Cooling off at Galle Face

Watching the sun set at the Galle Face green in Colombo is probably something that needs to be seen and felt to be truly appreciated. It is not the romanticized version of a sunset where you are alone with a significant other; it is far from that the crowd that it draws is quite big and diverse. Of course there are many couples on the benches but there is so much more to the atmosphere. At first sight it looks like a huge crowd of people that one would see at a sporting event but look closer and you see that this ‘crowd’ is made of tiny pockets of people spending time in solitude. I can’t think of another place that I have been to where there has been a bigger crowd and yet I was alone in my own bubble free to experience the sun set as if I were on an empty beach in some far corner of the world. 

I am sitting on a concrete step in a relatively sparsely occupied area and typing this (I don’t know what this is) on my phone. An onlooker would probably think that I am texting away or browsing the web or one of the many things that my 'smartphone' lets me do. To most of the passing folk (if they were to notice) it may seem a crime that i distract myself in this manner while one of the most majestic sights God has put before the eyes of man is right in front of me.

There are tourists enjoying the sights everywhere you look. Right in the middle where the Sri Lankan flag flies high sits a group of jolly local travelers huddled together singing some popular songs. It won’t be long now before they turn Galle Face into a makeshift Premadasa and bring out the papare tunes as it seems that the baila has run its course.

What then am I doing here? After a hard day at the office would it not make sense to get home and relax, cleanse both mind and soul? Maybe that’s exactly why I am here, maybe i need the cleansing of mind and soul and maybe this place and time where the fire of the day is soaked up by the mighty waters and extinguished is exactly what I need to be ready for another day when the Sun appears from the other side. After a day of staring at a laptop screen it is ironic though that i am spending the rest of the evening looking at an even smaller screen.

Half way through that last sentence my phones memory ran out and I do not remember the thoughts that followed. I also do not have the time nor the energy required to edit the hastily typed out paragraphs so please pardon my grammatical transgressions.

Cricket and Blogging

The last time that I sat down to blog was well over a year ago and Sri Lanka had just lost the final of the 2011 Cricket World Cup. The good news is that the sting of that defeat is now gone (well almost gone) and Cricket in its shortest form has returned to the Island. The ICC World T20 has the country buzzing once again and perhaps the best part about T20 is that the emotions don’t seem to run as deep.

I wrote that first paragraph over a week ago and I was wrong, emotions do run deep. A heart stopping super over win over New Zealand, the early and satisfying exit of India from the tournament and so on has brought the emotions gushing back. A couple of mouth watering semi final contests that are sure to get the cricket loving blood of any Lankan fan pumping are now only a couple of days away.

The question is do I waste time writing about India’s exit or not? Some will say that they only lost one match and that there should be some sympathy for their plight. However, one must not forget that it was not just a loss; it was a mighty bashing that they received from Watson & Company. Some may be quick to point out that the rain affected the Indian spinners, but to do that would mean to forget that Dhoni won the toss and decided to bat first with rain being forecast for later in the night. Then the question becomes do you blame the rain or the tactics? That is already too much pondering by me on this subject. India is gone, so let me move on!

On to the Semi Finals where the four teams have now been decided; the brilliant yet unpredictable Pakistan, the West Indian marauders that dance, Watson (also known as Australia) and of course the best team in the entire world (Sri Lanka)! So let me end by saying, may the best team win!  

I love Sri Lankan Cricket; in victory and in defeat!

The writing was on the wall long before the Indian captain Dhoni hit the winning runs and the Sri Lankan fans watching the game on a big screen at the CH and FC grounds new that. The roar of the crowd when Thisara Perera hit the last ball of the Sri Lankan innings for six; the jubilation felt when Malinga took the prized wickets of Sehwag and Tendulkar seemed like a life time ago. A lot will be written about what went wrong but I think that no matter how much you analyze the game you will find that at the end of the day the better team won.

As a Sri Lankan fan the hard reality is that for the second consecutive world cup we have ended up as loosing finalists. On both occasions the journey to the final was not easy and was only possible due to the hard work that the team has been putting in over the last decade. We have consistently been one of the better teams in world cricket. The looks of disappointment were clearly evident in the faces of the crowed as they prayed for a miracle that was not to come, not this time at least. However, those very same faces were full of pride and anyone there would have told you how proud they were of their team. In defeat as much as in victory Sri Lankan fans have always been loyal. There was just disappointment and a hell of a lot of pride, and there was certainly no room for anger.

Once Dhoni had hit the final blow the crowd finally started to disperse trying to beat the traffic. However, a large portion remained to watch the presentation ceremony and cheered their team on as they collected their runners up medals. The skipper Sangakkara’s message was to the point and as brilliant as ever. He made no excuses for losing to a better side and was full of praise for his opponents and once again the pride that he took in his teams magnificent run to the final was evident.

