Indian waters by mistake but what if he was a great big smuggler. Now the imagination was doing a overdrive just out of drinking some crappy apple juice servevd on flight. So here I was with the smuggler who looked friendly enough but remember how sometimes mum is right dont give your number to strangers

I was uhm and ahming a bit and ran off when we landed. I dont know is it my nature to be suspicious or should we be safe than sorry...

Questioned!

It was another hurried trip to chennai on work. After passing immigration I was slowly walking towards the escalator. When I heard a voice saying excuse me. I turned around to find a disheveled looking guy walk up to me. I turned and kept walking he kept shouting excuse me excuse me.

so i turned around and did the next best thing. I shouted " go away"

By then the guy was close he said " stop or i will call security"

Hemm wait a minute arent the lines all wrong here. Shouldnt it be me saying these lines.

Guy " Why did u not stop when I told u to stop"

Me : " Who are u? Go away"

Guy : " I AM FROM THE CID" ( a few passengers turned and looked at me)

Me : " What CID I thought u are a baggage carrier asking me to carry stuff"

Cid was looking quite angry at this he turned red ( u know how brown skinned people turn kind of wierd brown )

Me : Show me your id

CID : Show me your passport and tickets or u are going to be in trouble.

Really i could relate to shah rukh khan i wanted to get up and scream " I am Santhoshi and I am not a terrorist"

I was so angry but with trembling hands gave my passport, I nicely asked him to show me his id and he did not. He looked at me as if I was mad. Although I was putting a brave face I wanted to burst out crying and I was very embarassed and scared.

He gave back the travel docs and was like " u have some nerve not to stop when we ask u to anyways can i have your visiting card"

Me : i dont carry a visiting card

Him : Whats your mobile number

Me : I Dont carry a mobile

( you know how like in the movies the mobile starts ringing.I really wish the ground would open up and swallow me. U know it must be one of those emergency calls where the nanny wants to know whether to give the kids milo or milk?)

I was thinking Why me?

He burst out laughing and said go we'll keep in touch. (what kind of nonsense is that)

I ran up the escalator quickly and looked down to check where this guy was and there he was looking straight up at me.

Rushed into coffeebean at the upper level and ordered a sandwich and the guy in the counter said No bread. asked for a croissant there was no croissant. This was more like how my life usually is.

Baggage carriers : Everyday travellers who carry stuff to and from india. They trouble any single passenger asking if they would like to carry stuff for about ten dollars.

Chennai Circus 1 !

So with the backpain and slipdisc prolapse all the works we took off early saturday morning. Anyone with the above pain can take a risk cause flying srilankan in and out will slip the disc right back to where it was. Take off was like on a roller coaster (gone wrong) landing was rain clouds (like this bumpy car ride).

I was in so much pain when we landed and was the last to walk out. B was wondering why i was walking like an aachi but was worried by the time we went to collect our luggage.

Yes i forgot the bit in the morning where my dad freaked out when he saw the size of my suitcase for two nights. it was big just in case u know there is an emergency or whatever...

Just after i landed the kids were missing me and crying for me and demanding me back (thats also part of my dream). They did call me that was only to insist that whatever happens they need a gift back each and were more well behaved than i am around. It was kind of wierd being without the bag and baggage (kids and DH). Just being with my brother B was painful for him since i was being difficult.

Chennai was hot dusty and gave this feeling of being back home but not really there. I always get that feeling when i land there. Went to temple and was accosted by the beggars and B was busy giving money and I ran off cause they can get violent and can grab your hands off. B called me wicked and bad. The beggars were chasing him all the way to the car even after giving them money...

Pigeon Island - Trinco Diary

There is this tiny island that u can see right across the sea from nilaveli beach. The resort has its own boat but there are some private guys having their own boats u can negotiate a reasonable amount and make the trip. Early morning around eight is ideal time to get there. Sadly there are no pigeons only crows (wonder why its called pigeon island). u can walk around the island climb rocks and snorkell.

