Sri Lanka: Journal Entry
2006

ASIA (Sri Lanka) -- This entire trip had some built in tension. In the week prior to leaving, the Tamil Tigers were conducting operations in Sri Lanka and we seriously considered postponing our trip. However, the promise of finding some new incredible gems lured me out of the US once again, and the delight of taking my girl friend Bonnie to a place I love.

After a hectic week of buying and several flights to different locations, we were exhausted. On our eighth day we caught a short flight for Ko Samui for some needed R&R. All my purchased gems were left with friends in Bangkok to be picked up in a few days on our way home. Samui is a tropical fantasy island and we were excited with the possibilities of spending a few days there. The following day we drove our little jeep inland, hiked to two waterfalls, swam in icy cool water, rode an elephant and suddenly the sky clouded over and a powerful rainstorm hit. I haven't seen it rain that hard anywhere in the world. We literally had to drive though a foot or more of water on the road in places; it was scary. Turns out that China had been slammed by a powerful typhoon and we were caught in the spin off.

Later that day we realized if we wanted to eat we had to drive through the torrent, so off we went. It took an hour to go a short way to dinner. Upon our return, we made our way back to our little cottage on the mountainside overlooking the water. Walking to our room the entire grounds were covered in the largest frogs I have ever seen. We literally had to ensure we didn't step on them. It was like being in a frog zoo. The jungle sounds were deafening and reminiscent of every horror movie you have ever seen. Suddenly, we heard this deep throated, gurgling and very threatening sounds from just over the fence. It made us quicken our pace as we sought the safety of our room.

The next day the locals told us this was a giant species of frog…but we continue to believe this was some kind of monster. My girl friend Bonnie will always be convinced we had experienced some kind of prehistoric time regression. Sri Lanka surprised us this trip. From my previous travels there I was used to the many holidays and holy days and I plan around them. However, this trip my colleagues had failed to mention this was the 2550 th birthday of Buddha.

Everything was closed for the entire two days we had, in addition there was no meat or alcohol available, with severe penalties by the government for violations. Combined with the heightened security due to increased violence by the part of Tiger rebels like car bombings we found the working environment very difficult. It was with a sigh of relief that we took off from the airport, heading back to Bangkok . Leaning back in our seats it was with gratefulness that I ordered a couple of stiff drinks for Bonnie and I as we contemplated our return to America.

CLOSE WINDOW