India, Maldives, Sri Lanka

February 2000 (18/10 days)

Buddhist monks on the stairs to Sigiriya. Sri Lanka is very similar to India but a smaller, cleaner, less-chaotic and tamer version. Sri Lanka (2/00)

Women tea-pickers lining up to have their tea weighed. Sri Lanka is one of the world largest tea producers. You only see women doing the work, men don't seem to do much in these parts. Haputale, Sri Lanka (2/00)

Young children behind a store-counter is not an un-common sight in Asia. Hill country of central Sri Lanka (2/00).

Sigiriya, a spectacular temple and palace built on top of this huge rock in the middle of the central plains. Sri Lanka (2/00).

If Sri Lanka could resolve its on-going 25 year long civil war, I believe it could become South Asia's most prosperous and progressive country. It has abundant natural resources, an educated population and good climate. Galle, Sri Lanka (2/00).

After 70 days in the world's biggest lunatic asylum (India), I needed a break. I whipped out the VISA, booked a flight and soon enough, I was in the beautiful Maldives ......... ahhhhhh, what a beautiful life !!!

Now that's a beach ! Maldives (02/00).

Some tough decisions to make ..... shall I snorkel over here or maybe over there ? 10 days in paradise, the Maldives (2/00).

Why is the sand so white you might ask ? Because its not sand, its dead coral grinded up into a soft fine powder. The beach just outside my cabin, Maldives (2/00).

In the pool.

On the cocunut tree.

Come take a seat........The island nation of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. In 10 days here I spent more money than in all of India. Hey, you can't be a budget backpacker your whole life !!

Email Reports

Subject: 10 days in an island paradise - Maldives

Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000

Here's what you get for $150 per day at a 4 star resort occupying its own island in the Maldives.

All-you-can-eat break/lunch and dinner. Most know that I like to eat. One particular dinner they had Blackforest Cake as part of the desert spread. I casually strolled over and before you knew it half the cake was on my plate ! To cut a long story short, they did not make money off me in the food dept.

Huge plush beachfront bungalow/villa with vaulted ceiling, king-sized bed (the 1st proper non-rock-hard one in months), a/c etc. It was one of the top-range rooms and I got it because I was whining and bargaining so hard (...I'm a student....I'm from Malaysia NOT America or Japan...blah blah....) so rather than drop the price they offered an upgrade. It was such a pity to have the place all to myself. When I saw it the first thing which came to mind was to call everyone and have a BIG PARTY. It could've slept 10 easily.

I actually did not fit in very well with the majority of the resort clientele who were mostly snotty rich types. When our speedboat ferry arrived at the resort pier I casually slung my now-grotty backpack on my shoulders and trotted to reception. Of course, rich types don't carry their own luggage, thats the bell-boys job. You should have seen all the funny what-are-YOU-doing-here glares I got.

Maldives is a nation of 1100 coral islands and atolls in the Indian Ocean. 87 of these has been developed as high-end resorts and most can be walked around in just 1/2 hour. For 10 days I ate, slept, drank, sailed, went fishing, snorkelled, lazed around the pool, lazed around the beach....real stressful stuff.

Too bad I didn't come here 2 yrs ago. 1000 yrs of coral build-up, amongst the richest in the world, was totally wiped out in spring 98 due to a freak heat wave. The devastation is 100%, very sad indeed. Underwater was a like a nuclear blast zone but above water was some of the most beautiful pristine beaches and clearest aqua blue waters imaginable.

Now in Sri Lanka. Its real nice here and a marked improvement from India although its similar in look and feel. Been here 6 days now and haven't gotten blown-up yet...yeah !

Got a haircut this morning, the 1st in 2.5 months. I walked in, sat on the barbers chair and he just started hacking away. Never asked what I wanted and I didn't bother telling him either. It's one of those places where he'd been cutting hair everyday for the past 40 yrs and his father and his fathers' father etc....so if you sit on his chair he'll cut it the way he pleases. Anyhow, for $1 it was not a bad hack-job. Mother, that is 100 times less than what your stylist extorts from you every 6 weeks !!

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