32 Candles

This year I turned 20+12 (I'll always be in my 20s).  I have to say this was the best birthday yet, thanks to my desert family and the love from my former students and US friends.

We took a trip to Sri Lanka and it was well worth it.  I'm not sure pictures or words can do the trip justice, but I will try.

We flew into Colombo.  We met our weekend guide at the airport.  Shout out to Morris (pronounced Maurice) for treating us like royalty for the weekend.  Fresh off the plane we went to Amaya Lake, changed clothes, and went on a safari.  Now, I would say this safari was wack because all it had was elephants.  However, the beautiful landscape coupled with the wild elephant that tried to attack one of the safari jeeps was well worth it.  Plus, don't laugh, this was the first time I saw an elephant actually run.  It almost got the jeep too.  It was only funny because it wasn't my jeep!  It rained throughout the safari.  I enjoyed the rain because 1.  I haven't seen any rain in months living in the desert and 2.  It made the safari experience feel authentic.  After the safari, we went to Amaya Lake and had dinner.  Amaya Lake reminds me of an upscale Rock Eagle 4-H camp that I used to go to when I was younger.  

These ladies greeted us every time we came or left Amaya Lake by playing the drums.

Why do ducks hang with the elephants?

Day 2 was my actual birthday.  The first thing we did when we woke up was ride elephants.  Now, some may argue that this is inhumane but the way I look at it was that the elephants seemed to be eating better than some of the people I saw.  *Shrugs* I'm not that big on animal cruelty.  It has to be extreme for me to care.  But anyway, you have to respect me for spending my birthday on an elephant.  

After the elephant ride, we went to Kandy to the spice garden.  Normally, I would never plan to go to a spice garden, it just doesn't seem like something I would want to do.  However, it was probably the best part of the trip.  We were introduced to a lot of herbs and spices and told how they were useful.  We were even given a ten minute massage using some of the natural herbs.  This was my first massage ever.  I don't really like people touching me, so I had never gotten one before.

Coco

When the massage was finished we headed to a gem museum to look at some of the gems of Sri Lanka.  Then, we went to a cultural dance show.  Very interesting.  It's funny to me how other countries have so many traditions, but the US does not.  Well not any countrywide traditions.  Or do we???????

Dinner was at Kandyan Arts.  This restaurant was phenomenal and the service was outstanding.  My desert family even snuck and had the man make me a cake and sing for my birthday.  I cried a little.  I'm not a crier but it feels good to have new friends that would do so much for you.  I am grateful that I met this group of people.  

The chef literally whipped this up at the last minute.  He had to sneak and get my name from one of my desert friends.

The second hotel that we stayed in was the sister hotel to the first.  It was called Amaya Hills.  This hotel was literally up in the hills and had a breathtaking view.

On the last day, we visited the botanical garden and snuck in a few pictures at the Buddhist Temple.  At the Botanical Garden gift shop I tried to buy a saree (traditional women's clothing) but realized that it was only four pieces of fabric that you construct into your outfit, no needle or thread necessary.  It didn't come with instructions so I left it in the store.  

We were on go the entire trip.  It was so much fun, yet it did not involve one party or club.  It was a real cultural experience I guess.

One thing I respect about Sri Lanka, and even the people from similar areas that live in Abu Dhabi is how free they are....free from judgement and materialism.  The people in Sri Lanka that were actually working rarely wore shoes.  The men wore these long skirts that I like to call blankets (some of the men here wear them as well).  When they were too hot, they would fold the skirt up and make it a shorter skirt.  No judgement...shoes, no shoes, sandals, mandals (male sandals), skirts, sarees, whatever.

Our server one night asked why a lot of Americans don't visit Sri Lanka.  Great question!  I personally didn't know much about the place until this trip was planned.  Plus it is really far from America.  However, I think I will pass the word about the country, especially to those that are in the Middle East and not too far away.