Friday, June 30, 2006

Get away you frightfuly dirty person.

OK. Maybe that title only works when you put on the accent. You know the one. Downturned mouth, invisible cup of tea, pinky in the air, raauuuggghhh (I can't spell the sound but you know what I mean..)

Victoria was telling me about this architect fella who she's gotten in touch with to do something about their proposed house. So this wise guy takes a looks at David and goes, 'You're Ukanian aren't you?' Okay perhaps he didn't use that specific term but you know what he means. British educated Bruneian. A little forward for a first meeting between client and architect wouldn't you say? So anyhow, turns out he's Ukanian as well and tells his new clients that he's glad that they aren't Oznian (Australian educated Bruneian) because he doesn't get along with that folk.

Strange? I think so.

Perhaps there is a new breed of mega-clique here in hucksville? A dividing line to seperate the masses. I can see it now signs saying 'If you're UK you're OK' or how about 'Down under and far out of your league'?

Perhaps the X number of years he's spent in the Motherland (que national anthem please) has brought him up to speed with the educated world and trampolined his humble status from mere jungle man of borneo to sophistocat-hamshire. I think not.

It seems to be a bit of a trend at home. Although I'm not sure whether trend is the right word seeing as I'm not around as much to be able to tell. All the kids who went to the same Uni's are obviously going to hang out. Its the same with any other countries. Ask any Singaporean in Nottingham whether they know that other Singaporean who's doing Law you met at a bar in town three nights ago and they'll say that they were reminiscing about sunny Siloso over a cup of Pot Noodles just last night.

I digress. So this trend it seems comes from the close relationships formed during those formative University/A-level years that eventually grow into life-long relationships. They stay friends, hang out in Brunei Hall in London, have other Ukanian friends.. you get the picture. Fair enough, I say. But to have an automatic prejudice against those in Camp Oz? Where does that come from?

I'm probably over analyzing here but could it be, that the reason why Camp Oz and Camp Brit remain rivals is because of our insatiable hunger to know everyone's business? If the Ukanians can't understand what the hell the Oznians are talking about -whether it be the accent (haha!), the place names, neighbours,who knows? - then they're like, 'fine, we'll just hang out with our lot then, shall we?' Or perhaps the solution is more simple- shared experiences generally bring people together, and so that bond doesn't extend to the other lot who are going through the same thing, just in a different place.

Who knows eh? Meanwhile, I guess I'll just pitch my tent here next to David and Victoria. xxw

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

waiting wishing

So we fly back to sunny old England in less than a month now. I can't wait to hang out with Diva esp since I haven't even seen her in.. God knows how long. HOw long has it been kiddo?

So running around doing visa stuff and all the otehr equally high entertainment value stuff. Thus making my blog entries equally riveting.

Things are going to start rolling soon so bear with me. xxw

Friday, June 23, 2006

Oh man. First I don't get my mail. Then I can't check my emails at home.

Now I've missed an important email from the university I've wanted to get into for as long as I can remember.

Great. Just F-ing Great.

Aah.. home again. That our temporary Molly, Linus, until we get back to England. Posted by Picasa

Full Moon in Unawatuna Posted by Picasa

One of those famous Sri Lanka sunsets... Posted by Picasa

On the train to Anuradhapura Posted by Picasa

Mosque in Pettah Posted by Picasa

Galle cat Posted by Picasa

Fag break! Posted by Picasa

Kyle and Budi leaving their house to go to their Tank Posted by Picasa

Nelsan (chuckles), Old Blue and Me Posted by Picasa

Me and Nilantha Posted by Picasa

Welcome to site Posted by Picasa

Kyle on some precarious scaffolding Posted by Picasa

control mua! Posted by Picasa

View from our balcony in Banana Garden Posted by Picasa

Banana Garden hotel in Unawatuna Posted by Picasa

Bronzed and beautiful. Posted by Picasa

I don't think I'll be giving up my day job.. Posted by Picasa

Nature reserve we found in our travels.. Posted by Picasa

Pettah-busy market in Columbo Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Home.

