First Indian revelation

I haven't written a post in SO long. I think the more free time I have, the more I post. As is normal. And I'm one of those people who has to have a burning desire to speak out on a topic before I can post. And when I work or study, I am disengaged from the outside world for the most part, and do not have that yearning. But here I am back again, waiting to hear about a possible job opportunity from my previous employer and whilst I wait - I can write.

I recently visited India on my way back to Colombo, and spent time in Mumbai and Trivandrum for the first time in my life. After reading the book, Shantaram, I felt this yearning to go to Mumbai. However, little did my anglocised mind realise that I will definitely run away from all things to do with dust, dirt, heat and chaos when there. Which meant my senses reeled whilst I was there. But two things I did notice.

In Trivandrum, due to the lack of taxis, we resorted to take trishaws around the dusty city. Kerala for the most part, is identical to Sri Lanka - its environment, its climate - makes you wonder whether you are in rural Sri Lanka. Anyone who visits Kerala will be hard pressed to argue that Sri Lanka was never a part of India. As Jaffna resembles the landscape of Tamil Nadu, Kerala represents the landscape of North West Sri Lanka.

But one thing is different. The people. I will illustrate my point via an incident. Anyone who has previously visited India would know that driving there is the equivalence of committing road suicide. Cars, Vans, Buses, Trishaws, Motorcyclists, Cyclists, Pedestrians, Cows, Dogs and Rats all claim rights to the roads. Traffic moves diagonally on three parallel lane roads. If you see a space, you must steer your vehicle towards it. Doesn't matter if its diagonally opposite to the direction you wish to travel in. All space must be utilised.

Anyone who drives on Duplication Road or Galle Road at rush hour will probably feel similarly. Trishaw drivers swerve to the left or the right with no care about the passing vehicle. If you look at a Sri Lankan motorists expression whilst they are on the road, it is of irritation or anger. Road rage rules here.

In an equally bad or even worse traffic jam in India, one looks at the motorists faces and they are not perturbed. They rely on tooting the horn but rarely are there shouts or claims of vengeance made. My trishaw driver whilst attempting to steer us through a horrific traffic jam, spotted an open space to the north west of his current position. Next to us, (2 inches away) there was a motorcyclist - whose second passenger had rested his feet on the ground whilst the cycle was not in motion. Sitting in the back, I noticed this man's foot 2 inches away from the trishaw tyre. I also noticed that to get to the open spot, the trishaw driver must pass even closer to the motor cycle. I began to worry - in my experience in my country, no one gives a damn who they hurt to get to where they need to go. Mostly, they'll only care if their vehicle gets damaged.

As I watched on anxiously, the trishaw driver slowly inched the vehicle forwards, looked down to see if anything was going to hit him and then noticed his fellow Indian's foot lying in the way of inching a few yards forward. And manoeuvered the vehicle away from causing any harm.

It's not much. And I probably haven't put across the poignancy of the moment. But it showed that a billion Indians are able to live together in close proximity together because they have a mind that registers fellow human beings. They are able to ram cars across roads and hurtle 20 km/h on congested city roads, because under their nonchalant exterior, they respect their countrymen. They rarely hurl insults out of windows although there's plenty reasons to do so. Most vehicles carry a statue of their respective God at the dashboard.

This divine presence on the dashboard is not a mock display of spirituality or a method to advertise their religion - I believe India is what it is for its secularity. Its ability to tolerate other religions, tolerate so many human beings cramped together, tolerate proximity, not just for the sake of tolerance but also because of a sense of humanity.

Maybe their belief in so many versions of God makes these Indians more humane and maybe, keeps them sane.

Catch up 2010

1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?

Travelled to a lot of new places, became absolutely fixated with being by myself (and not in a relationship) and joined the best firm in the world :)

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? No but will make the same one this year, To go the gym religiously and get myself toned up! <--- thats from three years ago but I HAVE been very good this year. lost a lot of weight.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Nope

4. Did anyone close to you die? Nope, thank God <--- thank god again

5. What countries did you visit? Sri Lanka, England, US, Germany, Netherlands, France, Wales, Switzerland

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? A full time job offer, but everything else can stay the same

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? The day I got a call saying I got the placement offer. o.m.g.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Finishing my masters at my dream uni, getting a job at my dream employer, having some amazing friends around me.

9. What was your biggest failure? Losing my relationship

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing significant

11. What was the best thing you bought? An ipad for mum, those fantastic trips abroad

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My mum, my friends,

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? mine, my ex.