Snorkelling is best done on the other end of the island which is like a small walk. Since the end you get off is always having people being dropped off. I cant swim at all but I did try my hand at snorkeling and it was amazing.

There was so many coloured fish and beautiful corals... wow... Nothing like the hikkaduwa in the glass bottom boat. There are beautiful shades of corals. Nearly had a heartattack when there was a huge fish which appeared right at my face. I think the sea life looks huge with goggles. I screamed spluttered water and i think the fish had a fright too...

There was this one fish which i cant get out of my mind pure white and glass like. somehow stuck in my mind...

Had to stop the bit of snorkelling after friends started discussing different deaths in the sea.......

Koneswaram Temple- Trinco Diary

Thirukoneswaram Temple one of the oldest temple mentioned in a thevaram by the nayanmars( prayers sung by special poets). It is of great historical value.

Its situated in a beautiful rugged hill (which also has some history with relation to ravana) not really sure about the story.

Temple was full of people who had travelled from far away tangalle, matara, matale adn so on. I felt blessed to be there at this so powerful temple. Outside the temple we could look down at the sea. Boats going out to fish would come near this huge rock and break coconut to the temple and start their journey. I think the ten minutes I was there looking down at the sea saw many boats coming and leaving.

Monkeys were running around freely and grabbing things if not careful. Was worried that my bag would be taken away and clutched it tightly. Saw deer and almost screamed and scared the poor fellow away. He seemed to be enjoying the attention and was very close.

at the bottom of the hill we saw loads of tamil inscriptions on rocks and a fish symbol. Read up the history of it and it was very interesting..

Another temple where hindus and buddhists come in large numbers and pray together.

Nilaveli - Trinco Diary!

If someone talks about nilaveli beach dont think they are exaggerating.
White sands, green blue water (no justice to the colour) , pure white shells and maldives island locally. Thats what its all about...

Again a contrast in nature nothing like our beaches downsouth. You will find a difference in the way the waves hit you and the currents (which are pretty strong i must say)

Nilaveli beach resort- rest and recreation in one package. They light these bonfires by the beach and thats about it. There is no music or dancing or u know the party works. Very laid back and all about having a quite evening.

The resort is fully booked in the weekends.

The food is ok but the chefs are very friendly and willing to help us out if we need something made.
Everyone has access to the nilaveli beach right next to the resort. There are busloads of people coming in from colombo, matara, matale and so on. When u step out in the morning there is no body and then in a couple of hours its a load of people (literally thousands). They are littering the beach like no tomorrow (very worrying).

Kantale - Trinco Diary

Wow. Is all I can say about the beaches in trinco. The travel time is not bad but the roads from Habarana onwards are being done. I guess in the next six months when the carpeted roads are ready the travel time will be shorter. Did not see any wild elephants since road works going on they dont venture i guess. Loads of monkeys some deer and birds were all that i saw.

Kantale - stretch is amazing. One side of the road is the huge kantale dam and right across the road is amazing paddy fields. I mean the scenery is such a beautiful contrast in colour and nature. Blessed we are for such a scenic island.

More on trinco, nilaveli later....

This Flu Business

Get a call from the school that the six year old S is sick. For some reason they did not have my mobile number (which has been clearly writted a hundred times to the teacher) and they call up DH. I was with DH at the time and could hear him having a long conversation with someone from school. with random questions thrown in to me like "is it ok to give piriton?"

While i was making frantic gestures like give the phone to me or should i pick the kid up. He hangs up and says no they say its ok to leave him. Get home in the evening and take the kid to the doc. i have to dedicate a whole post about the paediatricians who have no sense of time (and the gynos)in colombo.

get him some medicine and get home to have a call from DH u know they have detected swine flu. I think we should not send the kids to school.

( arent we being a wee bit too careful) i laughed it off and said we cannot keep them under lock and key they might still catch dengue or anything.

