Whale of a Time!

26th March 2009
11am: It was just another day and I was settling down to doing anything and everything a proper 'working' writer would do and then Champa (Editor's PA) summons me and asks, "Would you like to go for a whale-watching expedition?". Ha! As if those kinda excursions come my way. Being the pronto journo I am, I blurted, "Sure thing!" Yeah baby, finally no more envying all those Gehan DSW text updates and whale watching adventures in HI! magazine, I'm off for a real-life in-the-blue-whale-flesh expedition. Of course, this spur-of-the-moment trip was given at short notice, so I had to rush home and get my things! Woo Hoo! Whale time
4pm: Not sure about which hotel the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau was planning to shove us into this time (after previous horrible episodes that included dust-mite ridden beds at some Godforsaken 'room' in Hix), I was not expecting anything fancy. Wouldn't have been surprised if they told us to pitch a tent down Galle beach (such was my expectations). Apparently, I was asked to meet Vishadini(new recruit at SLTPB who used to work for 'Nature Odyssey') a friendly and good girl (fresh breath compared to that banshee Sulo) at the time aforementioned at Cinnamon Grand. Okay, and half an hour later, she calls and tells that finally she'll meet. No wonder - some things haven't changed like SLTPB punctuality. God, I prayed, please don't let it be a bad experience.
5pm: We set off in a Lanka Sportreizen minivan with Vishadini, Mel from AFP, Tulsi and Sanka from STimes, Sharon from Radio One and another photographer.
I was pleasantly surprised that we were actually going to Fortress of which I saw the first time during a cocktail during Galle Lit Fest 2008 but never stayed overnight. Something to write home about. Ha!
8pm: Arrival at Fortress, very swank hotel (obviously) but it rather got me excited that this place served the world's expensive dessert. Not that I was keen on trying it out but then again, its about a hotel trying to catch the world's attention. Tried to look I'm-a-journo-I-deserve-this as much as I could be. We were met by Shalini Bandaranaike, the PR manager and General Manager Steve. I told Shalini that she gave us a large Fortress bag(now my laundry bag) with a little notepad and pen (I think it's stashed somewhere in my journo junk now) and wow! she remembered! Also, the cinnamon, ginger iced tea welcome drink was heavenly.
It was no surprise that ours was a room that didn't have a view but the stone pot with good private garden was good. I had to share with Mel and Tulsi but it was a good experience. While Mel was the mature and the I-value-my-own-space kind, Tulsi was more the quiet and sweet one. Except she took ages in the bathroom (couldn't blame her because it was a good bathroom). Okay, I fancied the hand-made Siddhalepa soap and Ayu range of bath products. The best was the iPod shuffle with lots of good songs like Amy Grant and Diane Warwick whom I hadn't heard in ages. Too bad we couldn't linger for a longer time - tomorrow was whale watching day.

27th March 2009
7am: Yawn! Sleepy eyed but more excited than ever! Today is the day I see whales for the first time in my life! Yipee! We have no time to eat breakfast at the hotel so we pack it up. I take a sneak peek at the goodies, yummy-smelling pastries, fresh fruits and other tantalising delights. We set off with the BBC team with Alsa, Esh and Mr.Banana Pants. I call him Banana Pants because not only does he flirt with the girls but he amused us by sitting on a banana and smearing his pants with it!

7:30am: Arrive at Mirissa Harbour of the Ceylon Fishery Harbour Corporation with 'Nature Odyssey' part of Walker's Tours. We get on a speed boat enough for a 12 member crew. We have Tudawe the boat rider and Wasantha our lifeguard. We are fitted with not-very-sexy life jackets but as long as we're safe, that's all that matters. We get on slowly but steadily with another French couple who look like the real travelers with sunburnt skin and freckly patched skin. Oh well. Word has it that for the 12 member boat it was Rs.4500 per person and the big 20 member boat was Rs.6500 per person.

