One Year La Vida Lanka!

Celebrating One Year In La Lanka! (ganda lang ng background eh noh?)

Close to midnight, exactly a year ago, I landed to live in Colombo, Sri Lanka.  A lot has definitely happened since then and I am thankful for the gifts living in Sri Lanka have given me.  Sri Lanka will always have a special place in my heart because this is where hubby and I started our marriage, the foreign country I’ve been living in for the longest time, where I experienced being a housewife, where I am experiencing working in a totally different culture, where I got pregnant, where I’m spending my very first pregnancy, and until the time we leave, the list goes on.  So below are 12 things (one for every month!) that captures my adventures and misadventures, learning and realizations while Livin’ La Vida Lanka:

#1: Living abroad requires a little (to a lot) of “dying to self.”  You have to be willing to “let go” of where you lived before (and to some extent, who you are) to embrace where you are now.  It was hard for me at first because I thought I could “pick up where I left off” only this time in a different country.  But no, I had to learn to be a housewife, which in as much as it was a “dream” for me (who doesn’t like the so-called fabulous life of an expat wife?), it was a difficult transition to make from working and earning and basically being her own person.  But it was what I needed to do and be at that time.  At the end of the day, it was a glorious couple of months and I welcome that kind of lifestyle again - given some application of a few learnings here and there and especially with baby around!  Haha! But really, it is a great opportunity to reinvent yourself. Check out the Interview With The Housewives Series for more of this!

#2:  Where there are no friends or family – you just have to “put yourself out there!”  Even if there are, living in a foreign land is a wonderful opportunity to make new friends!  I have met most of my friends from either school or work so I decided to make most of opportunities like that and enrolled in a Sinhala class!  I’ve also met a lot of wonderful people along the way even outside of Sinhala class and even outside of work!  People make the difference!  Yes, your friends back “home” or even your life-long friends from around the globe will not compare with new friendships you are still developing.  But be aware that making friends is a process and you have to work on it as well.

#3: Learning the local language disarms people.  It signals you are opening up yourself to them and they in turn open themselves to you.  But do not rely on your knowledge of the language unless you’ve mastered it!  Beware because many things can still be lost in translation and language will continue to be a frustrating barrier.  Ergo, patience is an important virtue.  Partly because of the language, partly because of the culture (e.g. they may seem disrespectful even when they are not), partly because you also don’t have it figured out.  Learning IS painful.  That’s why, again, patience is key.

#4: As my dad always says, expect the unexpected.  Apparently, managing your own household (moreover in a foreign country) is not a smooth ride. Before my mom or dad will take care of everything so that left me with the ability (in hindsight, more of luxury) to focus on work and my own life.  But now, I have to deal with things albeit not on my own (hubby and I are a team!) but still being responsible for things such as having broken appliances fixed, etc. is still such a hassle! 

#5: To deal with the unexpectedness of things such as the above, do not be afraid to ask.  Most probably what you needed to know, someone in your circle of friends (or hubby’s for that matter) would know the answer!  It’s as easy as that really.  What I’m grateful for are our drivers who have an awesome network to find out what we needed to know.  They are also a great resource for delegation!    

#6: Things can get expensive.  We haven’t even gone out of Asia and both Philippines and Sri Lanka are both developing countries.  But apparently what you’re used to at home may be more expensive here so you really have to develop your financial acumen to budget accordingly.  You may also choose to let go of comforts of home or if you absolutely can’t, be ready to be able to swallow its price.  What I realized that, you will really stand out (no matter how you feel at home or even try to blend in – hello we really look different, who was I kidding!) you would really be treated as a “foreigner” and get ripped off.  Our plumbing works has cost us 2.5 times more expensive than how much it would cost us in Manila!  Our maid is being paid almost thrice as more than hubby’s tenured and trusted maid.  Craaaazy!

#7: No one is immune to home sickness!  So know how to cook your comfort food or how to bring about what brings you comfort.  For hubby and I, it is food we grew up in.  Thank God for Kulinarya and Kabayan (a local Filipino restaurant).  Filipino food has literally saved me from packing up and going home.  You see, my homesickness was exacerbated by pregnancy cravings and hormones!  It was also nice to meet Pinoys in La Lanka!  At least my Filipino is not just exclusive to conversing with hubby! Hahaha!

