Welcome to Anna’s Diary
On life, health and nature
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Spicy Sri Lankan food
Dear readers, you know I love to cook, and I really enjoy spicy Asian food. I do not eat beef since the cow is considered holy. Actually, vegetarian food is good, so I have mostly had veggie with seafood.
Yesterday we went for a tour to southern Sri Lanka. We had a very nice lunch by the Indian Ocean. It was rather windy, and the waves were rough.
I have also learnt that Sri Lankan spicy food for breakfast wakes you up: rice, chilli pepper, and banana!
Veggie with shrimps and chicken -
The hunchback of Notre Dame
This holiday has been so active. Lots of things to do every day. Today I am just having a lazy day since my friends are working at the hospital. I am staying very close to the beach, listening to the waves. Ships are on the horizon, and I know India is there, but I cannot see the land from here in Colombo.
Anu brought me to a concert on Sunday, and we saw the wonderful musical based on Victor Hugo. It was really a Broadway show. Three hours felt like three minutes. Sri Lanka is tightly connected with the United Kingdom, and the play was somehow sponsored by Oxford Business.
The hunchback of Notre Dame -
Sri Lanka, Colombo 🇱🇰
E-visa accepted in Sri Lanka My e-Visas have been accepted everywhere. Sometimes I was not sure whether they were fake websites when I applied. My friend Anu and her husband picked me up at the airport, and it was wonderful to meet them again. Last time I visited Sri Lanka, I made the tourist tour. This time is more chill. We’re going to the theater today.
I have so many impressions, so I have a lot of writing to do. The world is developing rapidly, driven by IT. Electric cars are getting more common. People are aware of recycling, global warming, and water – in the middle of this, we have to focus on life itself. To emphasize happiness in everyday life. Similar to this Indian newspaper below.
Global everyday life -
New Delhi, India 🇮🇳
I was sad to leave Kathmandu, Nepal, yesterday. The flight to India was fine. Arriving to New Delhi from above was like watching a huge Christmas tree decorated with lights.
I had to fill in a health declaration that I did not come from the Ebola virus outbreak countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo Uganda and South Sudan.
Indira Gandhi International Airport The temperature is nice; not too warm, and not too cold. The air, however, is not so healthy. I arrived rather late in the evening and I got help to find a taxi.
I hesitated a little before going to India because it might be difficult being a single travelling woman here. The taxi driver was worried for me and wanted me to chose a safer hotel other than I had pre-booked. However, it turned out that he had comission for doing that.
When I finally arrived, the hotel wanted me to pay in cash. But after ten minutes they changed, “you have already paied, it is ok”.
My first encounter with India.
In the middle of the night -
The Masala milk tea
Utpala café Right now is the very first time I’ve gone to a café to relax. I saw a café named Utpala, and I thought I should visit. Uthpala is the name of Anu´s little sister. She seems to have her own café in Kathmandu! A cup of coffee? No, I go for my new favorite the Masala milk tea. It is like drinking ginger cakes.
Lots of teas Anu lives in Sri Lanka, and I am soon going there. I have been experiencing so much in Nepal, so I thought it would be good to stay at a café for some time to change my mindset. Tomorrow I will get a glimpse of India with a stop in New Delhi. One of the biggest cities in the world, depending on whether you measure it as a metropolitan area or urban agglomeration.
Kathmandu garden I am in a garden in Kathmandu, and the temperature is like a Swedish summer day. The atmosphere is friendly and very polite. Is this due to religion? Buddhism and Hinduism certainly play a role, but it might also be the way people are.
This is the first time I read my book about Nepal. There was no time before. I feel a little embarrassed about doing it so late.
Namaste Uthpala!