There was even some applause, subdued yet full of respect for the Indian team as the crowd watched the winners collect their medals. They listened to the Indian Skipper Dhoni answering his critics and praising his team. If there was one thing that I would have liked to see that would have been something directed at the Sri Lankan team from both Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, the man of the tournament. They were both quick to emphasize how they had answered their critics and were more intent of praising their own team that they seemed to forget the team that had given them a good run for their money. A little message of encouragement or a ‘better luck next time’ would have been a nice touch but it was their moment and I wish to take nothing away from them. As the Indian team lifted the trophy up in Mumbai the crowed in Colombo started to leave, there were even scattered outbursts of fireworks. Of course it was nothing of the sort that would have erupted had Sri Lanka won the game but it goes to show how graciously Sri Lankans accept defeat.

The team was then welcomed by thousands still waving Sri Lankan flags proudly as the team returned home the next day. The media conference was held at Independence square and the crowd were cheering their heroes on and they were there to bid adieu to a legend of cricket, Muralitharan.

All that I can say is that I am very proud of the Sri Lankan team but even more so of my country. Our fans are simply the best out there. The Indian and Pakistani crowds get violent and disruptive, the Aussies crucify their captain, and the English ridicule their team through the media, while we see it for what it is a sport and defeat is a part of it so we move on. We were right there four years ago when Gilchrist came at us with a squash ball in his glove, we were right there yesterday when Dhoni tossed the coin twice and more importantly we will be there four years from now supporting our beloved cricket team as they mount another assault on that coveted trophy!

  

Saying Adios to a Dream.

I recently read a text that asked a rather thought provoking question. It started off by stating that when we are young we live as if we are immortal and that there comes a point in life when one realizes that there is a time limit. It went on to ask “…at what point or after what experience does one become aware of this mortality? “

I think that for some people this truth dawns when they witness a tragedy like an earthquake, a Tsunami or a terrorist attack. Witnessing death on a large scale can indeed make one evaluate one’s life taking the ticking clock into account. The death of a close friend/family member can have the same effect. I myself am not immune to such triggers however; I also start thinking along the same lines after making a life altering decision.

Almost everyone who has had the opportunity to get to know me within the past five years is sure to think of me as someone who is undecided about the future. They will tell you that I know not what I want out of my own life. Although this line of thought is flawed, in the absence of my defense it becomes the only plausible assumption. Contrary to popular belief I actually know exactly what I would like my life to be. I know every little detail of this life and thanks to many years of day dreaming it actually seems rather real. This life however is not within the realms of what is possible. I am too much of a realist to pursue what is clearly not meant to be and yet too naïve to give up on it completely.

These dreams were never really within reach for reasons too complicated to be put down in writing. However, I did have to make the decision between either remaining on course hoping that the circumstances may change or veering off course in search of an alternative. I chose the second option. It was a quick and impulsive decision but that was the only way that I was ever going to tear myself away from my obsession. As feeble an attempt at justifying my actions as this may seem I did find solace in the words of Marcus Aurelius. “…But those who do not observe the impulses of their own minds must of necessity be unhappy”.

Each time that I think these things through I am left with the same conclusions. We all try to live the life that we feel will make us happiest. There are those that reach for the stars, fail and yet remain happy in the knowledge that they tried, and those who settle for the consolation price and yet find happiness in that. As for me, I want to be able to look back on my life without any regrets. However, when that time does eventually come to pass I will be robbed of that pleasure because of a certain dream that I gave up on. No matter how good or how happy a life it ends up being I will always wonder what would have happened had I stayed on course? Would the circumstances have changed? Would fate have given me a chance to play the game? In the days, months and years that will make up my life I am sure to revisit that moment and think…..what if?

Do friendships have a time and end? Does Facebook immortalize friendships?

                The new online social network, Path.com sites a research study that claims that one person can only maintain on average 150 relationships. As a result unlike Facebook where you can have as many friends as you want on Path you are limited to a 50. I did seriously consider switching over but then realized that I don’t know anyone else that is on Path so that would negate the point of being on a social network.

                Facebook will tell you that I have 600+ friends but I think that I only constantly communicate with about a 100, maybe even less. So those 100 make up my network of friends both online and offline. The other 500+ ‘Facebook friends’ are actually acquaintances and the advantage of being connected to them through Facebook is that in case you wish to re-connect with them they are only a wall post away. It also makes me feel good about myself by feeling connected and loved.    

                Just like everything else in life, friendships are also in constant flux. While some relationships develop from acquaintanceships into friendships others go in the opposite direction. Some of my closest and most treasured friendships have turned in to acquaintanceships over time. The findings of the study should not be surprising to anyone and clearly show that most friendships do have a time and end. When life rolls along and we meet new people, our network expands to levels that we as humans cannot keep up with. So it is only natural that the ascendancy of certain friendships leads to the decline of others.