#8: To combat homesickness, staying connected is not only possible, it is “free” and accessible!  Facebook and Skype have saved me from utter detachment from people I love – back home and even in other parts of the globe!  But social networking has also connected me with my local community!  Especially for my pregnancy-related questions, a local community of moms (or mums as they say it here!) on Facebook has made me feel like I am not alone.         

#9: I also had to re-learn the hard way that life is not all about work.  You see when you get assigned to a foreign country you’ll have the tendency to solely focus on work.  I mean, what else is there to do right?  Wrong!  Being in a new place is an opportunity to do things – old or new and get more involved in your passions and yes, they may be non-work-related.  In my time in Sri Lanka, I’ve re-discovered Yoga and the many wonders it has brought my life, my body and our baby.

#10: There are more similarities than you ever imagined between the Philippines and Sri Lanka.  For one, since the Portuguese colonized Sri Lanka way back, we actually have quite a few similar words (Portuguese and Spanish have similar words right?).  For example, Mesa (table) = Mese and Pusa (cat) = Pusa to name a few.  Another is about some old wives’ tales: our driver and maid were looking at some black ants outside our door.  I went to them and told them, in the Philippines, black ants are ok because they say they “bring” money.  What do you know, our maid told me it is the same in Sri Lanka!

#11: You don’t really need much to be happy.  You see, pleasures that we are used to in Manila such as watching a movie in a really nice movie house, abundance of malls and the like are not exactly present here.  So our life is pretty much “simplified” here.  But I realized that I really didn’t need these things to enjoy life.  Yeah I miss going to Eastwood or Rockwell here and there but I can survive without it!

#12: At the end of the day, being with hubby, wherever that may be, is all that matters.  And that is why we’re Livin’ La Vida Lanka.      

A Look Back At My 2010...

In as much as I don’t normally do a look back at my year (I guess I like looking forward better), for 2010 I just can’t help it.

For one, I finished my Master’s degree!  I really didn’t think I would graduate! A ping-pong of revisions just for style for crying out loud made me feel hopeless. But, with the help many kind souls and a good dose of heavenly intervention, I successfully passed my thesis revisions and was granted permission to march.

It's real!!! MA Psychology finally!

Second, it is the year when I finally took the “risk it took to bloom.”  From milk to make-up, after 7 years of life after college, I moved companies.  It was like leaving home and finding out that there is a big, wide, beautiful world out there! Oh, hello there!!!  Albeit my tenure was short (see point #4 below) - it was worth it!

 

With the big boss and my fellow newbies!

Third, I married the most awesome man in the world.  He’s just one of a kind and I am the luckiest girl.  And I want to repeat it here, as I said it in my wedding vow:

As long as I'm with you.

“Now as I stand here before you for the first time in a long time I face the future with no fear.  Comfortable with not knowing what tomorrow holds.  Even excited for the adventure that lies ahead.  Because in each journey, wherever and whenever it may be, as long as I’m with you, Paulo, I am sure it is where I need to be.”  

Fourth, Sri Lanka may be the farthest thing in people’s minds as a destination of a place, but for us it is.  It is my first time really living in another country, for being a housewife and for trusting my life to somebody else aside from myself and my parents.

With hubby at Bawa's Lunuganga

People have been telling me 2010 is the year that things really did happen for me.  I agree – especially on point #3!  Haha!  But really, it was also the year that I learned to let go (a mean feat for a self-confessed control freak) and look where it got me – to such an awesome place even beyond my imagination.  I grew up – I would like to say beautifully and happily so and without much drama.  And I look back at it with much gratitude to God – you really did surprise me Lord with the fulfillment of my innermost desires.

So here’s to the best year YET, 2010.  And to 2011…    

Finding Lunuganga

One of the most interesting personalities I’ve met here in Sri Lanka is Geoffrey Bawa.  I’ve not personally met the guy and I will never do at least in this worldly life.  But I’ve met him in quite a few of his works.  One is the structure that houses Paradise Road’s Gallery Café, another is his own Colombo abode at #11 33rd Lane and now his famed estate Lunuganga (or Salt Garden). 

Lunuganga is in Bentota, around 2.5 hours drive south of Colombo (on the way to Galle).  It used to be a rubber plantation.  Upon returning from the UK, Mr. Bawa bought the land.  The garden was his architectural crib – it consumed him and transformed him from a lawyer to “one of the most important Asian architects of the 20^th century (Lunuganga Primer).”  It became my objective to set foot in the bed of Bawa’s transformation.  One because truly, the estate is magnificent.  And two, I wanted to be where it all began.