9am: Totally jumping up and down for joy! Saw about 5 blue whales already. Then I saw something like a humming bird whizzing by and asked Alsie. She said in her Scottish accent, "Oh! It's flying fish". Awesome. Never seen a flying fish before but it was cool. They 'flew' for about 30 seconds in the air before swimming back into the sea. We were all busy photographing and snapping pictures. There was a boat called 'Mirissa Water' or some crap like that where the tourists were hanging with their legs over the edges. While we had to wear lifejackets, these tourists had nothing to cling on to. Imagine if there was a calamity, the consequences would be deadly. Just because someone offers you a cheap ride to see the whales doesn't mean it's a foolproof plan. They also buoyed way too close to the whales so no wonder they dived back into the waters gulping their breaths as fast as the waters can take them. We took nice photos. Loved every minute of it.

10am: Now really very excited. Gosh! We saw dancing dolphins. Wow pretty ones. Dark blue colours. Vishadini said, "You can't really count the number of dolphins because they glide and swim above and over one another, so it's really more than you see!". They turned and twisted for us, they gave us a feast for our eyes. They peeked their little eyes and fins that bobbed up and down the waters. It was heavenly.

I so had to write a poem.

Oh!Lovely Dolphin

Oh!Lovely dolphin,
You're so graceful and sleek,
Swimming with your friends,
You're so free.

Gliding on your belly,
Your turns and twists are a sight,
We are in awe of your dancing,
Moving in the light.

Oh!Lovely Dolphin,
Please don't be in fear,
We love you so much,
It's nice to have you near.

12am: Heading off back to Fortress for a quick swim and lunch. Really enjoyed the whale watching tour! It was one of the best experiences of my life! :)

Independence Day

Remember the movie 'Independence Day' when Will Smith who acts as Captain Steven Hiller and says, "Independence Day - the day we fight back!"
Well, Independence Day, usually a time for peace and goodwill and where you lay down arms, wasn't like that in Sri Lanka. In fact, I'm sure our President would wholely sanction what Will Smith said and I'm sure he'll be/or is an avid fan of that block-buster movie because he doesn't believe in laying down arms for terrorists who have no concern for a ceasefire agreement.
Despite requests by both UK's Foreign Secretary David Miliband and US Foreign Secretary Hilary Clinton for a temporary no-fire period, our President is quite unwavered.
There are two sides to the story.
One side is evacuating our troops and allowing the LTTE to continue their terrorist activities by recruiting children and forcing poor Tamil civilians to join them in the ethnic conflict with aid coming from Tamil Christians in Canada and other countries. The other aspect is to wipe out the terrorists and help the Tamil people get on with their lives. This is difficult and the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict is a hot topic for discussion at all world-wide discussions but many are afraid of the government and their tactics for being ruthless. As one foreigner suggested, "Sri Lanka's government is even more ruthless than the LTTE - the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world!". At a UN security council meeting this week where Mexico and Russia were discussed, many couldn't help turn the talk towards Sri Lanka. "So to state the obvious, the UK likes the government of Sri Lanka more than the Sudan's. But a requested Council briefing on the situation in Sri Lanka is being blocked, on a technical assertion it is not on the agenda. Zimbabwe wasn't on the agenda, until the UK pushed to have it included under the name "Peace and Security in Africa." How about "Peace and Security in Asia"? What's in a name?" by Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN.
Looks like Sri Lanka is one of the most revered countries and the rest of the world would envy that President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his armed people are trying their best to liberate it. Even though the governments of African countries might be helpless to do anything to overthrow the terrorists there, President Mahinda Rajapaksa decided to grab the bull by the horns. "The country should be liberated one day. So why not today before it's too late?" seems to be on the minds of the patriots and ehem then again, the nationalists after the President pledged to defeat the terrorists within a few days of Sri Lanka's 61st Independence.


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Security Checkpoints: It can't be helped that the armed forces in Colombo have to check every Tamil coming into the city. One army officer in the Fort area said, "What if they (Tamil civilians) were held at gun-point by the LTTE by holding their family hostage and asked them to blow themselves up in the city? I wouldn't blame them but that's why at HQ, we always have to keep an eye out". He said that not every Tamil should be blamed because it can be brought by people from other ethnicities even Sinhalese. Experts who know about bomb assembly especially when interviewing them casually at the 'Deyata Kirula' exhibition that is currently being held enlightened us more. "The best way to bring a bomb to the city is to carry the various parts and pieces from all over and assemble it here, so it can be said the same for the LTTE" said an army officer working for the Bomb Disposal Squad. "Sometimes they can bring essential parts in whole but even in the case of the assasination attempt of the former President, the sharpnel and other bits can be transported in small quantities and arranged just near the place where the bomb is expected to be set off" he said.
So checking measures should be proper and many should be qualified to do the job. I went for a high-profile event where the President was attending and the female security officers were checking in all sorts of private places which even when we go to Temple Trees, isn't the norm.
"It's rather difficult when they pretend as if they don't know you and even though you go with all the relevant IDs and approvals, they still check you as a terrorist" said a media colleague.