This raises the question whether Facebook can stop this process and in a sense whether it can immortalize friendships. I personally believe that while Facebook and other sites of similar caliber do a wonderful job of connecting people across the world, it does not stop the decline of certain friendships. It can of course help maintain and develop friendships especially long distance ones as the internet in general helps us communicate faster and more efficiently than ever before. Also being able to see pictures and videos of friends in distant places and being able to communicate in a group setting makes the friendship feel more real. The old world order of pen pals could have never done that although the effect of a handwritten letter once in awhile cannot be underestimated. The internet like postal mail is simply a tool that enables us to communicate and keep in touch but whether we value our friendships enough to make full use of these tools is up to us.

                So for the most part the internet, Facebook etc have only changed how we interact and not whether we interact. 

Welcome to Cricket Crazy Sri Lanka!

Oh Lanka how I adore thee, I love your sandy beaches, your mountains, your supreme natural beauty, your spicy food and the people with perpetual smiles on their faces, but above all I love the many public holidays that I get to enjoy all of my favorite things.

A couple of days ago while I was surfing the web (I am an addict) I ran out of things to read. More precisely I ran out of things that I perceived as being worthy of my time. It was while I was indulging in this addiction of mine that I came across the Sri Lankan Calendar for 2011. I knew that we had plenty of public holidays but 27? That’s only a few days short of a month! 

I grew up in the hill capitol, Kandy so I will from time to time post about my native land. Anyone who has ever set foot on Lanka will tell a tale of a country so unique that not even its own citizens will ever fully comprehend. To fully understand the country and its people one would have to study its 2000 years of History which thanks to Buddhist roots is well documented in the Mahawansha. It describes the life and times of the people who forged our nation, from the coming of Vijaya in 543 BCE to the reign of King Mahasena (334 – 361) (6th Century BC to 4th Century AD). A companion volume, the Culavamsa or Choolavansha ("lesser chronicle"), covers the period from the 4th century to the British takeover of Sri Lanka in 1815.

Nothing absolutely nothing feels better than returning home. I touched down in Sri Lanka last week for the first time in three years. This is also the first time that I am setting foot in a war free Sri Lanka (the three decade long civil war ended in 2009). To spice things up further the country is in the midst of co-hosting the Cricket world cup and a banner of ‘Welcome to Cricket Crazy Sri Lanka’ is the first thing one sees when entering the main terminal building at the airport. Life size posters of the nation’s star players line the walls while the employees sport matching blue and gold Cricket jerseys. Opposing teams are sure to feel a little intimidated and will know that they have entered the Lion’s den.

The last time that the tournament came to the subcontinent in 1996 Sri Lanka emerged victorious and will be hoping for a repeat. When the then captain Arjuna Ranatunga lifted the trophy in Lahore it set a nation off. The celebrations in Colombo lasted all night and in that moment an entire nation forgot that they were at war. It also made sure that Cricket became a part of the Lankan identity. The story of Sri Lanka Cricket since then is an amazing one that is worthy of its own blog.

In the last edition of the tournament held in 2007 the Sri Lankans went all the way to the championship game only to have their hopes shattered by a formidable Australian side on a rainy day in Barbados. Unlike in India where Cricket is a religion in Sri Lanka it is still a sport and the team was given a warm welcome. The country has forgotten that heart break and moved on and are now ready to mount a fresh assault.

There is of course more to Sri Lanka than Cricket and I will write a little more about it in the future. Whenever I write about Sri Lanka I am left with this sense that I did not do it justice because there is so much that I could write. However, I have no intention of writing a book so I will stick to short posts.    

For now it is goodbye from warm, sunny and Cricket crazy Sri Lanka!

The Best Seller of them all

“The World is a book; those who do not travel, read only one page”~ Saint Augustine

I came across the above quote the other day and it got me thinking and I do believe that Saint Augustine got the idea right and we shouldn’t forget who the author is either.  However I think that in a modern context it is probably more accurate to say that the world is a library and that those who do not travel only read one book.

The world today is for one thing a lot more accessible and travelling to far off places is almost as easy as checking a book out of the public library in your neighborhood. Easy doesn’t however mean cheap and rising oil prices have put a heavy burden on the modern day traveler.

Not even in today’s context does anyone ever cover the entire world; it is as close to impossible as reading every book in a sizable library is. There are bound to be books that you do not find interesting and ones whose content you will not agree with. Similarly the world is so diverse that there will be places that you will love visiting and others that you won’t enjoy as much. Two readers could read the same book and not agree on the message; likewise two travelers could visit the same place and come out with two completely different experiences.

However, the truth that the words of St Augustine hold is apparent to anyone who has turned the page. There are those who will spend the entirety of their lives not travelling and be content, not knowing what they are missing out on. It is when you venture out of your comfort zone that good things happen and travel is no different. For most people like me travel is as addictive as any drug that’s out there. If you are still wondering whether you should flip that page over or not all I can say is go for it! I promise you that it will quite literally change your world.