Boredom @ work # 2 : The Long Process of Applying Mehendi (Henna)

So once again I found myself staring off into space and trying to stop the continuous shake of my leg (which incidentally, my colleague finds very annoying) when I also realised that the mehendi (henna) I had applied (well my neighbour really) was very dark! No seriously! The colour was Super dark! And mind you this was couple of days after it had been applied. So imagine the colour on the day I had applied it!

Note: Yes I do often find myself bored @ work don't I? Don't get me wrong its not that I don't have work; its just that I have a concentration span of 5 seconds, so I easily get distracted. And yes don't think that the thought of me being chucked out of my workplace hasn't crossed my mind. It has. In fact, its been a constant Damocles' sword over my head- if you know what I mean?

But for now, lets put it all behind us and temporarily live and let live... And pray my boss doesn't read this.

So here's pics of my pretty mehendi (henna) decorated hands- lets take time to appreciate this fine art; although I do despise the smell. I kid you not- it is absolutely revolting!

                      Left: Inner Right Hand                   Right: Outer Right Hand

Outer Left Hand & my (grandma's, but now mine!) Precious Infinity Ring

Inner Left Hand (duh!)

My colleague took these photos; she's so nice!

Its all very pretty isn't it! But let me tell you this- its hard work!

First of all, you have to painstakingly sit still through the whole process without fidgeting! (Can you imagine that?!) Sometimes (well every-time) I wonder if its really worth it, but then if this is the result,... then I guess its fine.

Next is the agony of being unable to use your hands until the mehendi (henna) is completely dry! And even then you still do not have the capability of fully operating of your limbs.

 And then of course your stomach decides to betray you and get hungry and do all sorts of somersaults inside. Absolutely painful when you can't eat with your hands. (You sort of start to realise how lucky you are to have two fully functional hands; although you're still cursing the hunger!)

Now even after your hands are all dried up, they say it (the  henna) should not be immediately washed if you want to achieve desired results such as the colour in the pics above. (But here's the thing- I don't really believe this! I think a couple of hours or three does the trick as long as you don't immediately wash your hands with soap! And if you're really desperate to get an amazingly dark colour, rubbing a little bit of eucalyptus oil on your hands can go a long way- I think...)

But amidst all this is the test of your patience. Like I mentioned before the smell is repulsive! I don't know how some people like it (yeah there's people who actually like it!) So let me warn you- during all of the above stages, keep your hands away from your nose! As far as possible.

I repeat: Keep hands AWAY from nose, at all times.

You'll see what I mean when you go to brush your teeth the next morning and have your hands in close proximity to your nose.

Piece of advice- Take a deep breath before starting to brush; be violent; and be quick!

See how much trouble this is!

But we women like to torture ourselves- so be it!

Go enjoy some more pretty pics.

(Well, It is pretty isn't it?)

The KOTTU walk...

The most amazing aroma followed by the clash of metal against metal, wafted in my direction as I lazily took another step towards home. This was the making of (*drumroll*) - KOTTU!

The Kottu (it looks better than this & smells & tastes EVEN better!)

The Sri Lankan signature dish, the kottu is one of the most coveted dishes amongst the locals, anytime of the day. You get the egg kottu, chicken kottu, beef kottu, mutton kottu (ok so, i dont know about this one for sure... but yeah...), cheese kottu, and (the Mother of all kottus!) the CHICKEN - CHEESE KOTTU!; and also something called the "Dolphin" Kottu, which I have personally never tried- and NO! its not made out of Dolphin- for crying out loud! But it's a major hit and a must try! (Dont worry, its on my To-Do List as well...)

In a sense, this dish has it all; not only the spices and typical Sri Lankan flavours one is looking for in a local dish, but also the essence of a hard day's labour of the kottu-maker! :p [Hey! not trying to gross you out- but this really is how the dish is and I bet you still won't find a similar dish elsewhere!]


