“There is no need to say thank you, by just accepting what you are giving is in itself gratefulness”
Viren Perena (my host)
After approximately a complete day of traveling plus the time difference of eleven and a half hours I have arrived in Colombo. The simplicity of the airport felt very familiar, especially after standing in line to acquire an arrival visa alongside bitching and frustrated vacationers from the Russian Federation this was no different from Cuba. I had to wait another 30 minutes to go through immigration, but after that everything was went smoothly; picked up my luggage, saw my name on a sign, and then I was in a car heading to Colombo.
My driver Mohammad was a catalyst of Sri Lankan driving skills. He complained on how everyone drives extremely disrespectfully, and that bus drivers here are suicidal drivers. We might have just stopped only three times to let people pass the street, but otherwise the whole forty minute drive from the airport to Colombo could not be more of a cliche comparison to a roller coaster ride. Same as in china I saw families of three people on a single motorcycle effortlessly zigzagging in between cars, as girls dressed in their sunday best were attempting to cross the road.
WE HAVE ARRIVED
At the moment I’m staying at a friend’s place who I met in Toronto this past summer at a birthday party. He is an enchanting fellow who lives with his two wonderful children in an apartment that faces the ocean. The building where it’s situated is next to the ‘the Galle face hotel’ established in 1864, which makes it the oldest hotels in this part of the world being.
This morning I was told that the building were I’m staying was build on purpose to block the sun light from the hotel till mid day; as a result of one’s man fury at not being allowed into the hotel.
According to Wikipedia Arthur C. Clark wrote the final chapters of 3001 – The Final Odyssey at the hotel, and from I hear he spent a lot of time in Sri Lanka writing.
Right outside the building there is a busy beach visible through my window. This early morning a group of soldiers were doing sit ups, as another group ran alongside the water. Last night the beach was bustling with people singing songs, and enjoying a holiday. There are many religions here and with them comes an abundance of holidays. I was told that whenever there is a full moon the country takes a day off. People here love to take time off work, and who wouldn’t with and ocean surrounding them and perfect weather pretty much all year round.
I’m borrowing an amp from my host’s sixteen year old son, and even though it is quite small it sounds great. It was refreshing to play a bit after the intensity of the past week trying to cram as much as possible into the littlest amount of time. I brought a new Yamaha violin with me here, and as well my trusted 200 year old violin that sounds great in this apartment of extremely high ceilings and wooden flooring.
I guess it’s the child in me, but I’m excited to venture out of the city soon and go explore the rural areas in search of wildlife, especially the wild monkeys.
Tonight Viren is planning a party at one of his restaurants, and I will perform a few songs. He said here everything is done last minute, and you can invite people to a party just a night before. This perfect for someone like me who has the worst time managing ability ever.
I will do the next blog entry this Wednesday, and feel free to ask questions or suggest places to visit or people to meet.
Cheers,