14. Where did most of your money go? uni fees, travel tickets, hotel, food, partying, clothes

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? my job offer!!!! every work week ending!

16. What song will always remind you of 2010? dont stop believing - journey

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

I. happier or sadder? Happier.

II. thinner or fatter? thinner - thank god

III richer or poorer? richer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? not being so caught up on doors closing, working a bit more harder

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? complaining ;)

22. Did you fall in love in 2010? yes

23. How many one-night stands? no comment

24. What was your favorite TV program? Grey's anatomy <--- 3rd year running, gossip girl, how i met your mother, DH

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Probably not. More disappointed in certain people, proud of a whole bunch of other people!

26. What was the best book you read? Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Stuck to my old tastes and developed a liking of pop

28. What did you want and get? keep the old friends, make some fantastic new ones, passed all exams, my offer.

29. What did you want and not get? someone to make an effort for me

30. What was your favorite film of this year? how to train a dragon, HP7

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 26, had a small party and dinner

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Cant ask for anything more than what I received <--- Amen

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? As always, comfortable yet trendy.

34. What kept you sane? Faith in God, Mum and a Few Good Mates

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Sanath Jayasuriya :P <-- as always

36. What political issue stirred you the most? the sri lankan presidential elections.

37. Who did you miss? My ex, my mum wen i was livin away from her n my friends from home

38. Who was the best new person you met? the MBAs

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010: I#ll be okay :)

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: All I can commit to is maybe

Very late catch up for 2009

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
- Finally got accepted to the university Ive been wanting to goto since I was 15! Travelled a lot, was a bridesmaid!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? No but will make the same one this year, To go the gym religiously and get myself toned up! <--- thats from two years ago but I HAVE been very good this year so far.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Nope

4. Did anyone close to you die? Nope, thank God <--- thank god again

5. What countries did you visit? Sri Lanka, India, England, Spain, Malaysia

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? 2009 was pretty great. less drama would be good too.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? The day the war finished. for a variety of reasons

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? passing level 1 cfa, getting into the uni of my dreams!

9. What was your biggest failure? Losing my relationship

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing significant

11. What was the best thing you bought? my bberry, my new laptop, some awesome clothes, and some fantastic trips

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My mum, my friends,

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? mine mostly.

14. Where did most of your money go? uni fees, travel tickets, hotel, food, partying, etc

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? going to uni!!!!!!!!!!!!

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? dont stop believing - journey

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

I. happier or sadder? Happier.

II. thinner or fatter? thinner - thank god

III richer or poorer? poorer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? thinking decisions through a lil better, getting less drunk on occasions

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? CRIBBING <---- 3rd time nominee

22. Did you fall in love in 2009? no

23. How many one-night stands? None!

24. What was your favorite TV program? Grey's anatomy <--- 3rd year running, gossip girl!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Probably not. More disappointed in certain people, proud of a whole bunch of other people!

26. What was the best book you read? Road to Elephant Pass

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Stuck to my old tastes

28. What did you want and get? keep the old friends, make some fantastic new ones, passed all exams, my offer.

29. What did you want and not get? someone to make an effort for me

30. What was your favorite film of this year? wolvering and some others but now forgotten

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 25, had a small party and dinner

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Cant ask for anything more than what I received <--- Amen

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? As always, comfortable yet trendy.

34. What kept you sane? Faith in God, Mum and a Few Good Mates

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Sanath Jayasuriya :P <-- as always

36. What political issue stirred you the most? the terrible way the war ended

37. Who did you miss? My bf :( when I was living away from him, my mum wen i was livin away from her

38. Who was the best new person you met? the uni lot. fantastic!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009: The great unknown really isnt that scary

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: hold on to that feeeling

Please Sri Lanka, No More. Take a Stand.

On the eve of the Presidential Elections 2010, I realised no matter how busy my schedule I must return to my blog to write this post. As a Sri Lankan studying abroad, I currently have no way to exercise my vote however as a Sri Lankan - I have to do my part to assist even one person in making the right choice at this Election.

Anyone who has read my blog or looks through the archives knows well my position for this elections. I have never and nor ever will be a fan of MR. I have written a majority of the posts regarding the political situation in Sri Lanka from within Sri Lanka. However, now, writing from abroad I feel significantly less fear at the thought of speaking out - for what is right, what is democracy, what is constitutionally our rights. I do not wish to be labelled a UNP supporter or be embedded within pointless party politics. How can we, civilians, even begin with party politics when the politicians themselves in these parties have no sense of loyalty? Jumping hither thither like rabbits on a fiery ground?

