Adventures in Sri Lanka - Aug 2018

In so few words.. I was glad I made this random trip! 

It was not high on my bucket list but the timing, flights and limited days I had during that time frame fitted like a glove so it was the best place for me to explore.  Wished I had more days!!!

I am very glad I did make this trip some 9 months ago and I went by my lonesome.  This is my preferred way of travelling - come and go as I please. To do more or less and eat whatever takes my fancy!

I started off at the Nagambo fish market upon pick up by my Driver and we did a round robbin...covering the major tourist places from mountains to the sea and safaris inland and before I forget, just make sure you get the right Driver for your trip.

I had to sack mine because he was a control freak and gave me attitude.  Can't believe I put up with his nonsense for 4 days and I pulled the plug on him before we arrived at Tissa.  Luckily with the help of the Manager of my Tissa accommodation, I found another replacement Driver and he was like an angel sent by heaven to make my last few days stay so wonderful. 

It was action packed and I cannot remember all the tongue twisting long names of places I have been to, but trust me I covered a lot of grounds in 10 days.

Ministry of Crab - highly recommended

Mirissa - insta spot

Some temple ?~?

Red hoppers --- sooooo delicious

Templed out! I could easily turn vegan whilst in Lanka and throughly enjoyed the local cuisine. Took almost 2000 photos according to my phone in my Lankan album but will not load anymore for now.

Some of many things I did whilst I was racing from one end of Lanka to the other like I was on the Amazing Race!!.........Safari, tea plantations, Ella, Kandy train ride, stilt fishermen, waterfalls, elephant sanctuary, spice garden, try a wood apple, take a local bus which is not for the faint hearted, herbal ayurvedic treatment/massage that comes to mind.

Eva's lst Party

Finally, it happened on the 7th April 2019.  Eva had her belated lst birthday at the Alexander Room of Madeline's Cafe in Jells Park, Wheelers Hill.

The weather was perfect at 25c and the turn out was great considering some did not brave the "Eva bug"!!!

The room decor did not turn out as I had planned and was a shambles and we ran out of time to decorate the table etc.  The balloons got popped more than we could string them together. Nothing could stick on the walls. It was a nightmare and I finally called it quits and gave up the "look" I wanted to create for the party but the guests laughing, eating, drinking, chatting away and having fun soon made up for the disaster!

Food food food... plenty of food being served on platters - cold/hot and the desserts were incredible.  Credit goes to Lola Evelyn for all the baked goods and there was more than 10 varieties of desserts, we were all spoilt for choice!  

Becky's MacRob girl gang

Eva in my daisy garden bed!

Red velvet cupcakes

Esp for you Eva - your mommy and her bridesmaids 

The birthday cake 

Assortment of cupcakes - vanilla etc

Ball pit

Nothing like what I had in mind!!!

Aunty Sophie's popcorn was a sellout!

3 daisy balloons up - better than nothing!

Eva & PohPoh Sim

Hot food skewers 

Getting ready for the birthday singalongsong

Popping balloons are so much more fun than blowing 

Antipasto platter

Eva's friends from Baby Sensory

The "plonk it here" door gifts table - lol

EVA ON DA DAY ... 

Eva is still recovering and is still not 100percent today (11/4) but her appetite has improved.  She is eating well and hopefully will put on some weight!

Eva was overwhelmed at her party.  I guess she was not used to seeing so many people together at the one time and all singing happy birthday to her.  As the day went by, Eva opened up more as initially  she was very clingie to mommy.  Towards the end she was having fun with her boy cousins and grand aunty Elanor.

In a nutshell, it was short and sweet and 2 hours flew by too fast.  The was plenty hot/cold food platters served and easily more than 10 varieties of cakes/sweet desserts made by the grandmas apart from the 3 birthday cakes which were made to order.

Lots of dessert "doggie bags" left with the guests when the party ended.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING TO MAKE EVA's 1st BIRTHDAY A SPECIAL ONE

Snowy's Departure

23rd May 2019....our family (pet) member Snowy had to be put down as the Vet could not do anymore for her.

We always knew we had to come to terms with this "D" day one fine day but never expected it to happen so suddenly 2 days ago - going to the Vet's for a 2nd checkup because of a blood nose and Snowy never came home!  Snowy was diagnosed with cancer and kidney failure, so with heavy hearts we let her go so she no longer have to endure the pain and suffering.

Snowy was Becky's 21st birthday present.  I grew up with dogs back in Malaysia... but dogs are dogs and they live outside the house in the open and get fed left over scraps of human food.

Snowy on the other hand was a "human dog".  She was an inside dog and slept with we us in our beds!  You could also call her a "slut" as she moves around the house throughout the night and sleeps a few hours with each of us taking it in turns.

14 years of her companionship and Snowy loved us as much if not more than we loved her.  Snowy had a good life.

Snowy was by my bedside everyday when I broke my leg and was bed ridden for 7 months....tyvm Snowy!  No matter where we may be in the house, you only have to call Snowy once and she will come to you unlike Charli.

Snowy loved her food..sunbaking..walkies..playing in the parks chasing birds and she loved having a shower followed by a blow dry afterwards.  Besides some of the things I mentioned, Snowy is a very affectionate dog.

Snowy loves Eva as well.  Lately, Eva has been seen giving Snowy more pats and sayang...(love).  When Eva is old enough to read I hope this blog will touch her heart as she is too young now to remember Snowy when she grows up in years to come!

I could go on and on about Snowy but just wanted to mention that when she first moved in with us, I did not allow it but slowly very slowly Snowy grew on me and I just wanted to document that whoever said a "dog is a man's best friend" is so true cause Snowy definately was a true example and will be sadly missed but never forgotten.