A peace dividend

When I went to Sri Lanka and travelled to Jaffna, I was amazed at the quality of the roads there.  What happened to the Tamil people at the end of the war was barbaric, just like Black July was.  Hopefully, with the economic development that has taken place in the North and the East of the Island, civil war will not return.  Just like I hope this is the case in Northern Ireland.  Basically, people have gained through peace and have too much to lose.

Sadly, this has not been the case for Palestinians.  Since the Oslo Accords were signed in 1993, Palestinians have lost land in the West Bank and Settlers attack them with no consequences.  Negotiations have failed them.  Put simply, the attacks of October the 7th were evil and cannot be defended. But Christians and Muslims living in the West Bank see that settlers can carry out attacks on a smaller scale, and the Settlers who carry out the attacks face no consequences for this. 

If Israel wants peace, it either has to engage in ethnic cleansing (again) or it has to make it that Palestinians do not lose out by choosing peace. 

Wilpattu National Park

My Pokémon was knocked out of the Pokégym at  Wilpattu National Park today.  It as been in there for sometime, but has not beaten my personal record for a Pokémon in a gym.  I just have one left in Sri Lanka now.  Not that we will be visiting there for a while...

Ill in stereo

The kids are ill.  In tandem.  But they were better earlier this week.  How they survived in the same house together eludes me considering how they bicker. But I do hope they get better soon.

One bright side of when they are well is spending time with them.  On Sunday, I got to spend time walking into town with my son.  His stamina has improved since he has been cycling to school and I have to say it is a real pleasure doing so.  I do bribe him with a packet of sweets and he allows me to play Pokémon.  And on that note, I was knocked out of one of the Pokégyms on Sunday.  I thought that I had a chance of being in it for a while when I passed it as it was empty.  But in the days before, I noted that someone had been trying to take it down.  I did not think that they has much chance due to its location, but they must have stopped the vehicle they were in to take me out.  Which means that I may not break my record of staying in a Pokégym...

Day sixteen in Sri Lanka. The journey home.

We are back! We spent the evening of New Years Eve in a Thai restaurant with the family of my wife’s cousin.  And after packing, it was off to the airport where we got to celebrate New Year’s Eve by being in a queue!  But once through the gates, my wife and I were able to have a glass of champagne.  Over this time my son fell asleep and when it came to the time to the time to get to the plane, moving him reminded me of moving a sleeping cat.  At least he did not scratch!

On the plane from Colombo to Dubai, I watched Thor as well as catching up on sleep.  I have wanted to watch it for a while but have missed out on chances in the past.  I was not impressed at first, but the film did improve and was very enjoyable over all and told the back story of Thor and Loki quite well.

Dubai was a lot more relaxed compared to before,  we rested, the kids ate and I drank (soft drinks).

On the way back to the UK, I watched two more films as well as sleeping at times.  We flew on the Airbus A380 which I have always wanted to fly on.  Auggie was a slow but great film.  Similar in some ways to The Circle it was a disturbingly good film.  The other film was The Dead Don’t Die.  And I actually liked it.  In the limited time available it allowed the viewer to click with characters, hoping some would die and some live.

Anyway, we are at home.  Everyone else is asleep and I am watching Dr Who.  I not going to be able to stay awake to listen to the Arsenal match.  But while it is unlikely, I do hope we win.  While we have not a proven defensive mastermind as a manager, I hope Arteta is going to be able to sort out our defence.  As great a manager that Wenger was, he had a habit of ruining defenders such as the then German international Mustafi.  Now we have sideshow Bob in defence.  I can only cross my fingers and hope...

Day fifteen in Sri Lanka. Shopping.

Today is our last full day in Sri Lanka.

So, it was time for some last minute shopping in Colombo and packing.  As usual I had let my family pack at home, which meant that I was able to maximise space today.

My son loved a Japanese shop that we visited and got a neck cushion for the trip home.  In addition to his we went out to a great ice cream place in Colombo.

