Mirissa adventure – Foreigners Only

 

“Damn snobs!!” was the exactly what I thought of Mirissa on my first visit thereas every single hotel had boards with thick lettering screaming “Foreigners only”. Even the ones without the sign looked at us locals like we were some sort of parasites … I was rather pissed at the whole thing & swore never ever to come back to Mirissa & settled on the nearby quiet town of Weligama (my next post will be on the awesome time we had there) which was extremely hospitable.

 

Even after coming back I kept stumbling on travel sites on Mirissa & what a nice beach they have (Which I had to agree with as Mirissa does have a trippy beach!!)…  However I had sworn never to go back to Mirissa… I kept remembering the first time I went to Hikkaduwa & Una Watuna although as in any tourist spot in SL people were apprehensions’ about locals but nevertheless they took us in with open arms & that is one reason we never stopped going back there..

 

After a few months however I met some friends who had good reviews about Mirissa despite my arguments with them…. Plus these guys had pretty good reasons why the guys over there acted like all Sri Lankan travelers had the plague!! Anyways since we had a long weekend coming up & also because my plans to visit my meca the holy land of Sri lankan beach destinations “Arugambay” got foiled I was conviced by a couple of friends to try Mirissa once again (& maybe try see some killer whales also).

 

I came across www.mirissa.com & I called Sunil the owner of Surf sea breeze who was very gracious & offered us rooms at his joint. I must say Sunil was instrumental in changing my negative view of Mirissa… But I still wonder “Did he give us the rooms because it was off season?? hmmm”.

 

Anyways Mirissa beach was deserted & beautiful…Surf see breeze had the best beach spot around right smack in front of the surf point!!  amazing surf & plenty of restaurants that were once again kind of iffy… but some of them were quite open (In many ways). All in all my Mirissa adventure was fun mainly because of the company I doubt I would’ve enjoyed this place alone as much as I would’ve enjoyed any other part of Sri Lanka - where people are friendly regardless of whether I carry dollars & pounds!! In fact I think if it was season & we did go to a rave there we would’ve bin in for a spot of trouble!!

 

So I say to Mirissa  - “Please try change your fucking attitude!!” J “Thanks Sunil – You made our stay comfortable & I wall always recommend your place to anyone coming to mirissa”

 

 

You can book surf see breeze by calling Sunil on 0714048084

Natalie reid - Paris Hilton - This is bloody hillarious

This woman is so funny…

Into the wild!!

I have discovered my calling…. watched an awesome enlightning (Seems to be my favorite word these days :-)) movie last night - Into the wild …. encapsulating the true adventures of  Chris McCandless who takes takes up the Identity “Alexannder Supertramp”…..

The movie portrays the adventures of a great wanderer who truly gives up his life to call the road his home… It made me wonder is this whole carreer nonsence a crazy invention of the 21st century … do you really need a job to satisfy yourself & to say that “You have Lived”??? do you need to go through the motions of  what we have come to call a life - school - college - job - marriage - retirement - death… what would happen if there were more people like chris who made a radical change of lifestyle … If you need a movie that makes you think (Must watch it stoned the next time) A movie that has an awesome soundtrack - a great cast - some great quotes - & a strong message on life or what we called it…

 This movie really hit something in me. I never feel complete in society. My job, my house, my friends, my parents &  all of my useless crap. And I work to keep it and build on it. But it’s not what I really want. It’s all about keeping up with the Jones’s. It’s so blah living this day in age. All that we work for is the sugary, fatty frosting on top.
I want to feel alive to really live - to meet people that actually say what they …feel do whatever the fuck they want to whenever they want to…It is only on the road when I travel that I get this experience of “There’s more to life” - The road is endless…
This is where you realize your raw potential. You stare the world right in the eyes and say “take me if you can”. But not without the world demanding respect. Am I making any sense to you people?…

enlightning…

 

 Last Friday I took myself to the barefoot gallery to attend a talk by an awesome photographer Mr. Phil Borges… I walked in expecting to go through a normal talk by a photographer on skill & a showing of phils’ work.. but I was in for a surprise!!

Phil turned out to be an amazing humanitarian/ traveller & much much more than a normal photographer…who thought me;…..

…. the enormous responsibility we have to preserve our culture that is fading away … & also how cruel the world can be & the difference between preserving ones culture & being an extremist!! … about women & the silent role they play in the world & how this is changing … About real day heroes & how they’ve changed the world around them… about people & the connection they have with there land … about how television is destroying cultures & erases the love/respect people have for there own culture….how to respect & love differences…how unfair the world can be towards women, children & minorities …But most of all I wondered about how insignificant my Carrier is compared to what people like phil are doing about how a photographer has used his talent not just to click away but to change the world & help people in a way that actually matters… as a traveller I learnt how to make my travels worth while & confirmed many thoughts I had about my life & damn it I want to change !!!!!…

did you know that;

Out of 6000 of the world indigenous communities/ people in the world 3000 of these are fading away as there kids do not speak the language.

60% of the worlds food is produced by women in terms of farming (I think) but only 1% of them own there own land..

Slavery still exists in the world!!

http://www.philborges.com/

http://www.bridgesweb.org

Also a Big thanks to Dom for hosting events like these!!

Crazy surfer surfs a tsunami size wave

Hey I came across this on utube… it’s awesome

 A rare combination of raw skill, perfect timing and pure balls.

