To "Leer" or not to "Leer"

We just spent 3 days in Matara and the verdict is in...none of us liked it. We were the only people at the resort/hotel we were at, which was in the middle of nowhere. No restaurants, no shops, no nothing close by. Only houses. Normally we would like that..being amonst the locals. Except for the fact that we were quickly introduced to the "leer". If I didn't know the definition of it before, I certainly do now. I have never had a man look at me so intently that I felt it in every fibre of my being. For example, mom, Deb and I were sitting at a table next to the ocean playing cards and there were 2 crowds of men in different directions watching us. The first group contained about 8 men and they simply stood there and stared at us for close to 30 minutes. The other group, brought out a drum and starting singing and pointing at us. As soon as we left, they dispersed and went on their ways.

This sounds harmless enough...but when we went to the beach to swim is when it got bad. Eventually we ended up swimming in our clothes because the sight of our swimsuits seemed to put them in a lather and made them swarm and circle us like sharks. Even mom drove them crazy.

We were happy to leave and find ourselves in Tangalle...where we are still looked at, but not followed and watched like in Matara. Tangalle is where we will be building houses, so it is nice to see what our home for a few weeks is like.
Our tuk tuk driver this morning took us to his house, introduced us to his wife and one of his daughters and told us we could stay with them if we wanted. Sri Lankans are very friendly people...I know he was hoping for the almighty dollar...but still the way the open themselves to you is quite remarkable.

On the beach the other day a man asked me if I was married. To make our lives easier both Deb and I are sporting wedding bands, so my answer was yes. He asked me if mine was a love marriage. When I told him that it was, he quickly told me that his was not. That he did not love his wife. I was not sure how to respond seeing as his wife was sitting right there.

WE leavehere tomorrow and head for Ella...away from the beach and inland to the tea plantations and places where the elephants roam free. Can't wait.

Sri Lanka photos

Deb, Christine and the Sri Lankan chief of Police

Well today was an adventure. Deb and I got our Sri Lankan Visas extended which took a while at the immigration centre...and then we spent several hours at the police station reporting the theft of my ipod. For about 1.5 hours we sat in the office of the chief of police. It was really interesting. He was KING. He had people bring him his shoes, he didn't even have to stretch for papers that were on his desk that were out of reach...someone handed them to him. He barely dialed his own phone calls.

We will see if anything comes out of it. I was told that as a last resort if the guys who stole it don't return it...we can always send some 'thugs' to rough them up a bit...Dorothy you are not in Kansas anymore.

Here are some pictures...San Fran and Sri Lanka...enjoy

Topless and without music in Sri Lanka

Well so far Sri Lanka has been filled with ups and downs. It started off with my backpack coming off the carousel in Colombo and the one side compartment had the zipper ripped right off and everything in the compartment stolen or lost. That means both of my bikini's all 3 of my tanktops and all the socks except the ones on my feet are gone. So that was not the best way to arrive in SL.

Then came the upside. We met up with my friend Ajith here and had an absolute blast with him. He took us out for dinner at this great restaurant next to a pool up on the 3rd floor of a building in Colombo. We drank beer, ate great food and laughed next to a gorgeous pool and under the stars. Around 10pm we took mom home and then Deb and I went out with Ajith and his cousin until about 2am. It was a great night catching up with an old friend.

Then today, we took my backpack to get the zippered repaired and being the ass that I am, I totally forgot that my ipod was in one pocket that I NEVER use...and I remembered about an hour after we dropped it off. Ran back...but of course it is gone and everyone there says they never saw it. But I know 100% that it was in the bag. I tore the hotel room apart to no avail...my music, my bathing suits and my tops are all missing in Sri Lanka.

Trying to remember that shit like this is bound to happen and that they are only material things...but at this moment, the anger is just to great for that message to break through.

What will I do without music for year? Arghhh! And the friends that made mixes for me and put them on my ipod...that is the only copy I had of some of that music...and now someone in Sri Lanka gets to listen to them. Sigh....

Now that I have vented, I wish I could say I feel better, but that is not the case.

On the happy side, tomorrow we will explore Colombo a bit and then the day after we head to Bentota which is supposed to have glorious beaches. (but that brings me back to the fact that I no longer have a bathing suit...arghhh!) The weather is gorgeous, the beer is cheap. So there are pluses that is for sure.

Still haven't found anywhere to download my photos to show you...but I haven't given up hope.