Anyway, it is time to stop as I have to continue to pack, and we are to go out one last time to a restaurant.  We are to return, but I do not know when this will be.

Day fourteen in Sri Lanka. Another day in paradise.

We are back in Colombo.  I am making this post before the end of today as we are to attend an engagement party later tonight.

We left our hotel, but again some drama had to take place.  We were meant to get a large taxi to take us as we have a bit of luggage.  I can condense it so that it is not as bulky, but my wife told me this would not be needed.

But the receptionist who this has been discussed with yesterday did not tell the whole truth.  Yes large taxi’s are available but they either have to be booked, or taken up in the early morning as otherwise, they leave on excursions.  Which is what happened.  We were lucky enough to get a taxi that was able to fit in the cases, but we had to carry items on our laps and with three in the back, it was a tight fit.  And our taxi driver did not know where we were to go, so we had to direct him.

We got back in time for a trip to a temple.  Two years ago, we obtained blessings for my son for the eleven plus.  While he did not pass, I hope that the path he is to follow is a good one and that he can become the person he is meant to be.  And we returned there to give thanks.

But we are now back at Hotel Janaki.  My wife at this moment is getting her hair done and as my son who has no clean trousers, his grandmother has taken him out shopping for some.

Day thirteen in Sri Lanka. Lucky for some.

The good news is that my wife is feeling better with her back.  The bad news is that my son is unwell with what looks like a viral sore throat.

Her cousin has left and we have had to change rooms.  There was a slight issue in that we have two children and only bed space for one.  A ‘discussion’ ensued and we now have the right number of beds.

Tonight is our last night here and once we could, we spent the time in the pool, or in the case of my daughter and I, in the sea.

Day twelve in Sri Lanka. Back pain.

Today started off well.

Before breakfast, I had a quick swim in the pool outside our room and afterwards we all got together around the pool.  My wife enjoyed swimming in the pool and my two children enjoyed looking after their little cousins.

After lunch, we went to the local town to get a few things, and my son got a Vans backpack.  Afterwards we played pool (I won through luck) and my son appeared to enjoy it.  Later, my daughter and I went to the beach and had fun in the sea.

Sadly though, my wife has had an attack of back pain which we hope will improve tomorrow.

Day eleven in Sri Lanka. On the road.

We are now in Bentota.  It was a bit of a journey to get here from Kandy, the trip taking us through traffic jam after traffic jam.  One thing is apparent, which is that the driving here has got worse compared to two years ago.  Back then, my wife and I would have been happy to drive as we were surprised then to see how everyone obeyed the traffic laws.  Now they appear to be more advisory again.  And neither of us would be happy to drive here now.

I am hoping to relax by the pool and go for walks along the beach over the next few days.

Day ten in Sri Lanka. Shopping.

Today was not just about shopping.  After breakfast with the family of my wife’s cousin, we met up in the hotel playground.  My son was eager to play and look after their two sons.  While my daughter wanted to swim, she also helped to play and look after them.

Their mother went for a walk while her husband and I talked while making sure my kids looked after his properly.  We talked about a range of issues, including our children and of course, I got the chance to say how amazing both mine are.  My son loves being an older brother to the two younger boys and my daughter enjoyed mocking after and playing with them.

Later we went into Kandy to eat in the food court and then some of us had a go on the virtual reality machines.  My kids loved the one they went on and later, after eating some ice cream, I went on the other.  And it was terrifying.  When it comes to rides, the thing that scares me most is the g-force as you accelerate to the ground.  And this machine terrified me.  My daughter had a laugh watching me on it as well as apparently, I screamed.  Which I am sure that I did not do.  Afterwards it was a shop for some clothes and then later we split up.

My daughter wanted to swim in the pool, but her chest has been an issue as she has a cold.  While the air was warm when we got back, it was not hot enough for her to swim while I’ll, so instead I packed for the next leg of our journey.  My wife and son continued to shop and had both good and bad experiences doing so.

