For more than half my life I have lived away from Sri Lanka, my native country, the origin of my identity and the beginning of my being. I have been away, tasting and devouring the world, breathing in the freshness of foreign lands and adopting different customs and cultures. Still, this tiny country of mine has always had a strong hold on me, a magnanimous magnet that has always attracted me in some way. And of course this should be the case. It is my birthplace. However, I’ve always wondered if it’s just that the grass is greener on the other side; or a case of absence that makes love grow.
I am now in Switzerland, ranked the best for its high quality of life and some refer to it as heaven on earth! One can easily imagine this when you think of some of the Swiss specialties and know-how…the masterminds of watches, the best of transportation, the elite education, the caliber of chocolatiers, renowned cheese and wine producers. All of this is also wrapped in the enchanting beauty of mountains, lakes and clean, fresh air! Having lived here for over three years, I can personally attest to this excellence and efficiency in just about everything! Heavenly indeed! And here I could
Is he possibly dreaming of that land of Mother Lanka?!
Oh yes I do! Here are some of my most missed treats, as simple as some of them may be!
1. Coconut Trees: The variety of lush green coconut trees that envelop you on plane landing never fails to give me that warm tingle of a good hug! Closely related for me then would be ‘Thambili’ (the deliciously sweet water from a king coconut) which is one of the best thirst quenchers my tongue has ever known!
2. ‘Short-eats’: The unique and delicious pastries/snacks, popularly known as ‘short-eats’, are found in every nook and corner of a street. They really are a delight for your senses! Among many of my favorites are the ones at the Fab and Green Cabin stores, not to mention their cakes and cream puffs! (I am now a huge fan of Swiss deli, but if I had to choose, I know where my hands would go!)
3. Rice and Curry: Authentic Sri Lankan comfort food made by your loved ones with a little extra care (and lime juice!) never disappoints my taste buds. In the simplest form, it would be rice, dhal, and coconut sambal (a concoction of grated fresh coconut, made from orange with onions and spices). Also ‘Lamprais’ (a package of rice of Dutch origin wrapped and baked in banana leaves) with its own unique flavors has been a winner in Colombo for as long as I can remember.
4. The sea and the beach: One of the island’s crowning glories, of course, is the sea it bathes in and it’s amazing how much you miss the sea breeze and salty air when you’re not around. Unfortunately, however, to have good beaches, one has to find the places closest to the variety of hotels or restaurants, where they are well maintained or secluded places that many do not know about. And once you do, it’s a keeper for a great walk, a swim, or enjoying all that fresh seafood.
5. Luscious Green: Inland from the beach is the lush green highlands as far as the eye can see with all kinds of exotic flora and fauna. The striking contrast in surroundings as I move away from the outskirts immediately soothes my soul and pacifies my eyes. The cool springs, waterfalls and rivers cascading through all this greenery and heat are unnerving at most!
6. Value for Money – Amidst this natural beauty, five-star hotels line up to provide you with service at a cost that is unparalleled anywhere else. It’s certainly no surprise that Lonely Planet ranked the island at the top of its acclaimed ‘Best in Travel 2013’ list, naming it one of the best value for money destinations on the planet! And the icing on the cake, of course, is the hotel’s skilfully designed pools, spas, lobbies and clubs with breathtaking views of the exquisite lands that surround them, be it the city, the sea or the hills.
7. People: I find myself among crowds of easygoing people with smiles so wide and hearts so big and accessible almost at all times; lucky people blessed with all that this ‘shining land’/’Sri Lanka’ has to offer. People nurtured by an abundance of natural resources and armed with a rich culture and heritage; people awarded with one of the highest literacy rates in Asia and heirs to a multitude of ethnicities and religions. On the other hand, people who have gone through decades of war, torture and political conflicts but who take life easy, always having that glimmer of hope. In the hustle and bustle, I am reunited with my nearest and dearest. Sometimes it seems like a year’s worth is wrapped up in the blink of an eye! I can relax, relax and miss them even before the usual farewells and cults to the elderly begin. Farewells, that is until the next visit my mind is already planning!
And yes, I live in ‘sky’ and have traveled the world (or most of it) and will continue to explore the rest, but one fact remains. Sri Lanka has a charm that does not fade. Simply put, it is a nation that is an amalgamation of all facets of natural landscape, rich culture, and ethnic diversity. And I truly hope for everyone’s sake, including our son’s, that the earth be freed from its current political plagues, that it stay true to its path by accepting all its children as one; and it will always be a sweet home away from home for those of us eternally ‘Sri Lanka bound’ who live in foreign lands. Alas, also for those of us who live on the shores of the earth’s sea – to know, treasure and protect all its value while living there and not from the other side of the fence!