Wake up this morning and get call from Bestfriend " God that swine thing is here what do u think?"

Me : well dont worry the flu will run when they have to attack us. and only the good die young or get serious diseases we are safe.

friend : what do u kow about this case

so i update her what i know and she thinks i know these people personally. I read it in the blooming papers. God!

friend : I think we should be careful and not take the kids out much.

Right another one who thinks the same.

DH calls : we should put off our vacation till this is sorted.

me : what sorted ? u mean to sort out where we are heading

DH : no till the swine flu is under control.


arghhh there goes the vacation postponed by a month with destination nowhere.....

Flying Sri Lankan!

Went to chennai with the kids over the long weekend and added holidays cutting school and work. Was at airport and get approached by dodgy looking indian guy who wanted us to carry liquor to chennai for him. Just ignored and kept walking. ( i must be giving out the wrong signal with two kids in tow like a baggage carrier)

Get into the flight and sri lankan with its crappy service and attitude kept on announcing about their black label deal.

Six year old wanted to know what black label was and D wanted to know if we can get the deal and buy whatever is thrown free (she is picking up the tendency of hitting sales or an early interest towards liquor).

I was a bit put off with the non stop announcement in flight, then they push the cart across the aisle and are like do u want to buy the deal buy the deal (just like travelling in train in india where all the people come to sell their stuff).

The food is inedible to say the least i think they should just not bother giving out that crappy snack.

Getting the new Passport

Went to get the passport at borella yesterday. Very efficient service Was in and out in fifteen minutes to hand over my documents. the lady at the counter told me to come back in three hours to collect. was very pleased with myself.

Get back at four thirty, mum calls and says thats its too late maybe i should leave it to the next day. Walk in and see huge crowds of people in counters. Hemm wonder why such a rush. Stand around and realise there has been some printing delay so all passports will come out slowy. Decide to sit down. The BO there is worse than the house of fashion. Sat down and was people watching.
The Cute dad who had brought his cute kid and was attending to her very well.
The husband and wife who were fighting and bickering endlessly.
The young boy who was chatting up the young girl who was in front of him.
Uhm me who was talking to this lady who is planning to migrate with her family to australia.

They call my number out after a good two half hours or more and i rush to the counter to collect my passport. It was a moment of such delight. I almost grabbed someone elses passport. . . Its my luck that i had to go in on a bad day. Reasonably the office is fast and efficient. Oh well....

Chennai Days!

Thats where I was last week on a spontaneous trip to attend a wedding with DH. It was five days of non stop shopping, visiting relatives,attending a wedding, watching a tamil movie in sathyam, eating and not doing much work.

March ending the end of year sales was booming. The recession means more sales and more buying. I think seeing all the 50% Off signs were making me feel dizzy. Seeing the signs did not make me shop till i dropped. But i did my fair share to boost the sales.

Did i mention about the food. I ate so much of food which was out of this world. Including dodgy melon juice served at a house which gave my throat pain. And the road side boiled peanuts with the chennai dust which just took my appetite away after getting back. . .

Prayer, Peace and Problems!

On my way to Kataragama with the Ada Derana giving news on the fall of killinochi. Keeping the kids entertained on a long drive so far is no joke. They drive you nuts and u want to jump off the car, Specially if they decide not to sleep right through the drive. Parents were giving their two cents worth on phone every one hour.

Mum : U know if u stop at three thirty near Udawalave u can see the baby elephants being fed.

Dad : u have to stop and feed the elephants some sugar cane.

Me : (I am very frightened of wild elephants of any sort and I aint doing any of that)

We get to the dam and inquire we had just missed the feeding bit. So off we went. Boy oh boy there were so many of the Elephants hanging out near the fence. Happily munching the grass and huge trees and posing. So we had to stop and kids were getting far too excited and shouting, I was sure that we were going to get chased by them any minute. This went on for quite a bit with no accidents and off we were.

