Sunday, July 4, 2010

Sri Lanka

The first bead of sweat was the initial awakening of the senses and as we traveled from Columbo airport to our dingy hotel in Negumbo, it was only the windows that separated us from a new world yet to be introduced to the unknowledgeable eye. A short bus ride through town, dodging pedestrians, cows and any motor vehicles on our obstacle course of a road kept us from dozing off after our tiring 11h flight.

The streets were indescribable, like a secret only the mind can recount.

Our arrival at the hotel allowed for an exaggerated sigh of exhaustion after lugging everything to our designated dirt boxes. We were then able to rejuvenate our water loving souls with the sea. A brisk breeze cooled a peaceful walk along the beach and ignited out first conversation expressed purely with body language.

The kids teased the young boy as I chased him blowing kisses. The girls swished their purple and pink flowing dresses in the wind. And the boys chewed their pink, popping bubble gum. A beautiful inception to an interesting journey ahead.

As the children returned to their homes they ran along the beach half turned. Looking back, their everlasting smiles drifting away with their endless waves and sweet byes.

The sun was setting over the choppy western waves of Negumbo and all that was left in our minds was the long anticipated perfection of the east.