Sleepy, oh so sleepy

Well we are 20 hours into it...and are in Singapore where we have a 12 hour layover. But there are worse places this could happen. The airport here is crazy. A gym, spa, movie theatre, shopping mall and even a hotel that we might check ourselves into for a bit of a sleep. It has been a bit of a long haul.

But it is 31 degrees outside so that in itself is making it worthwhile. Mom is a trooper and is still standing after the trip so far. Keep your fingers crossed she doesn't fall asleep standing up soon.

Afternoon naps

Well it is official. I am retired. I LOVE afternoon naps. They are becoming a part of my routine. In fact, I can completely picture myself getting crotchety without them. At 34 and I am already in the routine of the nap? What is next? Depends? Might be a good idea considering some of the places we will be going.

Today we took the ferry across to Tiburon. Gorgeous little place across the Bay with a stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Some of the houses over there are HUGE! On the way back on the ferry, I managed to sneak in my afternoon nap. IT wasn't quite long enough, but it will have to do.

Tonight at midnight we get on our plane to Sri Lanka. It is going to be a long haul. 20 hour flight, 12hour layover in Singapore and then a 3-4 hour flight to Colombo. I bet none of you reading this are jealous of me now, are you?

But soon it will be over and we will be exploring SL and all it has to offer.

c

Lovely San Francisco

Well we arrived in San Francisco safely and the place we are staying in ROCKS! It is a gorgeous little bed & breakfast on Russian Hill. It is called Annie's Cottage and I highly recommend it if you have plans on coming here.

Today we spent the day exploring the city, visiting the Sea Lions down on Pier 39, drinking beer in the sunshine, etc.

The craziest thing happened today...I actually ran into someone that I know. We were in the post office and the woman in front of me was someone that I used to work with...Joa, if you are reading this you will remember her, Virginia. It was hilarious. In San Fran and I run into someone that I know. Small world.

Tonight my mom's cousin is taking us to Sausalito for dinner...so that should be lovely.

I have tonnes of pictures to show everyone...but I need to find a place that I can upload the pictures.

Our cell phone isn't working here for some reason...making us mad. WE have to call Rogers and find out what the problem is.

Talk again soon.

Preparing for the BIG cry

Anyone who knows me well, knows how much I love my nona. Well tomorrow morning at 8am I have to say good bye to her. I get all choked up at the thought of it. I am not sure how I will make it through. She is 90 and is the love of my life. I will carry this digital picture of her around on my camera for a year so that I can smile and think of all the funny 'nona' stories.

It has been a great few days here in Calgary hanging out with the family. Listening to stories told by my nona. Even though I have heard them numerous times before, I still sit there and smile as she tells me them for the hundredth time.

But I must admit I am getting anxious. I just want to be gone now. It feels like this moment has been pending forever. I just want to get on that plane and be in Sri Lanka. As much as I am looking forward to our 4 days in San Francisco...I even want those to go quickly, so we can just get over there.

Deb, Mom and I are all packed and ready to go (you would think we were all project managers or something)...so now we just sit and wait for Wednesday.

Later.

Pictures, pictures, pictures

Have access to a computer and unlimited time...so thought I would post some photos while I have the time.

Some are from BC, some are from Alberta. Enjoy!

From Parksville to Thorsby

Time always flies when I am with my family. For the past few days I have been on my sister Yvonne's farm in Thorsby, Alberta. My last few days in Parksville with Kim were great. On the anniversary of her accident, we took 7 years of legal files, medical files, etc down to the beach and had a good 3 hour burn. It was a pretty powerful night. The weather was perfect. It was about 10 degrees, the waves were lapping up on the shore and we had a great big fire going from about 8pm until after 11pm. I think it was really therapeutic for Kim to watch all those papers go up in smoke and I was thrilled that I could be there for it.

Now I am in Thorsby...just went into my nephews school, where I was his "Show and Share". It was pretty damn cute. I told all of the kids about Toronto and the trip. Some of the questions that came out of their mouths were pretty funny. "Are there cars in Toronto?, How many minutes did it take you to get here?". etc. When the teacher explained to the class that I didn't have any family in Toronto one of the little boys asked me if I cried sometimes because I was lonely. How cute is that? Kids really do say the funniest things.

This afternoon I am going to go pick Harley up after school and then I am sure we will play soccer in the snow. Tomorrow we are all getting up early, getting on the quads on going for a big long ride down by the creek. Life really is different out in the country. It really reminds me of what things were like when I was growing up. After having lived in Toronto for so long, I tend to forget all of the wonderful things about living someplace small.