With Lots of Love from Sri Lanka

The land of handsome men and simple women, haven of colorful tuk-tuks, paddy fields and lots of greens, depth-taking beaches and disciplined traffic, tour de Sri Lanka was bliss. I’am a little too late (actually) in writing about my Sri Lankan trip, but as they say, better late than never. Oh! That wonderful place took my breath away, made me go ga-ga over its scenic beauty, and most of all, gave me a reality check on how people can lead a simple yet happy life.

Sri Lankans are recuperating from all the tragedies LTTE had imbibed on them. Bomb blasts, suicide attacks, gun shots and mass killings were nothing new to Sri Lankans. How can people just randomly kill other people, for nothing?! I ponder, but in vain. Generations have pondered on this question, but it is supposed to remain unanswered (as long as mankind exists).

We visited South Sri Lanka. And I was with my cousins, uncle and aunt, the company I would love to be with till I exist on earth, and cherish to no end. Having boarded at Colombo airport, we got in for our first Sri Lankan road trip, all the way to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage where we had our lunch, and also saw hundreds of elephants soothing themselves with an afternoon bathing session. I could see, they were having truck loads of fun!

Off we went to our next destination which took us nearly four hours from the airport. Having spent a couple of days at a hill station named Kandy, we set off to Nuwara Eliya. The place famously known as ‘Little England’ showed us the sophisticated English bungalows (built during the British era), polished restaurants and the place was anglicized everywhere. And oh yea! We saw the temple where Sita was held by Ravana. We saw Hanuman’s huge footsteps. We saw the 5000 year old deity of Sita Rama. We saw the pond where Sita used to take her bath. We saw Nuwara Eliya, where history told tales in millions. The place where the world epic Ramayana took steep turns and lovely climaxes. Oh! We saw that blissful, holy place. I’am one of those lucky ones!

We went to visit the next holy place where Lord Buddha reigned. Kandy it was. The monastery faced a serious setback when LTTE bombed the place nearly a decade ago. Again, a monastery that bears testimony to human inconsideration and his uncanny! Buddha’s tooth is kept here. And the holy sight is open to public only once a year, when people from across the globe come here to witness that holy sight. Kandy was beautiful. The people there lovely. We witnessed South Sri Lankan cultural art forms which took us to the ethnic side of this lovely country, and helped us re-visit their past which had hundreds of tales. So it was time to bid good-bye, and say hello to beaches. We set ourselves for a 7 hour journey to Bentota!

The journey took us half a day (at least that is how we felt!).Having stopped occasionally for food and water, we made our way to Bentota. Indruwa Beach resorts, where we stayed, was true bliss. And if you plan for Sri Lanka, make sure you make a stop here. The vast sea (which stretched to ‘god-knows-where’), blissful beachside, strong rocks, and the occasional creaks that we saw in the beachside made our Bentota stay extra remarkable. We visited a couple of places at Bentota which included the turtle hatchery, water sporting arena etc., but nothing to beat a beach stroll at Indruwa, listening to some good music, and witnessing the sunset smile at you when bidding goodbye.

After spending 2 lovely days at Bentota, we started preparing ourselves to say final good-bye to Tour De Sri Lanka. We set off to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka where thousands of people halt with dreams and ambitions, where tall buildings rule, shopping malls smile at you, and huge restaurants and commercial spaces throng in thousands. It was shopping time for us too! We did our bit of purchases. Who says Sri Lanka is cheap!??!

We left the country of the lions with a heavy heart. All good things have to come to an end, doesn’t it? How can I forget our guide Chaminda who took us to all these placesm waited for us patiently when we strolled the roadside at Kandy and Colombo, and still had a smiling face! But when I write about my memoirs having spent a week there, I can also recollect the lovely people who are always willing to help you. So much to learn for Indians! Good-bye Sri Lanka for now. But I promise, if I ever get an opportunity to visit you again, I shall never miss it. Sri Lanka is true bliss.

The Dreamer. Long. Lost.

Living a life with hearty smiles, heavy tears and lots of good people! So if I sound like an elderly person, excuse me, I have just arrived at my mid-twenties- an age where realizations pop-up (out of nowhere) and relationships get bonded (with family and friends, for the good). Maybe I’am not one amongst the ‘lucky ones’ who have earnings in six digits, or an accredited ‘doctor, or ‘engineer’ tag (they say those are the privileged and accepted qualifications). But I’am happy in my own way. Thanks to a group of close ones whom I’am tightly knitted to, and the most understanding mother. I cannot ask for anything better.

I prefer not living the set norms. I dream. I dream a lot. And I’am still confused and baffled at the thought of ‘how I shall churn them into realities’. Ask me about my aspirations. Traveling, people, books, writing, cultures and the way they live it, lots of greens and blues, colors inter-twined by nature and man-kind, food, beautiful attires, rains. I want to see them all. Relish every bit of it, and meet their depths. Live them to my heart’s content.

Holy. My dreams sound very ‘unrealistic’, don’t they? Well, for a 25 year old Malayali girl realizing those dreams are more ‘nightmarish’ than ‘dreams’. Literally. My real love, now, seems to be in all that I mentioned above. Maybe I have been labeled ‘freak’, for all my supposedly freakish thoughts, but yeah! Who doesn’t have them?

Sometimes god wants you to meet certain people, and he/she (I’am not a feminist. But I still don’t believe god is ‘male’!) knows that you shall be happy with them. God puts you into the right hands, and knows what you need. You cling on, automatically. Cos’ that is where you belong to (that sense of feeling). And the funniest part is, how you would’ve never ever thought of being a part of their lives. And how they influence you, and mould you into the person you are now. I owe my dreams and aspirations to umpteen of them out there. Friends whom I have had over the years, lovely set of cousins and relatives, people who have loathed me for the person I’am and much more. My dreams would’ve been so different if not for them.

