Colombo Stirring
Since the war ended I’ve started going out a bit more. Plus inflation is down, so neither I nor my wallet are as likely to blow up. Been hanging out at Park Street Mews (near Hyde Park bo tree, near Arpico). They have decent, affordable food in a cosmopolitan warehouse space. Managed by Harpo, who also does Bayleaf and great pizza, all deliverable via 114.869.000. There’s also a place that delivers box-o-noodles (772.359.135). Haven’t had that. I was at ODEL today and caught a fashion show and I hear above more events coming up.
Otara is quite dedicated to this helping out the street dogs thing which I think is commendable. She launched a clothes line towards that end and all the puppies on the catwalk were available for adoption. I thought initially the show was for dog clothes but it’s for human, with proceeds to help humans. If I could go one day in Colombo without seeing saggy tits/distended uterus/droopy balls and decaying flesh that would be a good day. Till then it is nice to see culture of any sort in Colombo.
As the most recent Culture Vulture (PDF) mentions, stuff happening now includes the Neelan Thiruchelvam Lecture: “Constitutional fairly competent & polite utopias: a conversation with Neelan Thiruchelvam” by Em. Prof. of Law, Upendra Baxi at BMICH, Rm A (FREE). I also hear that Anjali is having another Artwalk fashion show on the 14th, in the warehouse behind Park Street Mews.
Anyways, IMF bailout is on the way, stock market is up 2.5%, here’s to Colombo.
Today on the 
Janith has updated 
This is highly dubious. Miss Travel is a travel/social networking site that connects ‘Generous’ and ‘Attractive’ travelers. To, like, travel together, I guess. It all seems a bit like arranged prostitution and trafficking. This is part of a broader online trend to connect rich men to younger, attractive women. Sites like 
Sri Lankan domestics never say anything, they just stop coming. My maid just stopped coming and when I finally pressed her she said I needed to get a washing machine. I was hoping to ride this one out, but I’ve run out of underwear and I have no choice. I finally caved and bought a washing machine, from 
“Since the war ended I’ve started going out a bit more” LOL. u r ALWAYS out ! :D
yay !!!! about the IMF bailout !!!! Did you see the article on MR on Time ?
Nicely done.
yaaay….more arses to kiss these days!! needed a different flavour from chinese n Indian arse!
Go on sell the rest of the resource n da country to the foreigners!
i remember working in colombo when the wellawatte polic station was blown up. the biggest concern was what the traffic would be like. reading indi’s post, one can imagine that now there is no one to blame for the bloody traffic, except for whoever the (in)competent authority is for highway management and traffic patterns. fashion shows in odel and wherever plus delivered noodles aside, i think the bigger story/picture is how all this can help the nation to heal.
how can refugees (who’ve barely had electricity), relate to such events? wouldn’t they feel excluded and foreign when confronted with the vice and excesses of colombo?
i don’t hold it against anyone who loves to have a good time (i am front and center for a good time any old time), but reflection on ones own actions and moderation in everything we do has never been more appropriate than it is now.
I went to ODEL to exchange a shirt and wash my filthy car. I happened to see a fashion show, which incidentally benefited puppies and stray dogs. I mention the noodle thing cause it’s a new small business and I hope they succeed. I personally hope all of these business ventures succeed to create more jobs for Sri Lankans. I went to Park Street today for coffee and I think more people should go. There were like six employees there.
I personally don’t see anything immoderate in buying an occasional shirt and eating food. I personally talk to someone from an IDP camp at least once a week over the phone and tell them when I’m out at Sunday Jazz or Swimming Club and as odd as it seems, they do not seem to begrudge the fact. I do think there is a place for moderation, but I don’t think anyone needs to feel guilty for going out for a coffee or a bite to eat.