Sri Lanka Trip - 20 Dec 2008

This is the 2nd time that Christina, Sheena, Meiyan and I travel over the Indian Ocean to reach a country that has rich culture and history; Sri Lanka.

On 20 Dec 2008 evening Meifang, Meiyan, Emil, Josephine and I have early dinner @ Terminal 1 Popeye. This dinner was meant to Meifang belated birthday gift from me and a small catch up with Emil before the year 2008 ended. I have fun during the dinner and finally got the courage to ask for a photo with Emil. Come to think of it, I have been thinking of having a photo with Emil for sometime already. The photo shot seem un-natual but it turn out quite nice.. After a long wait @ Checking in counter, we finally check in and it is time to shop. Yes shopping at Duty Free.. We buy a number of items and take a few photos.. Christmas deo make Meiyan and I love to take photos..I buy 2 bottles of purfumes.. Hahaha... I have been wanted to buy purfume for so long finally got the chance to do so..

This time travelling together we are more focus on photos collection.. Once on board, we got to take photos.. Seats numbers to group photos and the meals photos.. It is just fun.. The meal on board is so tasty that make us feel like eating local food (I mean Sri Lanka local food). This time there is no Ice Cream.. So sad.. Oh ya, I catch the movie Wall-E on board. Didnt manage to find time to watch it when it screen but finally got to watch it.. Nice! Touching!
After 5 hours of in the air, we landed in Sri Lank's Bandaranaike International Airport which is located at Katunayake, around 30 km north of Colombo.

Before stepping out of the airport, we make a big purchase of wine for Amil's wedding as his request. The service was so good @ the duty free shop was make us left the shop with a smile. This time only Amil came by to pick us up with his jeep to his home located on Kotte Road in the area Rajagiriya.

21 Dec is more of the shopping around the city of Colombo and following the couple around to do their stuff for the wedding. It is also the day that we get to meet Livan and Amil's family after 2 years. We started our day with simple breakfast and waited for Livan to pick us up for the Supermarket trip. We settle with our lunch @ KFC. OMG! It is a super nice. Alot better then Singapore. After that Amil and Heshini pick up to visit the hotel that they are doing the home coming. On the way back to Amil's place, we were told that dinner will be with Amil's parent house; which make us wonder should we change for the dinner. Once we reach home, we gal go up to get change to get ready for the dinner. 2 years ago, we stay there and this time we are only visiting. My 1st reaction when I saw Malith was "OMG he is so handsome now!". The running dog is still around. The 2 rooms that we gals stay changes alot and now it look more like a room. The biggest change will be Malith. The rest look the same.

22 Dec we started the day with American Breakfast specially perpared by Meiyan for all of us. I was invlove in the preparation but didnt do much but was busy enough that I didnt notice is out. After breakfast, Amil and Malith pop in and tell us that we are going to the Colombo Zoo (http://www.colombozoo.gov.lk/index.shtml). This trip was with Malith as Amil need to do some stuff. The Zoo by look is bigger then Singapore Zoo but fact it is smaller then Singapore Zoo. The animals are generally close up in cage and restricted areas to move. Maybe because of the restriction, the animal look lesser happier then those that I have seen in Singapore Zoo. Overall the trip was full of laughters and the jokes. I believe if the rest of the gals who reads this blog will agree. Specially the part that we visit the cage animal. (Sorry cant blog about what happen @ cage aninmal cos it is RA-rated. Haha.. Smart guess anyone?)

After which, we went to a Chinese resturant to have a great lunch. The chinese food is more tasty then what we have in Singapore but of course it is a bit salty.

After that we travel a bit to the Majestic City to do Shopping.

This is the location that the 4 gals buy new dress each to wear on Amil wedding because we all bring black dress which is not apporiate to wear to the wedding. The 3 gals buy their dress in the same while I got mine from another shop. Meiyan pick 2 dresses for me and I like both of it but I cant decide so Sheena and Christina voted and I pay for the dress they vote. A green dress. Yes, it is another colour added cos I dont really like green dress or red dress.. But this dress is nice.. We did our tea shopping there too. We buy like it is free.. Haha.. We took a couple of photos there too and hve a small KFC break there too. On the way home, suddenly our attention was caught aways by the beatuiful sunset by the sea. It is supper nice and Amil make a beatuiful turn to let the gals take alot of photos together. I still remember Heshini is so pound of Amil for the turn, which is more then cut lane.

Back @ home, we have pizza as dinner. While waiting for Amil back home, we got a special visitor Black Cat, which walk in and out like it is its home. Faint. But after it left, we continue to play poker.

23 Dec Amil come back to the home after a change into shirt and pant to send we gals for our appointment with specialist. He commented that this trip I get more sleep and didnt wake up as early as the pervious trip. I agreed!I am really more sleepy this trip.

