Here are some images from this wonderful city.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7444188@N05/sets/72157628631150001/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7444188@N05/sets/72157628631150001/
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Fitness consciousness in Sri Lanka
Many parts of this country tend to be particularly hot for a big part of the year. This December though, Colombo is experiencing wonderful weather. Temperatures dropped to an all-time low of 18 degrees. The cooling down of the country as a whole has been attributed to tropical cyclone Thane.
Despite the weather, there is a great outdoor and fitness culture in this country. The city's parks and seaside promenade are full of joggers in the mornings. You also see a lot of sports being played in the various clubs and grounds in the city. And this year, the country hosted a bicycle race called the Tour de Sri Lanka (of course!!)
Given the amount of rice that Sri Lankans eat, they sure do need the exercise. You see either super-fit people or those with bulging stomachs...There seems to be no room for the in-betweens.
Despite the weather, there is a great outdoor and fitness culture in this country. The city's parks and seaside promenade are full of joggers in the mornings. You also see a lot of sports being played in the various clubs and grounds in the city. And this year, the country hosted a bicycle race called the Tour de Sri Lanka (of course!!)
 | |
| Navy cadets walking on Colombo's Galle Face Green |
Given the amount of rice that Sri Lankans eat, they sure do need the exercise. You see either super-fit people or those with bulging stomachs...There seems to be no room for the in-betweens.
Don't mess with Shah Rukh fans in Colombo
There was a serpentine queue for tickets to watch the new Shah Rukh Khan film, 'Don 2.' The cool and fashionable people of Colombo seem to be huge fans of the Indian actor (who I believe can't act). I happened to be in the same cinema hall in Bambalapitiya to watch another film and told a few Sri Lankan friends what I thought of Khan. I guess I was a bit too loud and that attracted vicious stares from some people in the queue for Don 2.
In fact, a couple of larger than life Sri Lankans seemed visibly irked until I explained that I am an Indian. The angry look turned into a smile, which was followed by questions about the nightlife in Bombay. I was safe from harm's way.
What the adulating public of Colombo see in Shah Rukh Khan, I don't know.
In fact, a couple of larger than life Sri Lankans seemed visibly irked until I explained that I am an Indian. The angry look turned into a smile, which was followed by questions about the nightlife in Bombay. I was safe from harm's way.
What the adulating public of Colombo see in Shah Rukh Khan, I don't know.
"You don't look like an Indian!"
Sri Lanka has a community of Eurasians known as Burghers, who seem to have the share some idiosyncrasies with Anglo-Indians on the other side of the Palk Straits. Many younger generation Burghers now live in Australia, but you can still see a lot of Burgher aunties across Sri Lanka.
At a shop in the town of Nugegoda, a Burgher aunty wanted to know why I was responding to Sinhalese questions in English. When I told her that I was an Indian, she responded by telling me that I did not look like an Indian. "Do I look like a Pakistani or Bangladeshi, aunty?"
She replied in the negative and said I looked like I was from Colombo. When I thanked her for what I thought was a compliment, she said, "it is not a compliment, but an observation." I restrained myself from chuckling as I left the shop. This particular lady reminded me more of Mrs Mangel from the Australian soap-opera 'Neighbours,' than a typical Anglo-Indian aunty in Bombay.
At a shop in the town of Nugegoda, a Burgher aunty wanted to know why I was responding to Sinhalese questions in English. When I told her that I was an Indian, she responded by telling me that I did not look like an Indian. "Do I look like a Pakistani or Bangladeshi, aunty?"
She replied in the negative and said I looked like I was from Colombo. When I thanked her for what I thought was a compliment, she said, "it is not a compliment, but an observation." I restrained myself from chuckling as I left the shop. This particular lady reminded me more of Mrs Mangel from the Australian soap-opera 'Neighbours,' than a typical Anglo-Indian aunty in Bombay.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Notes from Sri Lanka: Stray Dogs and Highways
Stray dogs are the cows of Sri Lanka. This country loves its strays, who tend to be far cuter and innocent than their anti-Austrian counterparts in India (For more on stray dogs and Austrians in India, search this blog's archives).
On our way back to Colombo from Kattaragama, in southeast Sri Lanka, a total of 8 strays ran across the highway.Our skillful driver managed to avoid running over them but we did have some bumpy moments. Dogs have the right of way on these highways!! Killing a wandering stray can get you bad karma! It doesn't matter if you end up in an accident, let the holy canines live.
On our way back to Colombo from Kattaragama, in southeast Sri Lanka, a total of 8 strays ran across the highway.Our skillful driver managed to avoid running over them but we did have some bumpy moments. Dogs have the right of way on these highways!! Killing a wandering stray can get you bad karma! It doesn't matter if you end up in an accident, let the holy canines live.
Notes from Sri Lanka:- Colombo-Matara Expressway
The buzz word in post-war Sri Lanka is development. You see construction activity everywhere. Residential high-rises are coming up at the speed of light in and around Colombo. Of course, the new pride of the nation is the Chinese-built Colombo-Matara Southern Express Highway. It takes just 1 hour to reach Galle from Colombo on this scenic and beautiful expressway.
The expressway was built by the Chinese after all, so yes, there are complaints. Rains managed to wreck havoc in some stretches and the asphalt had to be relaid. This expressway is a sign of a new freedom for many in Colombo. One particular brat was showing off to me about driving at 220 kmph on his BMW. So, it shouldn't be a surprise that there are many accidents on this expressway.
This is an image from Boxing Day.
With speed-crazy idiots on the expressway, accidents are likely to be a common occurence.
The expressway was built by the Chinese after all, so yes, there are complaints. Rains managed to wreck havoc in some stretches and the asphalt had to be relaid. This expressway is a sign of a new freedom for many in Colombo. One particular brat was showing off to me about driving at 220 kmph on his BMW. So, it shouldn't be a surprise that there are many accidents on this expressway.
This is an image from Boxing Day.
With speed-crazy idiots on the expressway, accidents are likely to be a common occurence.
My travel article about Bali in the Free Press Journal
Bali has long been stereotyped as an island that Europeans flock to in large numbers to avoid severe winters and take in some sun, sand and surf, before partying away. When the Indonesian Government invited me to visit the island, such images played on in my mind. Three days on the enchanted isle, however, completely removed these false impressions.
Read more. http://www.freepressjournal.in/news/39420-bali-of-temples-volcanoes-gardens-and-the-deep-blue-ocean.html
Read more. http://www.freepressjournal.in/news/39420-bali-of-temples-volcanoes-gardens-and-the-deep-blue-ocean.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)