Sri Lanka

Well, here I am: alive and kicking - although, I think it hasn't really occured to me that this is actually where my life will be the next months, but it is, and I feel quite sure that Sri Lanka will open her self to me slowly along the way. You can't really judge a book by its cover, and with this only being my second full day here, all I have seen so far is a glimpse of the cover.
To rewind just a tad, my trip over went just fine (execept for a rather stiff security guard in Heathrow, who wouldn't let med bring my hand luggage on board) But a apart from that minor detail, everything was good!
We made a short stop in Male, the capital of the Maldives, and I must say that I haven't EVER seen anything like it... Approaching the area of the islands, what I saw was: Crystal clear turquise water, petite islands nestled around what looked to me as coral reefs, varous kinds of huts and the like just by or in the water...and not to forget the most narrow and short landing space, I have ever witnessed! I will definitely have to see, if I can arrange to go there at some point! It's only a one hours flight from Colombo, so I would be insane not to :)
After take off, I tried to pick my self up again, and before long the next AMAZING sight came along. Sri Lanka... From the air, it looked like the softest, greenest blanket, I have ever seen. As far as my eyes reached, all I could see were green, green and more green: palm trees in a VERY large number, rice paddies and in the horizon, I could make out the hill country climbing up up up. Spectacular!
I was picked up by Ruvini, who works at Infotechs, jumped into the car and headed for Colombo. Up until now, I havn't seen much of the city apart from the drive, and the day I spent yesterday walking up and down the Galle road, which is the main road of the city. It's a busy city like other capitals, but that being said, it seems to me that the Sri Lankans have their own pace, which makes the place not soooo hectic. The city shows no real signs, to me anyway, of the turbulent period that just resently ended, and then again the artifacts are a lot different than what Copenhagen show. What is very preset and very much visible, is a large number of armed police (most funtioning as traffic police), military and check points through out the city. As someone who comes from a country where we aren't faced with any such things in our daily life, I think that it's gonna take my a little while before, I really get use to it. It's not that it frightens me really, it seems to me they're there to protect, and the people in the city don't really take any notice of them. But they do of course obey to their demands....as do I! Walking to the internet cafe just an hour or so ago, I came down the main road, just strolling, I did notice, however, a much larger number of armed men all along the road. After some time, I was waved down one of the side roads by a solider, I turned finding a heap of pedestians, cars and tuc tucs waiting. And so we did.... for more than 30 minutes (I have no idea how long the others had been there)And why were we wating...? Well, the one side of the road, which is made out by to lanes were cleared of all traffic, and the reason to this is this: when officials, the president or other vip's need to get from point a to b EVERTHING is stopped, and the roads are cleared. All you see after waiting waiting waiting, is a caravane of bike's, cars and jeeps driving at a very high speed. I was standing next to an elderly man, who gave me his card reading: Living god - sky: sun: truth: love. He was a swami and a very special man, who could tell my future, he told me... I told him I'd rather take it as it comes :) What he did tell me was that we had to stand there until the caravan had reached its destination. And after a while there were a hustle and a busstle and people were all of a sudden going going going.... That's just part of the everyday life, I guess. No fuss, just people waiting patiently. That was definitely a first for me.

Anyways, as I said, I spend the whole day walking around yesterday, and as the perfect end to that day, Michelle took me to an aryuvedic hospital, where I had to see a doctor for a helath check, before I had a very nice ayuvedic massage and after a herbal bath in serene surroundings - ahhhhhh :) Not the last time I'll be going there, that's for sure! This treat cost me less than DKR 100,- :)

I stay at Michelle's appartement which is just above the office, where I'll be starting work on Monday. She has a VERY nice place, and I couldn't have hoped for a better place to stay. I'll be looking for a place of my own shortly. Just need my computer to accept the internet connection, so I can get in touch with people. Also, I would like to see a bit more of the city, so I might be able to find just the right place for me :)

Later today, we'll be driving down south to a festival at Hikkaduwa beach. I hope to get the chance to stay, since I'm not working until Monday, I wouldn't mind a few days on the beach :) (not that I ever mind :) ) But, accomodation is short, so it might not happen...time will tell. In any case, I'm really looking forward to seeing it!

I guess, I better get going again. This really was a bit of everything...but actually, I think it reflects my mental state rather well: just taking it all in...all the new sights and experiences, and grasping it along the way.

I'll be back before you know it!

Lots of love <3