This guy is called Laird Hamilton. And you’ll find a lot of more stuff on Utube. This was NOT the most dangerous wave he ever surfed. Truly fucking amazing!!

travelearnings……

people say that “The more you see the world the less exotic it becomes..” this is so damn true… however I say this not in a bad way, but in a way that this expands your thirst to travel more & more.. And also the more you travel & the more people you meet you suddenyl realise that the everyone is more less the same (Like they say in Thailand same same but different…) … the hunger to experience something new keeps expanding & it’s the experience & the random friends you make that makes traveling a complete thrill…………

I started traveling as a child when my father used to pack the whole family up in his old datsun Bluebird ( I think) & drive ….. these trips ignited my passion to see more but as soon as puberty hit travelling with my parents became a drag but still for all i miss school holidays but I guess weekends make up for it now… & I’ve moved on from staying at posh hotels (which was the main point of my travels then) to what I do & who i meet .. the place & condition of the place is immaterial…

 Cash plays a big role now as there’s so many places to see & so little money going around (It’s true us advertising people are not paid as well as the world thinks - atleast not in SL!!!) but hey we still manage to take a bus ride to know where with no idea how much we have in our wallets - These have been the best “Trips” ….

 Time - Thank god I have an angel a boss who grants my leave so I manage to tie up all my long weekends to make them week long vacations ha ha but hey the road less travelled is calling me… I just can’t get enough of this country it’s truly a “BIG TRIP!!!!” & i pitty those who travel to 5 star hotels & swim in a pool & eat off the buffet (This too used to have it’s perks but it just doesn’t cut it anymore)…

One curious thing i’ve noticed about myself after I started serial travelling every weekend is that - I’ve moved on from hanging out with the same bunch weekend after weekend… coffeee stop evenings have stopped & i’m so fucking glad :_) no offence to my friends who i LOVE!!! but travelling-has though me that friendship is not how long you spend with a person or a group it’s the experience you have together & the moments cause some friends I’ve made I doubt i’ll ever meet again but they will forever be known as my friends …

oops….. need to get back to work & earn some money for my next trip on independence week :-)  … adios me amigos till we meet on the road again

Beachy Pageant….

which beach is which?? got these awesome beach shots need how many of you know what these beaches are …..let me know…

contestant no 1…    Contestant no 2      Contestant no 3     Contestant no 4

Cheers!!!

Pix by Laxman Nadaraja

Travellers in the time of BOMBS!!

People ask me .. is it safe to travel in SL these days.. should you use public transport?? well truth be told It’s not safe to travel anywhere in the world these days there’s terror attacks from Palestine to Colombo to Tokyo, New York & Bali…. Take a look at this site you’ll get the picture…

www.globalincidentmap.com/home.php  

There’s not a place on earth that’s safe period!! So I tell people who ask me Don’t travel.. don’t experience anything new… Don’t even step out of the house to go to work… better yet don’t even stay in your house make yourself a bomb shelter & go store your ass in that  but wait you could still die in there… damn it there’s no way out of it… get a grip people “News flash” we’r all human & someday (Like it or not) YOU ARE GOING TO DIE sure as fuck you will die lets take a bet now I actually have a pair of friends who have bet on there own deaths saying if either dies first the other will have to supply MJ & dinner for the entire funeral LOL..

But people by all means be cautious I’m not telling you to be fucking idiots & sit next to un-identified parcel on the bus thinking some poor sod left it & got off the bus - Obviously the only reosons somebody would leave there stuff behind in SL nowadays is if it is a bomb… If you do something suspicious report it to the authorities who may or may not respond to it but still for all do your bit after-all you might even save my ass…!-) 

surfers in Arugambay

This is me in December hopefully~~~!!

Rastha hut Arugambay!!!

Ask me what was the most awesome thing about my trip to Arugambay this time;

1. the bus ride - which was truly an experiance!!!
2. The company excelent!!
3. Mambos’ rastha hut!!

As we trudged all across the bay with all our bagage heavy from the 12 hour ride across the country ..looking for the perfect place to stay was tiring the price needed to be right as there was no way we could go back for cash as the closest ATM was 3 hours away!!

so we walked & walked until right at the end a familiar voice hollored… Mambo!! & the gang such a supprise to see them so far away but hell guess he was as shocked to & happy to see us that he gave us the most awesome room in the house the Rastha hut complete with a well & your own peice of the beach (Where we did most of the skinny dipping by moonlight he he)…

Anyways I have much more to write on Arugambay but I have no clue where to start the place is simply a trip & as I always say … One day .. One day I will come back to Arugambay & never leave

Holy land - Hillarious!!! love this spot

Any Ideas for Sri Lanka?? ha ha ….. let me know

The most amazing vid of Sri Lanka!!

 Hats off to Small island big trip…….!! proud to be apart of this awesome campaign..

what do you guys think??

Kite surfing at Buba

After a long days work I visited Buba “My favorite haunt” for a chill drink with some working buddies & there I bumped into my crazy outbound friend “Dilsiri” who had spent a thumping amount buying his new best friend the buggers kite -

Never thought i’ll catch this at Buba but the site is amazing!! & if you wanna catch the action choose a windy day & drop by buba dilsiri will be there cruising along… the video is’nt much but follow the kites it’s awesome!! my next trip is definitely kalpitiya to learn some kite surfing

check out www.elements.com for info