Have not been to the temple for some years now and going there I had this intuition that we were going to be called in and don’t have to wait in the que. I was on a torn and upset mood when I went to the temple and the guys kept telling not to come in to wait till the pooja is over. Then as I knew one guy came and told us to cross in through the rope. So there my intuition was right. We were there right through the pooja and I felt thorought blessed inside the temple.

Went back to the temple next day. Miracles don’t happen twice so had to wait and went in after the poojava. The rice that they give as Prasad is out of this world I must say during afternoon.

My impatience of god setting everything right immediately is not going to work I was to realize when I made it back to Colombo. That’s ok I shall wait for the gods powers to work. DD has been advising so many times to go to kataragama which I have managed to do, so let me wait and see for the wonders to work…….

City of Entertainment

That is Genting Highlands which was founded by a guy in the late sixties (apparently he is the fourth richest in Malaysia now). Very innovative I mean who would have thought of picking a mountain and converting it into a full fledged place of casinos and a theme park and hotels. Since this was a kiddie’s holiday only gambling I did was spinning the wheel with the kids in the kids section of games.

They have an outdoor theme park which was not accessible due to misty weather but that’s all right since they had an indoor one as well with loads of shops. You can take the longest cable car ride in the whole of south Asia to get to this mountain. D was popping chocolates at a rate when we got into the cable car but freaked out half way that we were going to fall down and die since it was going right on top of a rainforest. Had to pacify an upset nine year old with more chocolates (but u are not suppose to eat anything in the cable car). But emergency situations call for breaking rules. It’s different from the Singapore sentosa cable car ride. Its longer you pass so much of rainforest and it was misty the day we went.

The tour guide had his own headache with an Indian family who were throwing a fuss since the weather was bad.

Indian lady : you should have checked weather before bringing us here

Tour guide : weather is unpredictable

Indian Lady : you should have informed at the bottom of the mountain

Tour guide : it was clearly sated that weather cannot be predicted

This was going on for a good fifteen minutes and ended with the tour guide just ignoring her after a bit and not answering her questions at all.

Bags N shoes

I have to say that Malaysia is so cheap for most products except clothes. They have far too many malls with so much goods, you start feeling dizzy after a big. It is so much cheaper than Singapore.

When I landed in Colombo airport was very worried with the suitcases of twelve pairs of shoes (not all mine) and seven handbags. Totally like un explainable situation. What with the shopping festival which is on for the whole of July I went a tad overboard with seeing the words “SALE” in bright red letters. It might be a disease but seeing the word sale drives me towards unexplainable purchase mode.

Shopping was not the only thing on the agenda. There are so much of things to do and frankly u need a week to look around at least part of Malaysia. They have so many theme parks, adventure stuff and loads of stuff to do with kids. So I am back in one piece with a burnt credit card and totally broke.....

Eat, Pray, Love

This is the book by Elizabeth Gilbert that I picked up in Chennai and have been reading the past few days. I have finished the Eat part only. So far its been funny, sorrowful and makes you think about life in general. I read a lot of Chick lit stuff and no this books not like that. Its different and made me think about different bits in my life.

It’s about a woman’s search for different things in life. So she travels to Italy to learn the beautiful language and enjoy the pleasure of eating. She goes to India to learn about the spiritual side of life and then on to Indonesia to find out about love (I think love since I have not got to Pray and love yet)

All my life the one place that I have wanted to visit is Italy (ok well make it two places add Spain as well). So reading this book made me really want to visit Italy. When I took up my job last year the one condition that I had requested is that I wont travel on work very far since I never wanted to leave the kids and travel for more than a weekend. I do travel extensively within Sri Lanka. Now, I have decided that I shall change my stand and on the traveling work related bit and take up whatever comes across. Since I doubt I am going to be able to afford to visit all over the world on my savings on vacation. I have to thank the book which made me make this decision that I am missing out on life by not traveling.