Colombo diaries day II: Sini Sambool,Herbal Garden and Buddha Temple

14^th July 2013 Sunday

It was nearly 1 at night when I slept on first night in Colombo on Saturday. I connected to the internet, emailed family that I was safe. And of course, clicked on facebook and posted a mandatory status to let my friends out there to know ( particularly srilankan friends whom I was planning to meet) that I arrived safe and sound. Earlier in the night, before we departed to our rooms, I asked my friends to fix the time for meeting for breakfast tomorrow morning. Everyone decided on 6.30.

My eyes opened at 5 am in morning, call it advantage of teaching morning college, I have got this natural alarm clock in my head, which goes off sometimes even before 4 am ( which  gives me more trouble than comfort at times like these). I showered, changed into the beautiful Skirt in Nepal that I bought to blend in with Srilankan women.  Purnima, who was generous with tips in Srilanka advised about wearing white clothes to blend in which had some perks. So, off I went to breakfast on 4^th floor of hotel. Grand Oriental had a excellent staff. After "hot water fiasco" last night, perhaps everybody knew me as a "hot water" lady and would ask "mam, you have got hot water?", " did you get hot water?", "Do you need hot water?". On my last day at this hotel as I write on this memories, I think every single staff from reception, room service and housekeeping knows about my "hot water", ahhh this tells me I need to be more discreet in future.

So, here I was in one of the best hotels in Colombo. The dining hall overlooked a beautiful harbor.  I made friends with one wonderful Srilankan waiter Meelaka Gamage who worked on the dining hall. He had such a beautiful smile that was natural, it was not fake, I could tell. He watched me bemused with my great interest in Srilankan food. Thanks to Handun, Rashmi and Praveena I already knew that tingling spicy taste of Seeni Sambol and Pittu with coconut milk. Meelaka has given me a recipe for Seeni Sambol. I am going to make it someday in Nepal. There were options for continental breakfast ( bread, jam, fruits, museli with cold milk, danishes and cakes). But I straight-ahead moved to Srilankan food. That day they had porridge from Aloe Vera and it was very healthy and yummy.

Many people in Nepal particularly, have commented about my habit of talking about food. Once in one of my trips, my travel mate even ridiculed my fascination with food, labeling me as someone who is hungry everytime and somebody stupid to have this fascination with food. She said, "I don't care about what I eat, I am not like you, I eat whatever I find". I felt humiliated. I think food is a basic part of your life. Your taste in food defines you, it influences your thoughts and actions. So, let's not dismiss food as trivial. Especially, when you travel, food becomes even more important. Through food, through your taste buds, through your tongue, you experience and feel the place. In the end when your visit ends, you still remember those tastes, sensation and the feeling it brought you in your stomach and in your heart. So, I am not ashamed anymore to talk about it. So, I hereby would like to declare that, "yes, I am a food enthusiast, I love food, I love to eat, I love to blurp even" and that is my business. Don't tell me that my love for food is something insignificant, childish even. Food is my own way to get connected with people, food bonds people like nothing can. Share a meal with someone and you will realize that your relationship has gone to the next level.

So, in empty dining hall, I was the first person to come for breakfast. Should I start or wait for friends to arrive: I was in dillema. But rumbling of my stomach was getting louder and I had to do something about it. My favorite waiter brought a hot water in a bowl with a slice of lemon. That was for washing your hands before you start eating with your hands. Like Nepali daalbhat, Srilankan food is best eaten by hand, licking your fingers, forgetting your inhibitions. Whoever thinks eating by spoon is mark of sophistication and cleanliness need to reexamine their belief, seriously. The way you feel good food in your hands and when you lick fingers after the end of fulfilling meal, you feel Spoon is just so useless.

My other friend had arrived by 7 am and other two friends were lost somewhere. We called their room but no answer, what became of them? They, finally arrived panting to the dining hall and started asking me" where were you Neeti mam, we knocked the door several times". I asked what time, they said after 6.30. Well, earlier agreed time was 6.30 and we were meeting in dining room, so, how can they find me in room. Then, they went in hotel lobby and waited for us some more. Now, here is a tip for everybody travelling in a group. It is a free advice: take it or leave it. One needs to remember to set up clear communication about where and when to meet as a group. If you don't do that, then it sours the relationship with misunderstandings that you did not create. And I think seriously about agreed meeting points.

