This time we stayed the older area of the city in a hostel that is basically everything I'm looking for. It was 3 stories overlooking the leafy ravine, surrounded by trees full of mischevious monkeys. We had outdoor space, light, fresh air and relative privacy. We drank beer and watched monkey TV for a good chunk of the afternoon. We went out for ( Read more... )

The next morning we got the first class express train to Jaffna (former stronghold of the Tamil Tigers) to experience the other half of the country. As we headed north on the train the terrain became dryer and scrubbier with patches of bare sandy soil exposed. We passed the occasional bombed-out building. The horizon was lined with palms. We passed ( Read more... )

After breakfast our Negombo host drove us 30 km by tukuk to intercept the Northern line at Veyangoda rather than going into Colombo and back out. He Organised our tickets, we bought some water and snacks and we were off! In a sense, this was where the holiday really starts. Negombo was a liminal zone in which we were delayed and I was a bit ( Read more... )

We arrived late Thursday evening still a bit stressed from our adventures in the Kuala Lumpur airport. The Colombo airport was sleepy and duty free was strangely full of whiteware rather than booze. We bought an inexpensive whiskey to decant into plastic for the trip and kept moving. Given that this was the only international airport in a country ( Read more... )

Our plane arrived early morning, and we were treated to a stunning sunrise painting the sky with flames. After bathroom, customs, tropical clothes and bag storage, we started with white coffee, soft boiled eggs, and Kaya toast in the airport to tide us over until the next meal. We caught a train from the terminal to the city-- step by local ( Read more... )

I am re-coiling from my space once again, like a spider unweaving her web or Mary Poppins reversing her entry. Art off the walls, things into boxes, rooms genericized and scrubbed of my presence so that I am only a memory here. I've done this so many times, but it still surprises me how quickly I can revert a space from 'mine'. A tiny bit sad to ( Read more... )

I am back in Melbourne, it’s springtime and things are awesome. This post will be somewhat disjointed as a result ( Read more... )

Amtrak $55 from south Lake Tahoe to central SF. A couple transfers involved, but a nice alternative to driving.

Crossing the bridge into sf at sunset with light traffic is like appreciating the beauty and charm of an old lover. You've still got it, babe (when you feel Ike turning it on), but I've moved on.

I travel a fair amount. More than most, not nearly as much as those who travel a LOT. That distribution is non linear. NZ last week, California this week, Nevada in a fortnight, etc. I've also done a lot of packing, unpacking and repacking in the last month*, figuring out what I needed in various scenarios between now and November (when I may or ( Read more... )

I've been trying to spoil myself (or at least treat myself as well as I deserve) where possible, and create pleasures to look forward to in anticipation. I'm not really wired for self-indulgence, so it can be a bit of a challenge. My idea of retail therapy is buying much needed merino on clearance sale, which hits the necessity and frugality ( Read more... )