Lunuganga is hard to find.  There are no signages going to the place.  The roads are fit for just one car.  And unpaved.  But it was worth the trip.

Upon entering the inner gate we were welcomed by the most amazing vista I’ve ever seen in my (approximately) 2 months in Sri Lanka.  

The architecture of the house and its rooms (there are quite a few scattered around the estate) is reminiscent of his own Colombo abode.  Maybe it was his way of bringing his Lunuganga to his everyday life?

But Bawa also brought the Italian Renaissance garden to the tropics as that was his main inspiration for the design of the place.  It was also a renaissance of sorts as aside from Bawa’s creation, his many artist friends also contributed interesting pieces and sculptures.

Aside from its sheer beauty, Lunuganga was also a smart creation.  It rested upon two sides of a national road (albeit a small one at that).  Bawa connected the two sides by a bridge – a bridge that quite naturally just rested straddling on either side to make one big estate.  Without having to bulldoze through the national road.

Aside from being such an architectural wonder, Lunuganga for me is a beautiful symbol of man’s ability to make himself who he wants to be and at the same time making the world a more beautiful place.  Who would have thought that a lawyer could be an architect?  To me they are two totally different disciplines.  Yet Bawa made the leap.  And that resonated with where I am now.  I am in my own Lunuganga, a beautiful cradle of transformation.  I too can make that leap.  I too can be unbounded from the kind of person who used to define me with who I want to be.  Right now, in my own terms.  I can make an abandoned rubber plantation into a beautiful Italian Renaissance garden.  And more…
 

So Lunuganga is my inspiration to carry on in my own rollercoaster of a journey of transformation.  I guess that’s the beautiful part of leaving your old life behind.  Because you have a big beautiful world to create and re-create.

How about you, have you found your Lunuganga?

http://www.geoffreybawa.com/lunuganga/Introduction.html

Service Næ

For the month and a half of living in Sri Lanka, most of my daily interactions are with people in the service industry.  Pretty much those who sell stuff – cashiers, sales ladies and men, waiters and even the Bajaj drivers (argh!).  Blame that on home decorating, home office shopping, regular grocery shopping and general eating and dining.  Recent experience pushed me to rant about their service – or lack thereof.  I’m NOT saying this for all, but this goes for most interactions in my 1.5 months experience.

What is it like? 

They are not mean or anything.  In fact they are very friendly and courteous.  But these are very different from SERVICE.

Bajaj drivers (50% of them and I noticed the more stocky ones) will rip you off.  Say plus 50% of the usual fare.  Even if they don’t know where you’re going and you have to be the one to point the directions…  Seriously?

The guy whom I was going to buy printer from didn’t want me to test the damn thing.  Again, seriously???  I suppose that’s the way it goes because the next store I went to has the same policy.  What made me buy from this other guy was the assurance of warranty.  But then, he had the gall to ask me if I really wanted to check the contents of the pack since it has warranty anyways.  Well, hello???  I’m already in the store right now and you’re getting the stuff out of the box anyway!

Why was it such a pain buying you? :-(

The office is set! Printer working a-ok! Frustration worth it!

Concierge at Mount Lavinia hotel was not really living up to his role because when asked where a certain famous nearby resto is, his attitude was cocky and didn’t really offer any help – at all.  And you call yourself a concierge? 

Even the church was not spared!  Hubby and I wanted to have our flat blessed and we asked the parish office for a priest.  They took note of our details but never got back to us.  When I went back and followed up, the lady in the office knew nothing and told us that the priests were in retreat upto Saturday.  That information could have been supplied earlier right???

Water delivery service only delivers on the day they want.  I didn’t have empties on their self-imposed delivery date and asked them to come back the next day.  They said they will come back a week after.  I called to ask for delivery and the sales guy said that is not possible and asked me to call his manager!!!  SERIOUSLY???

Building guard didn’t want to have our huge furnitures up the elevator because by the looks of it he’s saying it won’t fit.  He was right, but my issue was he didn’t even try.  He just said no and was all negative about the alternative that I wanted – take it up 13 floors up via stairs.  It still won’t fit because of the sheer size of the thing but even if how impossible the task may seem, for me it doesn’t matter if you arrive at a solution.  But it really ticks me off if you don’t try to solve the problem.