The first part of morning was spent on exploring options. There was a debate whether we go for quality experiences that cost like hell ( 100USD) for whole day tour, later with the goodwill dropped to 80 USD but still that was too much for me to spend in one whole day. I don't believe, expensive is always better. It was nearly decided to depart ourselves with our very dear 80 USD. Fortunately I and other friend explored two other options and fortunately we were able to save nearly 50% more than previous deal. So, off we went to the Kandy Tour. This is the most famous tourist destination nearby Colombo. It is about 3,4 hours ride from our hotel. Luckily the driver was same: the one who came to airport to receive yes. Yes, the one who christened me as Aneeti, we had already liked his behavior and helpful nature.

So, on the way, we stopped nearby the giant statue of Buddha and took some pictures. On the road, we had that "important" discussion again, which was creating more confusion fortunately we sorted out our differences and moved ahead. During travel we shared each other's stories and experiences. In my travels and talking with people, I have begun to form the patterns of communications with different people. My pattern of communications is:  I like to know the person who is next to them, I like to hear their story, if they feel comfortable with me. And I know, I talk a bit about myself. For people who do not understand me, I will sound narcissistic, too interested in myself. Yes, I have that a bit. But, I am equally interested in other people's stories and I feel when someone tells me something about them, I need to tell them something about me too. Each people have their own way of communicating things. For me, I find it hard to adjust when people twist and turn every statement spoken and go on a lengthy monologue just to prove a point with obvious indication that what one thinks is better.  And some people are silent, very diplomatic, thinking over every word they speak. Oh, the day I learn this art of diplomacy, I am working on it

So, on the way, we stopped for coconut water, a great privilege of being in Srilanka. We shot some pictures and moved towards a Herbal Garden. We met Dr. Indika from Luck Uyana, herbal and medicines garden. We were greeted by the staffs there and herbal garden was beautiful. We applied some aloe vera skin lotion and it smelled so natural. This made us think, Nepal is rich in herbs and we should be able to develop similar strategies. Looking at Srilankan herb gardens, one can think about how Nepal can establish new tourist attraction sites. And another important source of revenue will be of course herbal products. These days, people do not hesitate to spend more on herbal products if they are pure and authentic. We tried head massage and neck massage and it was like heaven. And all ladies out there, who are troubled with their skin hair, Srilankan hair removing cream works magic. According to India ( hope he is not exaggerating), if one spends around 6,000 Srilankan Rs and if you apply according to requirement ( they have clear instructions). Well, this time, didn't have enough money, may be in next visit, I will think about it hehehehehe. So, ladies out there, if you will pay me back absolutely, ( I could have got it as a gift but its too expensive), I can still get you this, while I am still here.

After that, we went to Srilankan Tea factory and observed how tea is made. I bought some Srilankan Tea. Come to my home if you wish to taste, okay. And if you come within one week of my arrival, there will be some srilankan sweets left too. After that, we went to Gem Factory, glittering gems attracted my eyes and I wished I was richer, I wanted some for myself, some for my mother, some for my two best friends Hajuri and Laxmi, Millie and Anju but what to do? May be in next visit, I will be more loaded with cash……………..one can dream…………….

Then, we were hungry, terribly hungry. Our driver took us to budget eatery and in 90Rs Srilankan we had good food. But Nepali habit of eating rice with soupy daal made us difficult to swallow rice. We tasted some Srilankan Sweets and they were yummy. Then, off we went to Buddha Temple. Since morning, I wanted to buy Srilankan Sim card to call my friends and to communicate with them about my plans and whereabouts so that we could meet. But it was already 4 pm but no sign of sim card, at times we were too busy to notice the sim card shops other times, I remembered but then there were no shops around.

So finally our driver took me to a mobile shop nearby Buddha temple and then I purchased dialog sim card for 150 Rs and topped up with 100 Rs and I still have like 99 Rs credit. Buddha temple was very beautiful. Srilankans dressed in cotton shirts, skirs and lungi carrying  beautiful lotus flowers was a beautiful sight to watch. I cliked many photos of local people and they were happy to pose. I found Srilankan people very helpful and being a Nepali, and coming from a land where Buddha was born helped a lot.

Then, we came back. One the way, we entered one restaurant for dinner but soon came out because our non-vegetarian wanted to try fish curry. The restaurant was good but waiter misunderstood and brought us less than we ordered. Then, it was complicated to wait another 15 minutes for it to be cooked again. So, we decided to pacify our stomach by fruits but fruits were bit expensive. One of my friend bought an apple and it cost her 70Rs, yes not a kilo but one single apple.

We all dozed off in a car on the way to our hotel. It was nearly 10 when we arrived with tired body. Soon, I feel asleep in a new bed. And of course, next morning, my natural alarm clock went off exactly at 5 in morning. After morning ablutions, I started a new day: first day of conference. More in next update. Thank you for reading.