As a nation, we have been through an immense volume of anguish, sorrow and fear. From a 27 year old war to a ridiculously destructive tsunami to levels of poverty that are inhumane. When MR first assumed power in 2005 it was amidst a scandal of extortion - who can forget the tsunami funds embezzled from Hambantota? Embezzlement ironically became a reigning theme in his Presidency over the next few years. We do not need a Royal Family. This incessant need to counteract the 'prestige' built up by the Bandaranaike family has made fools of the public. Brothers, Sons, and Cousins assume post over post - spend tax rupee after tax rupee - in an internal race to become the richest of the rich. We hear of the treasury being ransacked to zero. We hear of runaway fiscal policy. We tolerate.

The countless number of hours I have spent sitting in road blocks because a member of the Family is passing 3kms away from me is time I will not get back. Each time I am amazed by the patience of our people. Is this resignation to a fate where each government has simply taken from us but not given much back? People sit in their cars, stand outside talking to each other or to the army personnel guarding the road blocks till the time comes for the cars to whiz by with ambulances following (who's money pays for this convoy of 20 cars?) and then we get moving. This has happened as early as 8am or as late as 11pm. Before the war ended, the road closures were due to the Family and its consortium of sycophants being fearful of suicide bombers - yet how about those cars that wait at the closures? What if there was a suicide bomber amidst the masses gathered waiting for the roads to open so that they may end their long day and go home to their families? What about them? No one cares. So, we patiently wait. We tolerate.

What about dissent? What about Lasantha Wickrematunga and the countless number of media personnel harassed, abducted and murdered over the past 5 years? We have a right to dissent. I have a right to speak out without fear of white vans abducting me or a family member in the middle of the night. I have this right through a constitution that is upheld by the Supreme Court of our country. Yet when a politician decides he is above and beyond the constitution and instead promotes propaganda that he is Supreme King, we have a larger problem on our hands than ever previously encountered. Lasantha died for bringing us the truth. I have written about him before and it is IMPERATIVE that we remember him now. It is not enough that we stand there holding candles at a funeral. We must take a stand whenever we can. And this is the BEST time that has ever come about. We cannot tolerate.

You tell me MR ended the war. I ask you at what cost? The war vote, which I do not agree with, has thankfully been split. If we are going to take credit for the war - who deserves most of the credit? The politician drinking night after night in Colombo, entertaining his many guests using tax payer money, afraid to even travel on a road without army personnel guarding him, providing instructions from the safety of Colombo? Or the Army Commander who was present with his forces at any given moment at the heart of the battle? Yes, I don't agree with the war. But give me the man who was doing his job well any day over the corrupt, cowardly man who saw personal gain in taking the route that won him glory.

Many things are uncertain in life. Many things are uncertain with the crossroad we are at. But one thing is certain. Sri Lanka as it has existed over the past 62 years since Independence (even with its wars, its poverty, its issues), cannot exist ever again if it is to be pillaged and ransacked for the next 8 years the way it has been with the current administration. There is a limit to tolerance and patience. We will have no economy to speak of, no successful businesses left as profits and assets are seized at the whim of the Royal Family, no intelligent persons left to contend with the rulers that defy dissent. Yes, the Prabhakaran threat to our nation was over as of 2009. But what now plagues us is as dire to our future growth.

Please, do not tolerate. Please, take a stand. Please, vote intelligently. This is our last chance.

Sri Lankan Airlines - On the Hot Seat

Family member (FM) and I decided to go on our annual trip to India last week. I searched around for a well priced ticket - Kingfisher was a tad expensive at USD184 return, India Express didn't fly to city B, we really didn't want to experience the splendour of Air India so we turned to our trusted Sri Lankan airlines. There had been much ado about this hot seats business and we were happy to learn that a return would cost us just LKR13,000.

Of course, I had no grand expectations about the flight experience having been a frequent flyer with the airline and seen firsthand its demise into a substandard carrier over the years. As written about in a previous post, my biggest complaint about the airline was the inhospitality of the crew, the inedible food and just the general demographic who fly the carrier (leading to excess noise and a somewhat marketplace environment). Anyway since it was just a 1 hour flight and not the usual 10 hour grind, I didn't have much of a problem in enduring this.

