For Intuit\QuickBooks folks...

An interesting add in the Sri Lanka newspaper, Ceylon Daily News.

Aluthgama

Aluthgama is a small town on the river Bentota Ganga. I found a nice guest house on the river at the right edge of this picture. It is very peaceful and as long as the room, without air conditioning, cools down enough to sleep at night, I guess I'll just have to spend a couple of days here and maybe take a boat excursion up the river.

The river Bentota Ganga separates Aluthgama from Bentota and a short walk across a bridge dumps me just a few minutes from the beach. There are a number of tourist hotels along beautiful beaches, a broad strip of clean sand framing turquoise waves of incredibly warm water. In spite of warm weather, a nice breeze and surprisingly warm water good for a range of water sports, there are not a lot of people here.

Some of the quiet is probably that the high season is just passing and some that it is just under a year since the war ended, but I rather appreciate the relative quiet and suspect that it is a brief window that will quickly pass as the war recedes in memory.

Colombo and beyond

Life is hard. While I was being much more modest when I got to Colombo, I decided to take a break at a grand ocean-side hotel which has been serving discriminating visitors to Sri Lanka since 1864.

At the center of this picture there are a handful of deluxe rooms with private balconies. These rooms have been remodeled and are deliciously decadent with a huge jacuzzi and enough comfort to make me question whether I really need to leave the room. After all, the view from the balcony, particularly at sunset, is pretty wonderful.

OK, life isn't hard, but getting up the gumption to leave here, for whatever beauty and excitement lies ahead, is just a little hard.

But, I've certainly been in Colombo long enough, so tomorrow I head down the coast to the small beach town of Aluthgama. My plan is to stumble down the coast to Marissa moving slowly enough to keep me until at least April 15. The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is mid-April and since it is a major holiday in Sri Lanka, I decided I should just hide out on a beach somewhere. After the New Year festivities die down, it should be a better time to visit Kandy and Nuwara Eliya areas (both for fewer people and better weather, I'm told), and then migrate further north into the Ancient Cities region. Of course, plans merely keep our minds busy until reality shows up, but at least they help me select a train to board in the morning.

Poya

It's Monday, but most of the stores in Colombo are closed or will close early. Why? Today is Poya, specifically Bak Poya, a public holiday. And, everybody knows why every full moon is a holiday. How very fun to be in a country that derives holidays from Buddhism.

They also observe other holidays, including some from other religions. Looking at their official calendar, they do seem to have a lot of holidays. Well, there's nothing wrong with that!

Hmmm. It looks like Vesak Poya is next and, since there are two full moons in one month this year, there is an extra Poya day. So, April 28 is Adi Vesak Poya (extra Vesak Poya) and May 27 is Vesak Poya (regular Vesak Poya). Well, I may just have to stick around for at least one of those! :)

Colombo, Sri Lanka

I am just a couple of days in Sri Lanka and have only seen a bit of Colombo so far, but already appreciate it. It is much cleaner than India. The driving is crazy, but horns are only used occasionally when really needed, and there are no over-amplified broadcast systems of Hindu prayers or chanting, or tractors with sound systems blaring religious music at volumes that drown their horn. I went to a Buddhist temple and was introduced to the abbot who offered me a letter of introduction to any place in Sri Lanka I want to go meditate and then gave me a formal blessing. And, he never asked for anything; although, he did tell me of some projects where I am welcome to go volunteer if that is my desire. Last night I went from my hotel looking for a Cyber Cafe and a trishaw (same as an auto-rickshaw in India) driver tried to snag me as a fare. When I declined, saying I was just walking a couple blocks, he got out and walked with me. I guess he really hadn't much to do. Anyway, half an hour later we never found the Cyber Cafe and ended up back at the hotel. We had a nice chat and he never asked for anything - his investment was something to do and favorable consideration if I needed a taxi later. Of course, it's also a tad hot and very humid. Walking in rain today I got wet from rain and perspiration at the same time. There are still touts and hawkers and guides and I'm sure that tourist and pilgrimage destinations will have the usual annoying activities; and, I don't expect the same levels of pleasant and noble behavior throughout my wandering in Sri Lanka, but it is a wonderful welcome and I am looking forward to wandering about.

I had the thought today that maybe I should get a camera. Hmmm, I'll have to contemplate that..