Day nine in Sri Lanka. A sunny Christmas.

Christmas in the sun is an experience the family enjoy.  And we did.  Breakfast came with a glass of bubbly for my wife and I then afterwards, while my wife caught up on sleep, the children and I went to swim in the pool.

It was amazing to get into a pool and dry off using the heat of the sun.  It was not just me that noticed this, both kids did, and later, thanks to the relaxation that we had, my daughter said that this was the best day so far of the holiday.  I am not sure I agree, but a day where we could just do nothing was certainly appreciated.

As it started to drizzle, we returned to our room and read and relaxed there while waiting for a cousin of my wife to join us.  When he did, it was great to see his wife and children and when they had to go into Kandy for some items, my children and I joined them.

It took some time to get into the centre of Kandy and get back for dinner but we did and enjoyed a meal together.  And this allowed us to catch up on how his two sons are doing as well as chat to his lovely wife.

Tomorrow may invoke some shopping or walking about, but essentially we have the option to do nothing as well.

And the last picture is of some art on the wall of our room while the first is the view from our balcony.

Day eight in Sri Lanka. Attack of the monkey!

Today required an early morning start as we were to return to the Safari Park.  When we had done this two years ago, we were further out from the park and required a longer drive to it.  Here it was much shorter, and while in Yala, there was a huge queue of vehicles to enter, the wait here was far quicker.

We entered the park soon after dawn and saw peacocks and hens in trees, which was surprising as I had assumed that they could not fly.  We also saw some buffalo, some more deer and the jungle fowl, the national bird of Sri Lanka.  And then our driver was told about a leopard sighting.  Sadly there was no leopard, and we stopped by one of the parks many lakes for lunch.  My wife did not feel too confident getting out of our vehicle, not being as sure footed as our children who love to climb at every opportunity.  So she and my son stayed on board and as I went to attend a call of nature, they started on lunch.

As this was the place in the park where tourists could get down and walk about, there were numerous monkeys about, waiting to be fed.  My wife warned the children not to feed the monkeys as she knew that this would just attract more.  But one decided to attack my son.  As it charged him, murder in its eyes, he threw the only weapon he had at it.  A banana.  The monkey stoped in its tracks, obviously fearful of the wrath of my son, and instead took the banana.  But his meant, that for some strange reason, that the other monkeys felt that they would be fed as well!

I returned to find them under siege.  Fortunately the monkeys listened to me telling them off.  Well most did.  One youngster kept jumping onto the roof and even got into the interior on one occasion.  But while I had no chance of catching it, it did not was to tangle with me and instead fled each time it tried to steal food.  Two mothers also considered jumping onto the vehicle but thought better of it after I told them off.

Later, once the food was put away, my daughter and I went down to the lake and I tried to climb a tree, but did not do that much.  While my daughter called me a coward for not going further, I did more than she did!

The journey back to our tent was serene as we went past more beautiful sights, but then we were lucky to see a leopard walking along the dirt track we were using.  Quickly, there was a queue of vehicles trying to get pictures and the leopard was kind enough to stop and pose for us.  This was closer than we had been before and we had a much better view.  And while we also saw a warthog, which we had not seen on the island before this was the reason that we had come.

Afterwards, we returned to our tent and set off for Kandy where are to rest for a few nights.  The hotel here is amazing and the room fantastic.  They were kind enough to upgrade us, just as had happened when we went to the camp.

Dinner was a Christmas buffet, with non-Christmas items also available.  My daughter, being tired, retired early with my wife who escorted her, while my son, who wanted to know the outcome of the raffle, and I stayed.  First there was a prize raffle for the best table.  But by the time this was carried out, many people had retired to bed, for the tables had been abducted by aliens (I preferred this explanation).  But the prize raffle was drawn later and we were excited when the first two numbers matched our room, only for the last one to be two numbers down the corridor from where we are staying!

Any, time for bed and the last sleep before Christmas!

