Sri Lanka: A Naturally Photogenic Country

One of the most beautiful countries I have traveled to so far. The culture, people, and landscape were impressive.



The City of Kandy


Temple of the Tooth - Kandy


View From the top of Sigiriya Rock: Unreal


Ancient Temple Paintings From Sigiriya

Oman Fisherman

We were snorkeling around this deserted island and the next thing I see is a group of young Omani boys who had pulled their simple fishing boat onto the shore and were making mad dashes to empty the water from their obviously leaking vessel. Being the tourist that I am, I asked if I could take a picture (well more made the universal hand signals for picture) which they happily obliged. After I took the first picture, I went to show them the image on my camera screen and they looked at it with amazement; it's moments like these when you realize the things you take for granted. They grinned wildy and began picking up the fish they had caught posing for pictures. Definitely an awesome experience.

Fugeira Road Trip

As we were all dying to get out of Dubai, get away from the artificial, plastic city, we packed up 'Roxy,' Alex's Pink Lamborgeni, (Red Corolla), and set off to the Emirate famous for its beautiful underwater scenery. What I've noticed over the last four months is if you don't make the conscious effort to leave the city every once in awhile, it is really easy to lose reference of reality. If you look at Dubai, it's a city that sprung up out of the desert, a place where there should simply be sand, not Palm Islands or extravagent hotels. But that's also the nice thing about Dubai is that you can simply hop in the car and in two hours, you will find yourself in a completely different land. Where the natural beauty is relatively still untouched and you can snorkel with large exotic tropical reef fish. The horizon is filled with jagged mountains that are eery and intriguing when all your used to seeing is a skyline filled with cranes and buildings. It was a great road trip, and definitely a place I hope to be doing some beach camping.

It's so hard to believe . . .

Being an American in the Middle East has been quite a perspective widening experience. I have also been quite amazed and negatively impressed by the hostility between the Islamic countries and Israel. I can't comprehend why the hatred runs so deep and so openly. I work for an American MNC, yet since we are operating out of the UAE, we are not allowed to do business with Israel, I can't even call our Israeli office because any phone connections via the UAE telecom company is banned.

Reading the Gulf News today, I came across this disturbing quote from the current president of Iran. A man who is supposedly educated, diplomatic, and leading a nation of millions.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for Israel to be wiped off the map ...."There is no doubt that the new wave (of attacks) in Palestine will wipe off this stigma (Israel) from the face of the Islamic world," Ahmadinejad told students.

And what I ask, 'what is he trying to accomplish by saying things like this? If his proclamation was to come true, how would the region be any different? Would Allah come down and bless the region with riches and happiness?' Maybe with my aetheist and absent of religion childhood I can't comprehend these feelings.

"He warned that recognizinging Israel means acknowledging the surrender and defeat of the Islamic world". "

Is living in harmony with all groups of people not recognized by this man's definition of Islam? I say this, because I know there are many of Muslims who in no way support what he is saying and would in fact be quite offended that he chooses to represent the Islamic World this way.

It's easier to understand now how a majority of Americans are building their opinions of the Islam world. Rarely do we see the other group, the unextreme Muslims standing up against statements like these by 'leaders' of Islamic countries. I don't justify these American opinions, but as one of my colleagues here commented, "They are not creating positive PR for themselves."

Inbetween your choice

So you have those moments in life where you have: Realization. Where you start to unravel some of the mysteries of life. Be it from talking with a wiser older sibling, becoming more aware of the signs/signals in your life; its just becomes more clear.

That is when you are able to breathe a sigh of relief, when the thousand ton weight on your shoulder is eased, not necessarily relieved, but at least more managible.

These are the moments when you focus on what you want, what you passion for, what you desire. And you are not necessarily acting out on self fish terms, but rather for the first time in a while, you are pursing what makes you happy. After expansive time periods of being lost, wandering, questioning, you have a better grasp on who you are and what drives you.