This dish, in short is the perfect Sri Lankan treat at any hour of the day. Especially in the late hours, after dark, outside the premises of 'Pilawoos' [a Sri Lankan restaurant on Galle Road, nowhere near a 5-star hotel, but the Food! OMG! The FOOD...] in the comforts of your vehicle (or discomfort, if all your friends and you are cramped in one mini-van!] OR at the shores of Galle Face at 'Toyna's Nana's' with the cool ocean breeze against your face and the sea salt making your food even saltier! [Moment of Bliss! I tell you... Pure Bliss!...]

The KOTTU is a complete Sri Lankan combo with the Sri Lankan spices and flavours in taste, and the local 'baila' music associated with its making!... 

Being Sri Lankan

So you've obviously guessed I'm Sri Lankan (high five on that!) well if you still haven't- then now you know. Sri Lanka is a teeny tiny tear-shaped island in the Indian Ocean and its awesome!

Reasons why its awesome:

01. Its a Beautiful place (no seriously! I'm not being biased..)
02. The people here are awesome
03. We have a SUPER cricket team!
04. The food here is pretty damn good! (especially the KOTTU!)
05. Diversity
06.Cultural Heritage
07. Festivals
08. Ayurveda & Spas
09. Wildlife;
10. The main language we speak- Sinhala, is so damn difficult to understand, and if you have successfully mastered it, it comes in handy whenever we want to have a-very-not-so-pleasant-one-sided-conversation! (If you know what I mean?) [Hey I'm not being rude!- but admit it! you'd do it too!]

 these are just some usual reasons, but -

11. [The MOST IMPORTANT reason!] - We have the MOST number of HOLIDAYS in a year! (yeah, we roll like that...)

Now I could go on all day; so let's put a pause to that.

This page is all about what it means to be Sri Lankan (not that I know what that really even means, apart from being born here and having a natural citizenship!) but its more focused on little things we do that make us who we are- Proud Sri Lankans!

Yes yes, I'm very patriotic and all; but I do acknowledge that we have a whole bunch of flaws. However, it does not mean that I will ever say anything demeaning about my motherland. (Well... at least not out loud.... Fine!  - at least not in front of people from other countries ok?!)

I'm not saying we're perfect! I'm just saying this is who we are!

BOREDOM @ work # 1 : The Plant sitting on my Colleague's Desk.

There may have been a time when it could have been said that this Plant, of unknown origin, was a real beauty. It would have been a head-turner in its time, and the subject of all conversations of its opposite gender counterparts (as much as I'd like to call this plant a 'she'; its still giving me a 'he' vibe; so I'm sticking to 'it' and leaving the rest to you...)

I like to wonder the life this plant may have lead. In its days of glory; it must have surely been constantly surrounded by its loud and silent admirers alike, all watching it bloom into the young subject (I am seriously lost for words...) of their dreams. Its parents may have nurtured it with such care and seen it grow to be the pride of their tribe. They may have envisioned such dreams for their young one.

However, one thing was for sure! - this plant had seen better days before coming into the possession of my- so- unhygienic- it- is-evil colleague.


Although traces of the plant's beauty can still be observed, it is clearly past its prime. Everyday is a battle against inappropriate temperatures and unquenchable thirst. Its once green and yellow leaves are now brown and shriveled up. The tall, straight, majestic, bamboo- like stem now screams in the plight of the injustice it faces; its royal status which had been so wrongfully stripped off of its stature by deprivation of water. The plant also bears the horrific scars delivered by the tip of a blunt blue ball point pen. The soil beneath its feet was now mere dark sand and the plant was beyond the help of the other colleagues who secretly poured water in hope of keeping it alive another day.





The evil colleague just ignores the silent, yet very visible cries of injustice from the plant everyday; waiting for that day when this plant could be disposed off and another brought in its place. Maybe this is exactly what my colleague's life had become. But everyday, this once stunning plant, silently sits on her desk in a beautiful, white, ceramic vase, awaiting a slow and painful death.
(I'm still not sure if its the plant or the vase I'm drawn to; maybe both...)

But we have a plan. Not one other plant will be victimized to this torture at her hands.

Solution: We will gift her a CACTUS!