Meiyan and me got the special appointment with the Medi & Pedi that made us waited half hour while Sheena and Christina wait for a message @ Foot Rub. For the 1st time I have my Medi & Pedi done by a guy. His service was good and he is very attentive to the strenght he is using. While having the services, Meiyan insisted on some photo; which turn out great. The four of us enjoyed the treatment and the shopping trip around the small yet full of things shopping mall.

At the end of the day, it is Livan who pick us up. For the 1st time, we all seen Livan in shirt and pants. He is so handsome; maybe too handsome that Sheena miss him completely. Pity that we didnt get a photo of him in that white strip shirt. Dinner was packed by Amil who came back from temple and Sheena and Christina teach Livan how to play poker before going to bed.

24 Dec is Amil's formal wedding. We started the day with a visit to the Heshini's home with 4 bouquet flowers. It is part of the cluture in Sri Lanka that the groom must send flowers to the Bride house for the Bride, the sister, the mother-in-law and the maid of honor. Livan drive to the area near the Heshini house to buy the flowers, after the which then I know that it is the well known area for flowers. The bouquet of flower that we buy is a mixture which is not the usual style that we will get in Singapore. As Meiyan is allegea to flower so I help to hold. I still remember the face expression of Christina whenever there is sun shine. The moment we reach Heshini house, Livan called Amil which Amil told him to leave the flowers with the mide and leave but he reply that he got a better idea. The better idea is to get us pass the flower. We have a small chat with Heshini and her mum before leaving for MacDonld breakfast. We park back to eat, which Amil join us. After that I feel a sudden spell of headache so I excuse myself to take a nap before the night. While I was sleeping they enjoy the photo session. I remember Amil come up and check on me while I mistook it as he is going home. After that he wake me up to eat lunch. Hahaha.. The powerful effect of medication.

After lunch, we all get to have a short rest before getting dress up for the function. Iremember we started to get dress up around 3 plus in order not to let Livan wait too long. While we are busy bathing, doing our make up; Meiyan got the time to do her face maks. She make me so envy that I took a photo to prove. The wedding is held at Hilton, it is very beatuiful place specially with lovely friends that can chat and laugh with. With the Christmas deco on, we decided to have our own photos taking session which is started the laughters. This is the time that I realise that Livan is also very picky with his photos.

After a series of photo taking, Livan lead us to the ballroom where the wedding dinner will be held. But that does not end the photo taking but it is just started another session. I rememeber I was kind of loss cos everything seem very new to me. The best part is that we can check our table number from the floor plan done up. There is no reception area. Interesting idea. Haha.

The matching in for Groom & Bride is very traditional yet very nice and special. With the help of everyone there, we got to see both the matching and the whole solemnization. It started with the match in by the Groom. It is the family in front with the Groom guest behind. Note only the Bride guests is seated the Groom guest enter only when the Groom enter. Seated in the ballroom, another photo session started.

"Some information about Sri Lanka wedding, the traditional cluture is that the Bride will pay for all the expenses of the wedding dinner and the Groom will be paying for the expense of the Home Coming Party. They believe that Wednesday is the best day to get married and if the day rain it is mean good luck (not like Chinese hor!). If need to book a Wednesday at a good hotel you got to perpare to book 2-3 years ahead woh."

Overall, it is a very unique expenience and beatiuful.

25 Dec morning we all got up early to get ready to travel 216 km to Polonnaruwa. It is the 2nd Capital after Anuradhapura.

Before we set on further the jounery, Livan pull over at Mac to buy our breakfast in case we got nothing to eat along the way. Oh! He even blames us for waking him up on time.. We got up on time ma. Not fair. Haha. But overall we are still on secdule. Half way the trip after Kandy, he pull over to at a forest area; which is well known for stop over for long distance travel. We had our breakfast there and it is so cool. There was not much photos. I only remember that Christina and I wanted to go toilet.

Livan make a special stop over at the Dambulla Rock Temple. I must admit that from the temple to the surroundings really great. If it is not for the fact that I seen it with my own eyes, I cant believe that back in the olden day human being skill were so great that they build a temple out of the big rock and every details is so nice and real. Livan show us a pot of water that will not over-flow no matter how full it is, and it have been there for years. The surrounding of green and rock bring whole my tiredness away. Some information I catch online about Dambulla.