How to deal? 

I get angry.  Tell them what I think.  And tell them what to do.  Somehow most of them won’t go beyond the obvious.  And is seemingly too lazy to think.  So I do the thinking for them.  Does it work?  Sometimes.  Other times it is just wise to accept the situation.  And maybe blame it on the language barrier.  Don’t get me wrong, they speak English well.  But the comprehension is still a challenge!  Or maybe it’s my accent?  I don’t know.  If all else fails, I look to those who can provide a better service.

First our trusty driver.  He is an amazingly friendly person (as in he will honk in the middle of the street because he saw a friend! Oh hello!).  Very concerned about our welfare… like choose papaya for me in the supermarket, buy me king coconut because he wants me to try it and gets worried if it’s already late and I haven’t sent him off to pick up hubby.  “How about sir?  Office?”  He is an exception.  Even if his English is limited he tries to understand.  And he tries hard.  And that makes a whole lot of difference.

Second the sales lady in Arpico (a local hypermarket).  I was looking for electrical tape and apparently they have a different term here.  So describe away I did.  Somehow she got what I was saying.  It wasn’t on display but she went to the backroom to get it.  With energy.  Way to go sister!

Third the waiter at Gallery Café.  Hubby asked for lemon juice of sorts.  Which I couldn’t understand what he was asking for really.  The waiter though understood him and brought him exactly what he wanted.

It’s a hit or miss really but the fact remains that the service industry still has a lot of customer orientation training to do.  I do hope I won’t get too riled up when this happens again.  Which it will.  Because it takes a hot fudge sundae and large fries to soothe my soul and that is not good for the belly and the heart!  So I vow to do three things: approach the situation without high expectations, simplify questions and requests/instructions (learn more Sinhala if needed) and muster all self control to soothe the frustration with a happy yummy sinful treat! 

   

November 3 and Family S

This picture was taken exactly 2 years ago when my family went on a wonderful cruise in the Mediterranean. It was one of the best family trips ever and I will be forever be grateful for that gift of travel and togetherness amidst the world’s most awesome sites and gastronomic delights.  It was the first time for me to celebrate my birthday outside the country.  In 2008 it was under the Tuscan sun. 

Today is the second time I’m celebrating my birthday away from “home.”  But instead of togetherness, Family S for the first time is in 5 different countries (totally apart!) in 3 continents.  Father is working in East Timor, Mother is presenting a study in Lithuania, Bro # 1 is studying in Australia and Bro # 2 is the man of the house in the Philippines.  Thank God for Facebook, it seems like we are not too far apart.

Birthday Dinner at 1864 (Galle Face Hotel)

But in as much as it seems sad to be away from my core family, now it is not too depressing.  Father was right, he said when you marry, it’s different from working or studying abroad.  Things change, priorities change, a lot of other things change.  And for the first time after the wedding I felt like Family S has changed and my place in it.  I will forever be a member of Family S but now I have Family O attached to it.  Family O of Mr. O and Family O of Mr. and Mrs. O.  Today, as I celebrate my birthday in as much as my Family S is not here, my own Family O is complete.  Hubby and I and a very happy birthday livin’ la vida Lanka.

Bajaj Adventure!

In one of my heart-to-heart talks with hubby, he asked me what was the greatest challenge for me living in Colombo (yeah I know it’s too Performance Management-ish).  Top of mind answer was mobility.  I’ve never been as dependent on somebody else to go around the city since I learned how to commute and drive (which were roughly more than 10 years ago).  Here in Colombo hubby and I depend on our driver.  Which is well and good – he is a good driver and committed to us.  Once I was doing the grocery and picked out a papaya (their papaya here is exquisite!).  He suddenly came up to me and said, “Madamme…” and took the papaya I chose and replaced it with a better one.  Why not?  His English is ok, there would be frustrating moments, he helps me with my Sinhala but on the whole we get by quite well.  But  the guy also has his life so he’s off on Sundays and I feel guilty keeping him late on weekdays.  We can drive but we still have yet to get our licenses (and for me learn how to drive on the right side! – thank God hubby had practice when he was assigned in Indonesia) so driving around on our own is pretty much limited as well.  Add to the fact that the Sri Lankans are quite fond of round-abouts (or rotundas).  Think QC circle diameter with other round-abouts on the side…  

So, I said to myself, I should take matters into my own hands.  And mentally listed 2 major objectives:

1)    Learn how to commute – for now, the Bajaj or Tuktuk or Tricycle (after that, bus and train)

2)    Get a driver’s license

Pimp My Ride

Today, I was able to accomplish the first part of #1.  The car had to be serviced and Wednesday is my mid-week grocery day.  There is a nearby mini-grocery (Cargills Food City) and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to practice commuting.