Day seven in Sri Lanka. Wilpattu National Park

In the morning we bid good day to our generous and kind hosts and journeyed to Wilpattu National Park.  Two years ago, when in Sri Lanka, we had been on a tour of Yala National Park.  On our first day we saw an elephant as we were leaving the park, but no leopard was seen on either of the two days that we visited it.

This time it looked to be worse,  we saw some amazing birds, including peacocks and pea hens, but after several hours, no leopard.  They hunt nocturnally and do not like the rain, and it had been drizzling over this time.  While being in the park was amazing, there was a tinge of disappointment as we had not seen any of the big attractions.  And then, before we left, a leopard was spotted.  It did not look fully grown, but it was amazing to see it.

And considering we are to wake early tomorrow, we may even get to see more!

Day six in Sri Lanka. Nainativu

Our host took us to Islands of the north of Sri Lanka.  The drive took us along some poorly maintained roads, but nothing too bad.  Being Sinhalese, Buddhist and having connections from his previous job where his ability took him far, we got to meet a senior priest in the Buddhist temple on Nainativu after we had been shown around.  My son, daughter and I also went to the Hindu temple, but as he was expected to take his top off to enter, he declined so instead my daughter and I entered, me with no top and a reminder of my beer belly.

Afterwards we were taken to a small fort and shown around it, including the cells which were of use until the end of the civil war.  Atrocities were committed on both sides and the use of torture was not discussed, so I have so idea if this also took place on the island in addition to being held in cramped cells.

On the journey back to our base, we stopped at a Buddhist temple devoted to the landing of Sanghamitta on the Island.  My daughter and I went along for that tour and then it was back to rest, and then later an evening function.

Day five in Sri Lanka. Jaffna.

An early start to the day for the children meant having eaten and getting on our way by 1000.  We are in the care of three welcoming hosts and they took us into Jaffna.  We got to see the library (from a distance) and explored the fort.  Also we heard about it’s more recent history, from when it was involved in the Civil war.

I have learned a lot about this from the Tamil side, but it was interesting and moving hearing the Sinhalese side of things.  Bear in mind that during our trip we also saw victims of the war.  Seeing amputees begging is a remnant of the war that cost too many Sri Lankan lives.  Yes, this cost was mostly Tamil, but the murder of civilians is never right, be that in the Sri Lankan civil war or on the streets of London when terrorists kill civilians in ‘revenge’ attacks.

Day four in Sri Lanka. Rain, rain and more rain.

Our trip to the north of the island has been and interesting one.

My wife had to continue her mysterious visits away and had to leave the hotel early.  After the children had woken, we had breakfast and then, as we thought that our trip to Jaffna had to be cancelled, we nipped out for a bit.  It literally was a quick shop in Majestic City, but leaving Hotel Janaki brought a smile to the two children, who otherwise would have been trapped for a few hours.

My wife returned though and the trip to Jaffna was back on.  A detour was needed, but we got on the road and began the long drive to Jaffna.  During the trip, we stopped for breaks, an accident with a truck and encountered several areas where the road had become almost impassable.  While it was an inconvenience for us, it must have been devastating for those who lived in the flooded houses.

But we are here at last.  Tired and looking forwards to tomorrow.

Day three in Sri Lanka

Remember those sandals that I bought yesterday? They are already broken!  I woke up early and went for a walk.  It was raining lightly which was no big deal with it being warm.  On my way back to Hotel Janaki, I noted an issue with my right one.  The sole was no longer attached properly.  It lasted until I got back to the hotel room, but my receipt states that there are no returns!

Anyway, my wife had to leave again to sort out her documents and I ended up sleeping loads.  The kids, who had been in bed until about ten themselves entertained each other.  Until I was woken up by my son claiming that his sister had punched him.  She denied it, and I was left with the dilemma of who told the truth and who lied.  When I was younger, I was a horrible sibling and frequently beat up the older of my two younger brothers.  He would bruise easily, and there was no point denying things as in general, I had hurt him.  But my kids are more subtle.  They know that I will not tolerate one being physically violent to the other.  Or telling lies.

