It's been strange times in the last 72 hours or so. We've departed India and arrived in gorgeous, tropical Sri Lanka. The transition has been head spinning. Sri Lanka for one, has about 880 million less people than India (that's a book-learning fact, readers) so life here is not as frantic, loud, chaotic, or desperate. At least that's my initial view after seeing the capital city Colombo and coastal retreat Hikkaduwa. The people are very warm and laid back, and the land, sea and air are close to unspoiled. We love it here already.
What has been strange and heartbreaking has been the news from Japan. Having no T.V. or internets, we'd been oblivious to the news until a Swiss woman at breakfast approached us yesterday (probably thinking that YWL was Japanese) with the grim tidings. Sleeping eight feet from the water line had already assured that thoughts of tsunami were not far from our minds, but these dangers seem abstract until the worst happens (and typically the worst is always happening to someone far away in a foreign land). The Sri Lankans, having lost thousands in 2004, are especially sympathetic towards the situation faced by Japan. I'm hesitant to ask any of the locals about their experience in 2004, because I can't imagine that there is anyone here for whom that wasn't the worst day of their lives. It's just very sad to hear the news as it seems to continually worsen, but if Sri Lanka is any example, the worst of it will come to pass, people will recover, and life will again move on.
Full review of India to come including photo highlights. And of course, pics from Sri Lanka coming soon.
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