I did not attack the situation unprepared.  First my 2 closest friends in Sinhala class have taken the Bajaj.  Of course they’ve been in Colombo longer than I but they were Caucasians and prone to being ripped off in Asian countries.  I asked them how much they usually pay and what is their strategy.  I read in Lonely Planet that you have to agree on a rate first.  But my classmate has a different approach.  She just gets in and tells the driver where to go.  When she gets there, she pays the amount she thinks is reasonable.  And usually it gets accepted and transaction success!  Hubby pointed out that with this strategy she must pay more than the locals.  But as my classmate said, yes, but the stress of haggling is not worth the additional Rs. 50 (around Php 25).  Hmm… malaki rin yun! (That’s still quite an amount).  But my classmate is Brit and in Pounds it’s not even 1!  My other classmate has a different approach, she already has contracted a Bajaj and pays a certain amount for her to get to places.  Makes sense for her as she lives all the way in Mt. Lavinia.  Aside from consulting my foreign classmates, I also asked our driver for Bajaj rates for certain places I think I would be going to.  And I was able to get the local’s benchmark rates.

I was set with the information I need.  All I need now is to muster enough courage to actually try it out.  I dressed the part as to not to attract too much attention – specifically leaving my shades behind (even if the sun is up at 11:30 am!).  Walking out to the main road I was asking myself (albeit silently), “Kinakabahan ka ba?”  (Are you nervous?).  I was surprised to actually answer (again silently), “Actually, no.  Steady lang.”  As if it was the most natural thing on earth.  Well, it kind of is… back home.  Or when traveling abroad… but with a bunch of friends or my family.

First, apartment to grocery.  There were quite a few Bajaj waiting, I got into one, reached the grocery and paid the guy the amount our driver approximated.  No complaints.  Great, success!

Next, grocery to apartment.  Again, luckily there were a few Bajaj waiting as well, hopped into one, reached home and paid the guys the amount our driver approximated.  Again, no complaints… Success!

It was just that easy! I now can go around the city more freely! But I have to remember that the mode of transpo exposes you to more dirt.  I came home with my groceries and in one piece but with a mini-sore eye (as in it was really red and a bit painful) and allergies.  I never thought I was this weak!  Must load up on vitamins!  But nonetheless mission accomplished!  Here's to more Bajaj adventures!

Art Therapy at No. 11

Last Tuesday I had a bad start to my day.  Right after preparing breakfast for hubby I decided to change the mineral water in the dispenser.  It was heavy and I always had trouble doing this task.  As I was fitting the spout of the bottle to the water dispenser, it slipped, the bottle came crashing down, the pressure pushed the cap out and water came gushing to the floor.  Waahhh, not this early in the morning!  So to avoid further accidents or damage I cleaned it up immediately.  The mess was gone just as hubby got out of the room all set for work.  I went on my day but my spirit was dampened, pardon the pun, by that early morning water disaster.  And as with any bad day, all of these questions just popped to my mind: how long will I be in this situation (no HR-related work)? Will my 2 years be just holed up in our house (well that’s an exaggeration)?  Will I ever get back to work again?  You know, questions of someone who is having withdrawal symptoms from the everyday grind of a working woman.

So in search of something beautiful in an otherwise crappy day, I decided to go and check out No. 11.  No. 11 33^rd Lane is the former Colombo abode of one of architecture’s finest, Colombo-born Geoffrey Bawa (www.geoffreybawa.com).  His talent was harmonizing the indoors with the outdoors.  Like pockets of garden in the house where elements of nature come in – sunlight, water, birds chirping, etc. 

It was not difficult to find the house but it was unassuming – precisely because it’s a house like any other.  No signage or other marker except the No. 11.