New Year 2009

Happy New Year 2009!~
The month of January was truly hectic and it isn't easy to balance the working and the pleasurable life especially when a new editor walks into the great 100 walls of Lakehouse. However, I'm glad it's now a 'safe' place to work with less back-stabbing and colleagues who I can work well with. The fact that our editor said that we have to 'earn our salary' and 'there are no Chinese walls between Daily News and Observer', makes it worthy to write about other aspects like the V3 column. I'm not really happy that the previous editor went back but he was so politically motivated and had this 'thing' with the youngest staff in the office that I daresay the move was for the best. Politics seriously doesn't get you anywhere especially in office since you are likely to be thrown from one point to another without being serious in your work. It has been a common thing to just run outside the premises of Lakehouse and go on a strike so that your pleas are heard to give a bonus or whatever. The Sinhala daily newspaper is presently overstaffed with 260 and there are people at the Observer who just come to scream at other people the whole day instead of doing their work. It's rather upsetting that one has to mould oneself into a rather neutral individual with all the hype going on but it's rather secure and safer than being in an independant newspaper since your life is not at risk. Oh well!
Having visited Maldives recently, I noticed how stunning and beautiful the resorts are! I stayed at Meeru Island, Maldives in the North Atoll of Maldives. It was also an honour to meet President Nasheed the week before during his official state visit to Sri Lanka. He has suffered so much for the country and it was great to know that he actually started out as a journalist. Makes me think that nothing in the world is impossible if you believe in what you do to help others, especially your country. Sri Lanka's corruption is on a different scale to Maldives. In Male, alcohol isn't allowed so smoking is only alternative and people prefer to do that. Not to mention drugs - even though there is a huge notice saying that there is a death penalty for drugs, most youth can easily get their hands on it. I was thinking, Sri Lanka isn't that bad, why can't people enjoy a glass of wine or beer to unwind after a hard day's work? In Sri Lanka, even if they don't advertise alcohol on local media, drinking is prevalent everywhere. Even though Maldives might be a Muslim country, there are lots of Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis and Indians working there. However, you can see the youth just roaming the streets in their mopeds which reveal that youth unemployment is on the rise. For the Maldivian youth, Sri Lanka is like a London or New York because it is the only place, an hours' flight away where you can live a cosmopolitan life in Colombo and most prefer the education here as there are plenty of offshore international universities and colleges here. However, some who graduate prefer to seek greener pastures elsewhere but some do get back to Male to be near family. The girls, especially would do the right thing by marrying whoever their parents wants since Islamic tradition is strict here. All the same, Maldives is a nice place in terms of the resorts but Male is rather different. Male is very small, people travel in mopeds and cars are sandwich sizes. It is rather dirty but the buildings are of different colour. The people dress decently but some do their hair in all sorts of nice colours.
More travelling included the official museum in Sigiriya and the Jetwing Earth Day at Hunas Falls!
So much to write about and so much to say! I hope I find the time someday!
So I hope it looks like a nice and amazing year all around!
Have a happy new year 2009!

?