So FM and I packed our bags, hailed a taxi and went to the airport. There is now added security at the airport with some bus transfer business which sort of led me to question 'isn't the war meant to be over?'. Anyway, kudos to the security fellows for doing their job and luckily we didn't have to get on the (rather dirty) bus. Checked in proceeded smoothly, no longer were there the long queues of the past. The counters seemed blissfully empty. Although I don't think this is blissful for the Sri Lankan Airlines topline. Hung around the airport for the mandatory 1.5 hours, finally got the boarding pass torn and stood in line to the aircraft.

Enter the aircraft. It was one of those small fellows - A320 i think, the business class section looked as always quite comfortable. Got shoved into the cattle class, and imagine our suprise. No longer were there the (somewhat dirty) blue upholstery on the tiny seats. Instead, facing us were row upon row of red leathery plastic seat covers. FM says its what they use to cover hospital beds. I say it looks like a private bus.

Sat down - there was no cushion. I suffer from back pain however due to the absence of cushions, had to sit straight upright through the entire flight. Gone were the seat reclines. Gone were the little head resters. Gone were the leg rests. Oh did I mention, people had wrote on the seat covers (much like a bus)? Gone were the magazines and gone - a little alarmingly - were the safety precaution sheets, the vomit bag and the likes.

Here my friends lay a truly budget aircraft. The crew were as inhospitable as always. The stewardess who served us had no incling of a smile. The food was as terrible. In fact, any redeeming quality Sri Lankan airlines had - had brutally gone out the window. Freefalling towards airline hell at a steady 600 km/h.

Its sad to see something that we were once proud of fall from such great heights into such pitiful oblivion. But one thing for sure, with those red seat covers - those seats look definetely 'HOT'.

The Culture of Celebrity

If it were not for the media would Princess Diana and Michael Jackson be alive today? What defined a celebrity before the current era of paparazzi? Does their existance do us, the people, more harm than good?

The answers to these questions neither come easy nor are simple. Princess Diana sped to her death away from who she perceived as paparazzi. The necessity to shield her private life away from the 'Sauron' like eye of the public whisked her directly into the open arms of death. Similarly, Michael Jackson's final years were plagued with negative publicity which is a certain cause of his fatal addiction to prescription drugs.

The often 'good cop, bad cop' routine played by the fickle media leaves the lives of these celebrities wide open to public autopsies. The constant acceptance and now the daily ritual of preying on celebrity has given birth to a host of new business models, including gossip websites. What happened to the era when celebrities were reverred for their talents and their on screen persona? Their private lives remained as such, private. People saw them at premieres or interviews or at award shows thus wrapping them in that alluring shroud of mystery. Whilst also allowing them the honor of privacy in their daily lives.

In this era, the declining readership of print newspapers induce the editors to obtain more 'readable' material from the paparazzi and the increasing popularity of the internet propels the disbursement of such material to a wider audience. Angelina Jolie, in an era gone by, would have been likened to Grace Kelly or Jackie O. However, we can now even obtain extensive analysis of the veins in her arms on certain days.

A similar paparazzi culture has given claim to a fame to a host of otherwise forgotten individuals. In the past, Lindsay Lohan would possibly not have any claim to fame - she would be a one hit wonder. Now, without a single good production in the pipeline and almost broke, she remains in the forefront of celebrity news for her junkie lifestyle. Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie and a host of others manipulated the glitz of their families to obtain the focus of these cameras. It is difficult to respect and adore the art of these artistes when you have seen their underwear. What art can most of these celebrities speak of? Celebrities for the most part used to comprise of artistes. This is no longer the phenomenon.

Although an ardent fan of MJ's music, I never looked at nor paid attention to the paparazzi spin of his life that was potrayed by the media for the past few years. Thus I was able to retain the magic that his art cast on my life since childhood. This retention and this pure adoration for an artiste's work and for the gifts he had given us, is what makes it difficult for me to accept his sudden demise. I also believe this is what makes MJ the last true celebrity. Someone adored all over the world, not for the news they generated on one day by wearing a certain type of clothing but for their art - which in the end is what will remain for years to come.

It is a shame to see that people who have brought moments of peace to our lives through their work in movies or music, are now subjugated to our constant analysis and ridicule. If this brings about a phenomenon that we no longer see good pieces of art or music that has soul, it is as much our fault (for feeding the paparazzi the fuel to satisfy our thirst for celebrity gossip) as much as anyone elses.

Heaven Exists..

I really hope so.

Just so that Michael Jackson can look down on today on the world and see how much he was loved. If he didn't know it whilst alive, I pray he sees it now.

R.I.P. MJ