"Dambulla is a small town located at a distance of 19 km from Sigriya on the Sigriya-Kandy road. Dambulla has over 80 caves in the surrounding and some of them have been used by the monks as meditation locations. Major attraction is the Dambulla Rock Temple consisting of five cave temples dating back to the 1st century BC. The temples contain many statues and paintings. Hindu statues are believed to be of the 12 century AD and the latest paintings are of the late 18-century." - http://www.tourism-srilanka.com/cities/dambulla.html

Around 3plus, we reach Polonnaruwa and check-in to Hotel Seruwa by Ceylon Hotels Corporation (http://www.ceylonhotels.lk/) and had our lunch there. It is a familiar lunch as 2 years back we have something similar. Livan is quite sad that we didnt get to stay in Polonnaruwa Rest House which he say it is nicer and better view to the lake. Yes, our hotel is beside a beatuiful lake. After a short rest we went over to World Heritage City of Polonnaruwa. It is like a real life history lesson, a history lesson that touch me deeply. It is better than reading it because you get to touch and see it the reminding and withness the ture skill that happens century ago.
"Polonnurawa-located at a distance of 216 km from Colombo-was the capital of Sri Lanka in medieval times. Used by the Sri Lankan kings as a 'country residence' from the 7th century, Polonnurawa became Sri Lanka's capital in the 11th century AD. During its time the city was fortified with three concentric walls, beautified with parks and gardens and sanctified by many a shrine and sacred place. The city and the surrounding area were watered by a unique irrigational complex known as the Sea of Parakrama (Parakrama Samudra)." - http://www.tourism-srilanka.com/cities/polonnurawa.html
At the night of Christmas, the 5 of us went out to the lake for a walk. There is no photos just memories of the starry night. Thanks to Livan for the great suggestion, I have another unforgettable Christmas gift under the starry night. It is full of stars night; no much words can writen down enough. It is also that night that Meiyan withness the friendly Livan cos he is able to make friend with anyone with a smile and small chat.

26 Dec we head back to Colombo, on the way we went to another lake which is Livan favourite camping area. It is beatuiful with "post card" like scene that make me forget sleepness and tiredness. At that moment, I feel like staying there to spend a night under the star. We started another round of photos taking where Livan started to say that he will start charging us for every photo we take with his cars or him. Sheena and Meiyan rub in to say "Ok but must give us good smiling face."

We have a lunch that is like breakfast but it is still very yummy. We got a visit from Amil to bid good bye to Sheena & Christina.

It is also the day that Sheena and Christina is going home. It is so odd without 2 of them because usually the four of us will come and go together.Around 8.30pm, they all depart for the Airport. After they left, the house is so odd. Meiyan and I chat till Livan come back which then we feed him with medicaton. Hahha.

27 Dec the home coming party. Livan went home in the morning to get a black shirt as requested by Meiyan but in the end didnt wear. The party is held @ Mount Lavinea. It is a bit odd without the gals but we have fun. The entry of the Groom & Bride is by the traditional way and the whole party is something that back in Singapore wouldn't be able to achieve no matter how rich you are. It is a party with firework. It is just like any party, where there are songs, drinks, dancing floor. Some information on Mount Lavinea.
"Starting out as an imposing and majestic weekend abode for a British Governor in colonial times, situated 12 kilometers from the Colombo city center, Mount Lavinia Hotel retains the old world charm of yesteryear combined with the most up to date facilities that any discerning traveler might ask for. This magnificent architectural masterpiece epitomizes all that the nation stands for … smiling courteous people, a 200-year-old history, beauty, romance and delightful cuisine… " - http://www.touristhotels.lk/hotel_result.php?hot_id=55

28 Dec morning we wake up by the gentle greeting of Livan who is heading home to perpare for next day working. The 2 of us is so sleepy that cant remember much about biding good bye to him. Honestly, after he left the whole house is even more odd.

It is home sweet home to Mr. & Mrs Gihan, (hope is right). There is traditional of boiling milk which like Chinese prayer for family harmony. It is like house warming seesion that follow with food & drinks. Both side family are in the house and enjoy the food & drink and accompany. Late afternoon, we went out ot Odel, which is a high class shopping complex, where we brough a few stuff; including gifts for Amil and Livan. When we were busy shopping Amil sms to say he will pick up us in 5 min butwe reply 30 min. Only after that we know that is is closing in 5 min times. While waiting for Amil to pick us up, there is a few Tutu driver approach us but because of the secuity we are safe.

We went out a dinner with Heshini's family @ a indian resturant after the shopping trip.
After going home we are busy writing the cards for both of them and wrapping the gifts meant for them and we decided to keep the gifts till we depart. From the photos all can see how much we have write, even to the extend that the cards has no space yet still want to write.

We send a few sms to Livan asking if he is coming back to say good bye and have another lunch with us. But I think he is too busy that he didnt turn up.

29 Dec the day that Meiyan & I have a Tutu ride. We went Arpico (the usual supermarket that we go) to get Sheena the Ice tea she want & some stuff. We did a final check on the gifts and done the final packing.

Around 6plus, Amil came home and decided to cook for us. We took a few photos of him doing the work and we did help a bit here and there. He also come home with a TV set, an item that is suppose to be there since 2nd day. The dinner was very good, yummy. The secuity @ airport is very tide. As usual we do our shopping at the airport.

10 days oversea let me see the history and the traditional wedding of Sri Lanka. Thank you Amil, Heshini, Malith, Livan, Amil's parent and Heshini's parent for this wonderful trip.