First of all, I'm pretty upset.
I can't decide on two things - what I want to do and what do I really want? All this in the next 2 years. I'm 23 years and I'd better decide because time is ticking out and I have to get my priorities figured. Or else I'm going to lose. And lose bigtime! Anyway last night I was talking to my friend and he was asking me "Why didn't I choose to do ALs?" He thought my decision wasn't a really 'traditional' one so to speak. I gave him a long lecture but I did feel happy about it. I did do AL classes for 3 days but then my parents were like trying to figure out better options for me. They always told me to do what I liked and knowing all too well how I was pretty much undecided as to what I really wanted to do in my life was the bummer.
It's difficult, I tell you, you shift around a lot, you have various interests, you come from a multi-ethnic background that's not really religious and people expect you to comprehend stuff easily like you'd like to be a doctor or a lawyer which is flabbergasting!
So hence I left school at 16, going where no person has gone. Most of my peers were shocked and well lets say - surprised, they never thought I'd (out of all the people) would do something like THAT. Well I did, I took the easy way, the shortcut, less painful way of studying the traditional ALs, out of the norm, way different.
So then I tell this friend of mine, yes so I didn't take my ALs so what? I studied didn't I? I learnt whatever the world had to offer, hell I'm still learning! Everyday is a new learning experience and I expect it to be that way, so whatever!
Then he asks me, so do you want to leave the country, is that the aim?
Not really, I always think you should go to a country, study, work, earn, get money and come back to your honey. You should come back to your roots, shouldn't you? Whence did you come from, they'll ask? No matter what PR or GR nonsense you get, you still can't be like them. Even Michael Jackson who changed his skin colour into a 'whitey' still can't be like them. We are all second class, and that's not in a bad way either. We were just born Asian and we just had to have an ethnic conflict and we just had to suffer, we all blame the 'higher powers' but really that's the way the world works. We were supposed to be born and we have to live like that.
So then I tell him, yes I do want to go abroad but life there is difficult. I mean you become a big shot thingamajig and you'll find a million people like you. Even if you discover something new unless its a cure for HIV(AIDS) then you wouldn't even be remembered. If you do find the cure for HIV, they'll say you found it because of them, of their facilities and utilities, blah blah! The greatest thing is that you can make other people envious of you in your Mother country (lol) which is a good thing and if you fall flat on the road in your country, people will help you without a price. In those countries, your car breaks down or you get hit on the road, yes you'll get help but its all at a price! Thats why we all neeed insurance which is the hefty price will always have to pay forever. Look, I'm not against them, see I still use English to write this blog, which shows how much I'm pretty much accepted the western influence. However, why can't I help my country that has been battered so much especially with western influence. We can't fight wars with swords now because of the western influence on technological weapons.
Then I tell this friend of mine, yes I'll make up for lost time for I didn't grow up here, however, I want to understand this country and try to make amends. At least I'm happy with the younger generation, they know what's going on, they hope to do something but even though most of them all want the easy way out of the country seeking greener pastures, they are a handful of us who really want to make a difference. It's foolish and stupid and absolutely impossible with a war and economy in this country. However, there is hope.
I tell him, I want those people to come from their western ideals and utopia and breathe in their country without feeling like a refugee. You were born here, your parents made it their home once because they knew it was a beautiful country. The best pearls, gems, spices, flora and fauna including the diversity of people all come from this country.
In every sense of the word, I do want to make a difference, really I do. I want to tell Mr.Nadesan whom I met at the Editors' Guild award, I'd like to do something like diplomacy because I want to diplomatically settle this conflict. I'm so sad because I went last weekend to the Kotelawela Defence University which is a model university in itself because the number one rule is to speak in English even in their dormitories. In this country, English is the only advantage that will give you a job, fod on the table and plenty of opporunity. However, I was teary-eyed because all of them would risk their lives for the country, for nothing, for a worthless cause. Sheer nothingness, they are all posted to the army even before they walk through those doors to study about the defences. Our demand for army people is massive, so these children's lives are mapped before them.
Today I interviewed a Tamil officer from the Navy for my defence column titled 'Heroes Forever'.Its still just a month since I've taken over and it's difficult. I can't imagine how I can write about the defences so soon. However, this is my destiny and I have to accept it.
People should realise the conflict is not about just ethnicity but about wiping off the terrorists. This Tamil officer attacked the LTTE cadres with weapons onboard a battle ship despite being of the same blood as them.
I tell him, I didn't do my ALs, I wanted to fast track my education, I got to where I want and now I want to save the country.
So Help Me God!
Amen!

I Didn't Know

I didn't know,
You were here,
Upon that terrace,
Near her.

She wasn't like you told me before,
I had to look,
A little more,
For I didn't know.

I sauntered over,
Unknown to another,
I saw your rear,
You were scratching your ear,
Near her.

I was shaken and aghast,
I wanted to show you something new,
Something I did,
Especially for you,
But you were,
Near her.

I could have gone,
And made my presence felt,
I could have said something,
But my heart would have melt.