I was toured by a lovely lady in the premises and gave me a glimpse of what Geoffrey Bawa’s life was like.  His home was a museum of sorts – as he is in a creative field working with many creative minds like him and he was often gifted with their awesome creations!  He infused many different elements that are not necessarily symmetrical with everything else but in a way when you put them all together they create a stunning look (not created for the market i.e. Ikea but created as an expression of beauty overflowing from within).  And you know that this home took time to be what it is now.  At first he bought one townhouse, then as time when on and people started to sell their units, he bought all four of them.  The furnitures were also from different generations – some antique some modern.  It didn’t have any a “created” look but rather a “lived in” look.  One that spoke about the journey of a man and the man himself.

And a crappy day it no longer was.  To be engulfed in such beauty can turn any sour day into a better one.  My art therapy at No. 11.

That visit didn’t give me the answers I was seeking.  But made me think about this process I’m taking.  As my closest friends and family would know, I am an impatient person.  Always wanting things to be done now, to be achieved now, to be now.  But my mentor has taught me that I should respect the process.  And that it is what it is – a process.  My life can have all of these questions and days may be dampened by a spill or two.  It is a work in progress, something that takes a lot of twists and turns.  But like Mr. Bawa’s house, when you take a step back it always is a beautiful mosaic of people, experiences, places, moments and creations that speak about the journey of a woman and the woman herself.  It is ok not to be fixed, or not to be in symmetry or not “like” how I planned it.  It is ok to be a work in progress.  I just need open myself up to the experience and the possibilities that lay ahead.  And maybe let go of the past a little bit in order move forward to what life God wants for me now.  And for that, I had No. 11 to be thankful for.

Bavaria in Sri Lanka

Who would have thought that there could be a really good German pub in the heart of Colombo?  You don’t have to think too hard, just think Bavarian.  In celebration of Oktoberfest or just to chill out on a Saturday night for dinner and drinks, off to the Bavarian hubby and I went.
 

First off, drinks!  Hubby went all-German (NOT!) and ordered Carlsberg (really Danish-owned) and I tried Passionfruit Mojito.  Such a wonderful discovery.  It was AWESOME!  I like it better than the original Mint.

Then for two hearty stomachs: the biggest burger in town and a good-old steak.  Both were so huge but so yummy!  We have enjoyed re-made leftovers by hubby.  ‘Nuff said!

That's how THICK the burger was!

The vibe was really chill, one of the places in Colombo that are frequented by mostly foreigners (at least during our visit).  Plus there was a local folk singer who could do a really good John Mayer cover!

It was like being transported to a different place.  Like Bavaria?

Bavarian is at 11 Sir Mohamed Macan Markar Mawatha, Colombo 3.  Just opposite Galle Face Hotel. 

 

A Taste of Southeast Asia

Being this far away from home it seems that finding a South East Asian dig is finding “home.”  It’s such a familiar taste not to mention yummy!  On the way to hubby’s work just around the corner from our street he found a Thai restaurant called Jack Tree.  For our Friday night dinner, I took a break from cooking and we checked the place out!

It was actually packed but thank God no waiting (we had a mini incident on the way, our car got side swiped by a Bajaj or a tuk-tuk and I was starving)!  We were surprised to see quite a few locals as well!  The interior was cozy but a bit too dark for my taste.

 

Hubby happy to take a break from Wifey's cooking!

We started off with the ubiquitous Tom Yum Soup – superb!  Sweet, sour and spicy in perfect harmony!  Hubby is not a fan (of Tom Yum Soups in general) but took a sip nonetheless.

Next we had Pomelo Salad – which was a disappointment.  The pomelo was too dry and the dish was too onion-y.  The red kind.

Entrée was Cuttlefish Curry of sorts.  It was a bit of a miss as well because it was more of a South Asian curry and not the Thai kind.  I think of the Thai curry to be more light.  This one was too rich and too sweet for my taste.  

A trip to a Thai restaurant is not enough without Mango Sticky Rice.  It was marvelous!  The mango was like the “Indian Mango” kind (well hello, we’re near India but I didn’t think Indian Mango was literal until now).  The Filipino mango is still the best in my humble opinion.  The sweetness is just right and texture is supple.  The rice in coconut milk emulsion was just heaven!  Yum, yum, yum!   

All in all it was a good break from our week’s menu and gave us a taste of “home” or at least what we’re used to.  Although it was both a hit and miss in one sitting it’s still not a bad place to get some decently-priced Thai fix.  Plus they’re near our place and they deliver!

Jack Tree (www.jacktree.com) is at No. 200 Park Road, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka. 