Does anyone have any hints to solve this?

Day two in Sri Lanka, shopping and other things

My wife took my son with her when she went with her mother to get some official things sorted out.  I was expecting them to have a terrible day, and sadly I was proven right.  Due to a series of mishaps and errors, none on her part, she is probably to do the same tomorrow.

I went for a walk with my daughter instead as we were to head off to a shopping mall to get my son and I some sandals.  The kids now have the same sized feet, so essentially they are interchangeable.  We did not get far before the heat and humidity started to sap our energy.  So we returned to the hotel to change into something more appropriate before heading out again, this time by Tuk-Tuk courtesy of Uber.  The app makes life easy for people like me who cannot speak any Tamil or Sinhala as the destination pops up on the mobile of the driver.

When in the shopping mall, we found sandals for me, not my ideal ones to replace those that died in Rhodes.  But my daughter wanted to return home and I felt too unwell to argue.

We met her uncle and later her grandfather too us our for lunch.  She got to decide what kind of food we ate, which was Japanese.  I loved it, and would return, but it have to be without the other two who did not like the food there.

After falling asleep again, I went with her wife to her pedicure and then later we all went out for an amazing Chinese meal.  Anyway, time for bed before midnight (here).

Planes, trains and automobiles. Our first day in Sri Lanka

We are relaxing in Colombo.  Well, I am.  My daughter is freaked after encountering tropical wildlife, in her bed.  Or the bed that was going to be hers anyway.

We left yesterday flying from Stansted to Dubai, arriving there this morning.  On the way, I watched Toy Story 4.  We, by which I mean my wife and I, have watched Toy Story since before the kids were born.  As enjoyable as this was, it was not as good as the original and while a good film, not the masterpiece the others were.  After this, I watched the end of Yesterday.  My wife and I had watched it before, but she asked me to sort some things out while it was on, so I never actually got to watch the end of the film.  A lovely feel good film, one I would watch again if on the telly, possibly.

Arriving in Dubai, we relaxed ate food but left it a bit late to get to our flight,  in fact, when we got there, the flight had finished boarding!  Fortunately, it turned out that it was not our flight, but the down side was that we had a short time to get across to the other side of the airport to make our flight.  My daughter and I raced ahead and got there after it started to board having jumped onto trains and into lifts just before depths sliding doors closed. We let them know that my wife and son were on the way and was expecting them to be a while.  But my wife had managed to get some of the airport police to drive her and my son in a buggy and they took the airport shuttle bus to get to the flight.

Once we had all calmed down, it was them the next part of the flight and during this, I watched X Men, Dark Phoenix.  I had heard bad reviews of the film, but both I, and my daughter who was watching it at the same time as me, both liked it.  Much better than films like Wonder Woman!

Anyway, we are now in the Hotel and are to rest.  Good night!

In God We Trust

This month has not been a good one for those who, like me, believe in God.  Religious violence is something that the world has faced for a long time,  But it seems worse now.

But while I thought that I could not be shocked in today’s world, after the barbarity of Unislamic State, I was.  The rape and genocide towards Muslims by Buddhists in Burma (or Myanmar) did.  Then came the livestream murders in Christchurch.  And then, apparently, in ‘revenge’ the mass murder of hundreds of innocent Christians in Sri Lanka by scum who have ignored the violence towards Muslims of the island by other groups.  And yet more Jews have been murdered just for the faith that they follow in the USA, again.  I wish it could end, but there will always be people who wish to kill based on a twisted interpretation of a religion.

There was the Crusades (specifically the massacre after the 'liberation' of Jerusalem), the Armenian Genocide, and of course The Holocaust.  All I can do is to offer thoughts and prayers for those who have died, and will continue to do so.  And pray that the horrors that occur now will reduce the chance of the levels of religious violence in the past.