Life would have been a bed of roses if you could do all what you loved. It would have been so uncomplicated if everyone thought alike. But yeah, getting back to reality, I live in a world where there are a million different thinkers, and they all think and act from pole 1 to pole 100. So why do I expect warmness and applauds to my dreams? Maybe I should just chase them. Maybe I would pass a giggle reading this on my blog, another 3 years from today. But I can show my ‘then people’ that once upon a time I had dreams, and they were these. Let me leave it to time, to tell rest of the tales…. What if I’am really living my dreams then…

24 and 'not so strong'?

Well, its been ages. I know. What they say is true. You lose the initially gained interest on anything after a while. We are humans, arent we? We get bored of things so easily. Let me tell you. Blogging AKA writing has never failed to interest me. But that right time need to click. It took me a couple of months (since my last blog post) to get clicked!

Sitting joblessley with my TV on, and pondering on why these people cannot show some good flicks, you might by now know how bored I'am currently. But wait, its 19th November 11. 30 p.m now. In like half an hour, I shall turn 24! Yes yes, its my birthday. Gone are those days when i used to sleeplessly stay awake with a flush of joy wondering about the attention I shall get on my birthday at school- from friends, teachers, acquaintances....

I feel old. I know I know, I'am too young to be old. Life has more in store for me. Worser lessons await. Meaner people are waiting down the lane. But everything seems so bllaaaahh now. I feel 'friends' are fake. Real people dont exist. Am I showering too much of negativity on my birth-day.

*consoling*- you were born this day. How can u hate it! life being a human is soo good. So many things to do, people to meet, things to eat. So just sit back and enjoy this ride. God does not let everyone take this roller coaster ride!!!

So let me be the first one to wish ME MY birthday. Happy birthday love! live life to the fullest. Take things easy. Nothing aint your worries and tensions. And chuck people who think you arent worth them. They dont deserve you. Have a nice day! :)

Facebook-ed

So much has been said and discussed about Facebook. This virtual space has eaten up a considerable amount of our time already. But I (personally) think it's worth it. Not because you make random friends from across the globe. I'am against the concept of making friends through a social medium like FB. It must be cool or social or whatever. But I'am scared. The world is not such a nice sweet place, you know...

They say that FB has ruined the traditional methods of keeping in touch like sending letters, phone calls and stuff. Now don't you think that is something nice, cos' it helps you save quite a good fortune? People just need to write on each other's walls and send msgs for which you would get instant replies! Everyone logs into FB at least once a day. So any emergency, all you need to do is send a msg! Now, these are pretty decent advantages that I can think of.

Also, I prefer categorizing FB as the perfect recreational ground. You talk to your long lost friends (for hours and hours), discuss stuff with your colleagues, and interact with friends easily. Now, let me not get there. It might sound like reading an essay on the good and bad sides of FB. But anyways, too much of anything can cause harm. You need to know where to draw THE LINE.

At the doorstep of a beautiful world of letters

I've been interested in politics. I think maybe from my age of 15??I think. I've wanted to be a politician. Well, precisely a minister. Point to be noted. It's not the digging-into-common-man's-plate factor of politicians that has tantalized me. It's the eagerness to bring about a social cause that has fascinated me. I always knew I wouldn't end up being one. Then I wished to be a lawyer, which again was a strict no-no from amma. She said law is not a profession meant for women. Some lawyer relative of mine said that to her. Anyways, whatever. I'am a writer now. I'am happy. At least I'am doing what I like.

Mechanical writing or robotic jobs are not my cup of tea. I think it applies to every soul. I cannot be a machine 8 hours a day for handsome pay. I better sit home jobless looking at the thronging crowd of my city and vastness of skies from my balcony. Writing helps me unveil a side of me which I love exploring. I experiment. I chuckle. I laugh and tears fills my eyes when I type down what's on my mind. I love life for these small little things god gifted me. I wish my spirits soar high to write till my last breath, so that I can write.

A spill over of my judgement

I write cos'I cant think of a better option

to express my views and thoughts on white

is what I would want to do till I die......

Bonds that last a lifetime

Gone are those days
Days of laughter and innocence
Days when smile meant happiness
Fake was unknown
Everything was genuine
Time changes, so do we
But I wish I could go back to them
Be in their arms and feel their warmth.......
I wish..................

Flashback poetry

Poetry has been dripping through me since a while now. I've been eating, drinking, sleeping poetry since the last couple of days. And yes, Ive been driving poetry lately, i.e. I have been thinking things with rhyming words while driving my scooter and car. Good lord, help me with this last one. Take care of me. Amen.

10 years back
FLASHBACK:---------------------------------------------------------------

I remember how I used to tear pages from my Maths book (arrghh.. spelling M-A-T-H-S makes me wanna bang my head on this wall) to write poems. I tear the page. Write what I thought on a rose in my garden.

WHAT IS ON MY MIND NOW?!!----------------------->

My poems on roses and dogs were much appreciated by my grandmother- the lady who imbibed in me the love for all good things in the world. She taught me to loathe nothing, but love mother earth and her creations. Poetry, according to her was an outpour of beauty in things which YOUR naked eye captures. She asked me to pen down what I saw. Hence, I used English to convey my thoughts. I started loving the language, literature and everything about it. 'Ammu' I miss you. Thanks for teaching me to love life.