Huge sigh of relief as soon as the plane touches the ground in Changi. I couldn't wait to get out of Columbo. I get the feeling that there's something I'm missing there and that there's one way to fully experience Columbo and appreciate it, and I hadn't.

So did the rounds (as usual). Ministry, Attica, New Asia, Jazz Bar... All the usual haunts-how boring am I?! before heading homewards.

I've been home for a few days now and spreading out the things I've got to do. Its funny how things never seem to get done when I am at home, yet I'm always running around. Well, its been the first time in four years all my stuff is in one place (well, actually two... but everything except work stuff is here) so I guess its time to sift through the junk accumulated through three years of University, almost a year of work abroad, and 6 house moves. Oh and not to mention the crap from school I never bothered to chuck before running off to Uni.

Fun.

Well, good job I didn't throw it all out I suppose since I'm doing a resit at the end of the year.

On Saturday dad and I went to grab a coffee and some cake and I saw my old Economics teacher, Mrs.Isaac. I remember the teachers I had that last year in school so well, and she was probably the one that had the most impact on me. Even though I never pursued the subject, I still remember a good chunk more of it than I do, say Human Responses in first year. Funny that. Anyway, I invited myself back to come into school to talk to some younger aspiring architects. After all, I'm still one myself.

Oh and my sister is due today (woohoo!!) so been bringing her secret stashes of croissants and trashy novels to keep her busy. I think that brings us back to speed...? Not much else seems to be happening around here at the moment but I'm sure I'll find something to do. Maybe I can get myself on one of the planes to Jogja. xxw p.s pictures next-promise!

Cutting the long story short.

So its been a while.

Lots has happened since I last wrote an entry I wouldn't know where to begin. I suppose where I left off is a good place, so here goes.

So we've left Hikkaduwa on another trip except this time up into the ancient cities in the Noth-Central Province. We were quoted US$320 each for three nights accomodation and a driver for the trip. So being tight-fisted as we have become I said 'Sod it, lets take the bus.'

We started at Anuradhapura where we stayed at a little guesthouse just outside the ruins of the ancient city. Granted, it wasn't our first choice and decided to take up the offer of the tuk-tuk guy to stay at his 'uncle's' place. The way it works is that he takes us to a guesthouse of his choice and he gets a nice little commision in return. Which made feeling guilty about giving him the Rs10 to drive us a few hundred meters down the road from our original guesthouse a little less so.

One of the friends, Nilantha, we had made in Hikkaduwa lives in Anuradhapura took us around the sites and temples. Nilantha and his wife later invited us to their house for lunch the following day to meet their kids. It turns out that that day was one of the most memorable of the entire month and if we had gone back to Columbo that night I wouldn't have felt like I had missed a thing not carrrying on and going to see the other ancient cities.

But I digress, so off we went to Pollonaruwa. The guide book listed a place that was run by a Malay guy, so, craving a little Nasi Lemak and Rendang we went off in search of some truely spicy Malay curry. I'm not trying to sound like a guide book or anything like that, but that guesthouse was the nicest, cleanest and most friendly of the places we stayed at during the four nights we ended up spending up there. Sadly we weren't met with oodles of Nasi Goreng and Ayam Percik which I have to admit, was craving for.

Hopping between towns on the bus we finally stopped at Dambulla before heading back to Columbo the following morning at a place called Little Dream. It was set into the jungle a tiny house with a couple of extra rooms set up in the garden it was perfect. Although.. in true girly style, I was not very happy at the sight of not one but a family of house frogs. The number quickly multiplying every time I flushed the loo since more would spill out. Perhaps I was gettting closer to nature than I was prepared to. Still, I think the photos will be able to explain better than I ever will, so I'll leave that for later.

Not wanting to spend much time in columbo we arrived back the day before leaving to the airport, managed a few souveniers from Odel, met a legend (thats another story altogether!) and sat in the Cricket Club Cafe. We'd done what we came here to do. xxw