I thought you could have been more honest,
I don't mind you with her,
Was this a test?
And being so near?

As with yesterday,
We did meet,
We had a lovely time together,
I think we did - I came especially to say,
'You look so sweet'.
You may not think but maybe you do,
But I admit,
I wanted to let you know,
How much you,
Meant to me.

All the same,
I have nothing to gain,
There is no pain,
No comfort and things will remain.

Standing 4 feet away from you,
Whilst talking to my friends,
Suddenly the wind blew my red wine glass off the table,
It spilled all over my purple dress.
Like it did when I first introduced them to you,
All over the form and all over your sleeve,
I was happy that day after I said sorry,
You said it was okay and you liked it,
Or so I thought?

As luck may have had it - I got no stain,
No tainted heart or deep scar,
We'll just be as who we are,
And probably keep whatever close so very far.
However, I do wish, a stain would have remained,
A poignant reminder of the first day,
I saw you with her.
Just someone else,
She was another woman.
It was the first time so it was difficult,
To comprehend my state of mind,
Especially when the wind didn't behave,
And the glass wanted to tumble,
Emptying its contents all over my purple lace.


Yet as fate wants it,
The stain didn't remain,
So I was thinking,
There has to be a logical explanation.
Isn't there?

I don't know,
If you,
Thought I wouldn't have known,
Even though with time,
This companionship has grown,
I know we aren't supposed to meant to be,
You'll be you and I'll be me,
However, I want to tell you,
Those who want me,
Don't know the difference between Noir and Rouge,
They just are like Scrooge,
Why have not they heard of Placebo?
Not the effect but you know,
They don't have the same wit,
Twat as twat and twit as twit.
Why don't they bother with a metal grill for me?
Like you do?
Why don't they do those lovely things you do?
Why is it when I bring them flowers, they forget them on their window sill?
And when I bring them to you, a candle is lit and kept on the dinner table?
Why don't they understand?
How can they ever take your place?

I'll only wonder.
Please don't ruin it.
Please.

Amazing

I wish I could say,
How it feels to lay here beside you,
In what way I felt that day,
I wanted to do everything I wanted to.

When you lay your hand upon mine,
I couldn't describe the insatiable feeling,
A heavenly touch so divine,
For my heart you were a-stealing.

I yearned for you,
Of course I did,
I longed to know,
If you felt like it.

My heat was furiously racing,
A rush of adrenaline flow,
I wanted your fingers to be a-tracing,
The contours of my body - oh!

I never did expect you to turn my way,
To give my attention and your time,
But along came the day,
And the gorgeous sun did shine.

This emotion so strong swept over,
I didn't think it would be true,
I did want to discover,
What the attraction was in you.

Chancing upon fate,
We had dinners and walked,
Meet-ups that went on till late,
That went unnoticed while we talked.

I find you irresistable and full of charm,
Pleasant and genteel,
What impelled me to kiss your lips so warm,
Was your crazy and sensual feel.

I want to twist and bend,
And writhe in your soul,
I long to spend,
A night in your hold.

Why, my secret sweetheart,
Don't you realise this is for real?
I don't want you to part,
From me forever until I heal.

I need you near me,
By your side,
I want you to see,
What's really right.

I hope you see this as more than just a passing thing,
I hope you understand,
I don't mean for you to bring,
Sorrow upon my land.

I know,
I dream,
But - oh,
Do you dream?
The same dream?
I want to know.
You are the most amazing thing in this world.

Butterflies!

Whereupon we were fated to meet,
Even before we met our eyes seemed to greet,
I looked yonder past what I faced,
For in my mind an image of you was traced.

I didn't seem to know,
What impelled me to send you a wish of light,
Maybe I had a yearning or secretive lore,
Of what I thought was right.

It seemed but an astounding surprise,
In the back of my mind I was in anticipation,
Will you see past my guise?
I was in sheer elation.

When you told me early that morn,
That you'd would like to rendezvous,
I felt like the world was in a maelstorm,
My heart was a-beating for you.

Little did I know,
That you'd harboured a feeling so same,
I greatly wanted the feeling to flow,
The moment you called my name.

Admiring your manners and polite appeal,
The wit and intelligence you radiate,
You know what how to make a person feel,
Absolutely wonderfully great.