I have a house guest and work looks more sorted .

it has to be said - we've got a lovely bunch of coconuts

 13 May 2011.  Sally, my friend from school was just visiting .  She came for only 5 days - a kind of stopover on her visit to her brother in Singapore .  It's not long enough but we certainly packed it in.  She came in the pouring rain - yes the monsoon has really kicked in - it rains solidly for an hour or two but then it is still quite cloudy and that is not so good - it reamins hot and sweaty so you know you are in the tropics.  Anyway she arrived having braved the train from Colombo all alone and we went out to eat in Matara Rest House , the only place to eat in Matara - we sat on white silk covered chairs tied with big gold  bows - and we were the only ones in there ! Nice food though and not surprisingly very good service.  We went home and had a couple of g and ts with passion fruit (my new cocktail of choice - I have to think of a name -Sri-Lanka Sting or Matara Magic perhaps) to celebrate her arrival.  The next day I took off work as there was still not much doing there.  We walked to the beach and the temple and then went to Weligama to meet my Sinhala teacher who didn't show up so we wandered around there - it was a pretty old seaside town with not much going on.  We got led a merry dance by a tout promising us a giant iguana but delivering a gem stone place and a long walk to it.  He said it was a 'gaaament' shop and I thought he said garment but what he actually said was government but what he actually meant was gem shop !  We got out without buying anything at all - result!  Then we went to Mirissa but it was pretty dismal being out of season - waves too strong for swimming .

off season in Unawantuna

Sally in Matara

on the terrace at Sea Green

little gitls having fun with kites at play time

at a 'gaaamnent' shop

  The next day we both went to work - two foreigners for the price of one - we got the train to Galle in the afternoon .  Galle Fort is really beautiful and the Sea Green Guest House is fantastic.  We had a room at the top which looked out over the sea - it was amazing - highly recommended.  The Galle Fort is an old Dutch built fort town with lots of little shops and restaurants and hotels - a bit touristy but as it was out of season it wasn't full of tourists and we had a great time exploring and walking and sampling different Sri Lankan breakfasts - string hoppers or egg hoppers with Dall and Sambol - yum yum.  We went to Unawantuna in hope of a swim but again the waves were so strong we both got knocked off our feet and so gave up on that idea and had a beer instead!

egg hoppers with Dhal and sambol - beats a frull english

Sally on the terrace at Sea Green

 And that was that for Sally's visit - we went to Colombo the next day and didn't have much time to do anything else except go to Barefoot the best shop in town where Sally bought material and such like . Then she had to go . Missing her already.  She says she will be back - I hope so - we used to travel together when we were 18 and it was quite like old times.

 I met up with a couple of volunteers the next day and we had the usual therapy session about the vagaries of Sri lanka - mostly the weather and the lack of understanding about timekeeping.  I met up with the same people later at a bar called Cheers - very western and we even had burgers! Sometimes I just crave western food.  The next day I went swimming with another volunteer and then met Diane who came at the same to Sri lanka at the same time as me. We ate Thai food.  It was mothers day here and I think Diane was missing hers. 
The next day I met with Ruvanthi the programme leader and overall boss at VSO to try to sort out my work situation.  Everybody had assured me that she would have ideas and wouldn't be suggesting I go home and sure enough she had ideas.  It may be that I can do some work at Hanbantota Chamber of Commerce too and we are going to sus it out on Friday.  I feel altogether more positive about it.  I have gone off Colombo - its so hot and so noisy and so busy and I was actually glad to get back to my little flat in Matara - despite getting into third class on the train by mistake and ending up standing in the bit between carriages pressed up against an ardent 20 year old who was whispering place names in my ear!  I got a seat eventually!  It is always good to catch up with the volunteers - most have been here longer and all have similar experiences so it is very reassuring.  It rained hard in the night and I woke up to a flood in my living room - my passport got wet again!  It made me late for work too.; The new CEO has started and he seems good and we might actually get something done now.  Things looking up all round and it's Vesak next week (the day when Buddha was born, came to Budhahood and died ) so lots of celebrations and a daysoff.  I might go and do some yoga..
My English  classes with the staff are going well , they are hilarious - I really like doing it.  The  chairman is advertising english classes for women entrepreneurs taught by a 'real English lady' - yes that's me! So that will start in June.  We are looking at a couple of other projects  too - toruist information and an education fair.  I also got invited to a sri-lankan wedding in Matara and to an engagement party in Colombo so things are definitely looking up.................