Breathing New Vida

Did you notice the new design?  Now that I have more time in my hands I thought it would be a good opportunity to slightly re-design the blog and give it a more “Sri Lanka” look. 

The color palatte was inspired by the national flag.

The “dot” in the exclamation mark is the outline of this teardrop-shaped island.

The typeface I chose were free off the net (Thug and Jean-Claude’s Hand) and which I think embodied who I am and the energy I want people to feel off this blog.

I also wanted to maintain a cleaner look thus the white background.

I have hubby to thank as well for helping me navigate through Photoshop – this is actually my first creation using the software!

So there you go! 

What do you think?

Welcome to Paradise Road

How else can you start off an adventure than by a hearty meal?  My husband took me to Paradise Road for a welcome Sunday lunch on Alfred House Road, Colombo 3.  It houses the Gallery Café, as per www.paradiseroadsl.com it was listed by East Magazine as one of Asia ’s Top Restaurants and by Condé Nast Magazine as ‘the only place to eat in Colombo.’  It offers fusion cuisine and magnificent pastries albeit a bit pricey. 

Hubby and I started off with one of our all-time favorite salads: mozzarella and tomato sprinkled with pesto and arugula with balsamic vinaigrette on the side.  We then proceeded with sharing Chicken Ginger on mashed potatoes and spinach (which tasted like alugbati) and Squid Ink Risotto.  Hubby tried their homemade ginger beer (think ginger ale shake) – it was pretty good when you add a little bit more lemon juice.  Hubby then closed off with glorious Lemon Meringue Pie. 

The meal was good, the ambiance even better.  It is the veranda of the old office of Sri Lankan-born renowned architect, Geoffrey Bawa (www.geoffreybawa.com).  It is in the middle of the city yet you don’t feel the rush and you’re free to just totally chill out. 

We checked out the shop for lifestyle pieces (some of which are now in our living room, dining room and shower).  We have yet to go back and check out their gallery, studio and the upstairs café.  This was one awesome way to welcome me in Colombo.  Great job my hubby!

Hubby Finds Us A Home and More - A ‘Major, Major’ Project!

Perfection of a Place

Hubby went 1.5 months ahead to get started with work (quite a few big ticket deliverables due in little over a month!) and get us settled in our new home, Colombo, Sri Lanka.


First things first, finding us a home.  Hubby had quite a range of choices – a total of around 7 prospects until he found Park Place, Havelock City in Havelock Town (Colombo 5).  It is a beautiful new development – gated community, 2-bedroom flat, living room that opens to a veranda, very sleek finishing, wooden flooring in the bedrooms and has a very clear and airy feel.  Perfect.  And we got it!  In just 2 weeks.

Ultimate Dugyot

Still perfect?  Well not quite.  A week after scoring the place, we were dumbfounded to see the furnishings.  These totally did not match the perfection of the flat.  Well that is an understatement.  It is a total contradiction.  See for yourself.

Let’s start with the dining set.  My idea is to soften the audacity by wrapping the structure in jusi or a similar material.  Change the upholstery of the cushion.  Use a tablecloth.  What say you?

What to do with the wheels...

The living room set is not that bad.  A few pillows with full colors to accent.  I’m thinking red and rust.  A simple carpet to define the area.  Add in a few large pillows or beanbags.  But something has to be done with the TV stand – maybe take out (or cover – how oh how?) the wheels?  It gives too much of an office-y effect.

Guest Room Table & Chairs

The guest room has a mix and match of beige and black.  A rich-colored malong to bring the sofa bed to life.  And honestly with the black table and chair, I’m stuck.  

The master's bedroom, well, there is just the bed.

For the walls, I have quite a few paintings (framed and unframed) that I am planning to bring over.  The problem, I have no shipping allowance and would need to transport it together with the rest of my stuff.  Add to that, not exceed around 30kgs of baggage!

I need ideas here people! 

It is like living in Serendra but going into Homeworks in Ever Gotesco Commonwealth.  As depressing the choice of furniture left my hubby and I, it sparked an exciting thought in my mind.  I got my work cut out for me!  Here’s to channeling my inner Martha (Stewart herself!) and Tom Felicia (the interiors guru of the Fab 5).  As Cher (Alicia Silverstone in Clueless) puts it, “PROJECT!”  And I must say this is a truly MAJOR, MAJOR one!