The Art of Terror

Listening to: the fan

Two months ago, this was the plan: my friend would come to Sri Lanka, and for two weeks, we would take her around and introduce her to the wealth of history, culture and natural beauty that my beautiful island is famous for. Then, we would travel to India, and she would return the favour by showing me around the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur).

One month ago, this was the plan: my friend wouldn't be coming to Sri Lanka due to the LTTE's penchant for suicide attacks, claymore mines and other destructive means. Instead, I brought forward my visit to India and extended it by a few days. Retrospectively this was probably a wise decision, considering the current petrol strike - who needs the LTTE when legitimate Sri Lankans are wreaking havoc all over the country?

When can I get my can full? (Front page of Daily Island 27/07/2006)

Now, this is the plan: my friend isn't coming to Sri Lanka, and I'm not going to India. Why? Well, Delhi happens to be on a Security Red Alert after numerous bomb threats etc. Luckily for the people of Delhi, all the threats so far have been hoaxes.

The hardships I'm facing due to the threat of terrorism are negligible compared those faced by my brothers and sisters in occupied regions, and this is in no way an attempt to belittle their plight. However, I'd like to highlight the three different types of terrorism I've witnessed over the past few months:

• Terrorism by established terrorist organisations who like to blow people up to prove a point
• Terrorism by Trade Union workers who like to cripple their own country's transport system to prove a point
• Terrorism by sick creatures who like to make false bomb threats to 'have some fun'

Oh what a wonderful world we live in.

In other somewhat-related news, the 25th of July 2006 marked 23 years since Black July, when my countrymen went on a rampage and did who-knows-what to innocent Tamil civilians. If Sri Lankans want to be ashamed of anything in our history, we should be ashamed of this. News reports state that a commemorative event was held at Speakers' Corner at Hyde Park. According to this article, this event was more of an LTTE rally than a memorial gathering. I thought UK terror laws prevented this sort of behaviour?

Home is lovely.

Listening to: 'No Tomorrow' by Orson [Bright Idea]

Home is lovely. My father works till quite late but I won't complain 'cos I know he's doing it for me. My mother and I have been having awesome chats and it's nice to be able to rant without giving Shorty a headache! I've been eating like someone who's been starved for years...man I love fish curry! I saw The Incredibles (2nd time, for my parents' benefit), Water (which was absolutely amazing) and Must Love Dogs.

Home is lovely. I've been spending the past few days helping out my friends at the Chitrasena-Vajira Dance Foundation with preparations for a memorial exhibition and concert this weekend. It's quite a humbling experience to be in the company of such a great family. Quick plug: if you're in Colombo, and free on the 21st/22nd/23rd July, 'The Art of Chitrasena' will be on at the Lionel Wendt at 7pm on each day.

Yeah home is lovely...almost. If nothing pissed me off, it would be too good to be true, so I guess this is comforting, in a way. Now I've said before that my lovelife is on the backburner, and it is. And while I'm in England, with friends whose careers are paramount in their lives, I'm fine with being alone. I'd like to be in a relationship, but I don't need to be - I'm not that insecure. But less than two weeks at home, and I've already been subjected to "PR why don't you have a boyfriend?", "PR when are you gonna get a boyfriend?", "Aww so PR what are you gonna do?"! I'm sorry, did I hear right? What am I going to do? About what? The fact that I don't have a boyfriend is NOT A F***ING PROBLEM, DAMNIT!!! Why do people think of having a boyfriend as such a qualification? It's not like I've been beating guys off with a stick or anything. If and when I find a nice guy who's up for more than friendship, I'll give it a try. Until then, I'm not bothered. Why is that so difficult for people to understand? My mother says I need be more tolerant...I don't want to be tolerant, I want people to leave me alone! I hate being pressured. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!

OK I'm calm. And hungry. Time for lunch, methinks.

Home is where the heart is

Listening to: the sound of the table fan mixed with the football commentary

And so I'm back (from outer space...). Yes, back in sunny Sri Lanka, currently 34°C (it's 12.07 a.m., mind you). It doesn't seem that hot though, compared to the weather I left behind in England. Still, there are more interesting things to talk about than the weather!

Visited my grandparents last evening...I don't need to tell you how glad I am that I managed to see them one more time. The phone has been ringing off the hook today 'cos people have realised that I've arrived. I feel like some sort of pseudo-celebrity! :D

Oooh I saw three movies on the flight. I swear the Etihad Boeing 777 inflight entertainment is the best! I saw Ice Age: The Meltdown, Failure to Launch and Tristan & Isolde - all very good inflight movies. Oh and at my friend's place in London, I saw Good Night, and Good Luck. and De-Lovely. I've got so many movies lined up for this summer (those of you familiar with Precious Video Store will know where I'll be spending most of my time!).

Anyway, I'm kinda tired now, so I'm gonna head to bed. Will update sometime soon.

Quick update

Listening to: my father's snoring

Just a quick post before I crash (i.e. I'm too tired to type a long post). Few things to update on:

• Sri Lanka thrashed England in the ODIs. Whitewash, as hoped for. England eat your heart out.


• England lost to Portugal in a penalty shoot-out, resulting in their departure from the World Cup - feel a bit sorry for them really, although I don't necessarily think they deserved to win. Also, France kicked Brazil out, giving rise to an all-European semi-final stage.


• Agassi lost to Nadal, but Murray beat Roddick - Britain's solitary victory on this multi-sporting day, but my favourite is out of Wimbledon. Back to Federer, I guess.


• I graduated!!! 'Twas very nice with family and friends (who came up from London especially for the occasion). Felt like a bit of a twat in my gown, hood and mortar board, but I guess graduation is a freakshow of sorts.

So yes, today's been a busy day. I'm off to London on Monday and then flying home on Friday, so the next post on this blog will probably be from sunny Sri Lanka. That said, today was 27°C when I finished my graduation ceremony, so I guess I should call this place 'sunny Cambridge'? Hmm now there's something to think about while I get ready for bed.