A Collection of Daily Wisdom by Dennis Sylvester Hurd since September 2003.

(Jump to Sunday the 24th.) This afternoon, so guys came to cut down some tallk but 'unproductive' coconut trees. It's better to clear them and allow new ones to grow. One guy shimmies up, cuts the top off, and a group pull the branches in an appropriate direction.

During the very first tree . . . a storm blew up. It got very dark and the wind increased. A few random leaves started blowing around. When the rain came, it was steady and hard. For the past week, evening rains kept coming a bit earlier each day.

The power stopped flowing. It's now 8:50 pm and I'm writing by the light of a kerosene lamp. The ice cream the the refrigerator is melting but I can't eat anymore! The poor dog is shivering by the front door.

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004

Lal and elder sister left later this morning to go back to Negegoda. During last night's bottle, Lal did decide that they'll come back on Sunday for our last evening here. The day was uneventful and it seemed very nice to have things get back to normal. Auntie's neice did stop for a visit. She'd had a leg removed at the knee due to diabetic complications. We're beginning to think about the four nights in Singapore now. Jay was checking the tourist board information that we picked up when coming through. That was back at the beginning of September! That sounds so long ago but feels so recent. We even reconfirmed our air tickets today.

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004

Jay's mother died exactly one year ago. Some arose from bed at 5:00 am but most food had to be made right before being consumed; for example, the fruit salad, and fried fish.

By 11:00 am everything was ready and the monks arrived exactly on time at 11:30 am. The big Monk and his understudy spoke a bit, but mostly they'd come to be served lunch. There seemed to be fairly elaborate etiquette. The order and progression of the food was served by the family members:

• soup
• boiled vegetables
• rice and curries
• choice of dessert
• king coconut water
• coffee
• araka nuts & beetle leaves

A relic from the temple was a representative for the Buddha and was given an offering of food. After the occasion, this uneaten food can be given away to beggars or provided to animals. Additionally, packets had been bought and wrapped for the monks. They contained sheets, towels, soap, toothpaste, toothbushes, sugar, milk powder, and tea. The head Monk received a purchased packet which cost around $US 25 and included the complete set of orange-coloured robes.

There was a time for all of us to eat when the monks had departed. They had come and gone in a van which Jay's dad had arranged for. We cleaned up a bit and the same van came back at 3:00 pm to take us to the mother's gravesite. The family has just had some tile work done for the headstone. They burned incense and lite oil lamps. We stayed only for a brief time. At the cemetery, there was a funeral going on for a 26-year-old railroad worker who'd been hit and killed by a train.

The house is getting all back to word as I am writing this . . .

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004, temple

Lal arrived while preparations were ongoing. As well as food, the living room had to be rearranged. The furniture was temporarily stored in dad's room. A chair and table covered with white linen was prepared for the Monk. Mats were placed on the floor so we'd have a place to sit.

The Monk arrived after dark. He spoke in English for a few minutes as I was there. He's translated message was about 'merit' and Buddhism. It also contained reasons not to be sad for the loss of Jay's mother. The talk lasted on hour. A big dinner for family started after he'd left. A whole bottle of Arak was drunk too. I slid into bed late but the sisters were up til after 2:00 am getting food ready.

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004

They're at it again -- making food that is! Jay's making a fuitcake. His sisters are preparing pickles, and a type of sweet dessert. This time the preparation is for tomorrow's dinner and Thursday's lunch. The one-year memorial for Jay's mother will take place here. There was a similar 3-month occasion that was very elaborate. This one will be smaller with just family members and a few neighbours.

Tomorrow, in preparation, a monk will come in the evening for a sermon. Then on Thursday's lunch, seven monks will come for a big almsgiving. I don't feel out-of-place here but these days promise to be a new experience. I hadn't seen Jay's mom since my 1991 visit.

On a completely different note: I walked 5.7 kilometers around the neighbourhood here. Without my GPS, I'd have been royally lost. We're only about ten miles from the international airport but the roads and paths to home are pure jungle! Once I was only 570 meters from the house but walked a way which was impossible to traverse. I had to reverse back to another road. I saw, among other things: rice paddies, a swimming hole, a temple, and a school where little kids were anxious to try out their English lessons. The shouted, "What's your name?"

Labels: food, GPS, Sri Lanka 2004, temple

Earlier in the day, tuktuk driver, Lal and a neighbour came to help put up a new television antenna. Jay and his sister picked up one yesterday. The current antenna booster requires wiggling and cajoling very often now. What good is a remote control, if one has to constantly get up to adjust the booster? Jay bought it when he worked in Saudi, so it has given sufficient service.

Later in the afternoon, the family planned a huge shopping list. They will need to make a very, special meal on Thursday. Although, it could have taken place at the temple, they've decided to host the one year memorial of Jay's mother's death in the house.

Labels: Sri Lanka 2004, temple

Many hours today were spent buying and preparing food. Jay and younger sister went to the Sunday Market this morning.

This afternoon everyone was cooking. Lots of food is needed as Jay's sister-in-law is going to work in Cyprus. This was a sudden opportunity and was not being considered even back when we all travelled to the elephant sanctuary. She is coming from Nugegoda and this house is directly on the way to the airport. Other in-laws will be coming, so there will be twelve plus the five of us.

The availability of convenience foods has exploded here since my last visit. There are individual packets and innovative packaging. I never realized the actual work involved between the tree and coconut milk for a curry! Now, however, there is instant powder that comes in boxes. Just like the allure of homemade food, doing it by hand takes a long time but is still considered the 'real way'.

As a general rule, if we spent less time saving time, we might enjoy the experiences of living life. Who wants to eat products that are untouched by human hands?

Labels: food, Sri Lanka 2004