Sri Lanka

We landed in Colombo today around 12 midnight, traveling from Hong Kong via Bangkok. The flight was smooth. Service on Sri Lankan Airlines was good. The flight attendants all seem to be dressed more scantily than most airline personnel I've seen, but maybe that's because midriffs are standard in South Asia women's wear.

We waited an hour for the bus that would take us to the Blue Oceanic Hotel. Many folks were waiting as well. A group of Marines walked through the terminal with equipment. Two guys sat at a table outside customs registering for http://www.volunteersrilanka.org. It was set up partly by Microsoft, evident by their logo on the banner. Signs directing aid workers for the tsunami disaster were posted everywhere.

Blue Oceanic Hotel is next to the beach. Though we couldn't see it, we could hear it. The hotel staff were quite helpful, as well as the driver, but I was unsure whether to tip. We ended up not tipping.

It is about 1:30 am now. I'm in a pensive mood. I can't help but ponder about being in a country where only two weeks ago, such horrific tragedy befell and from which they still reel from. I can't help but think of the ocean waters just outside my window and the carnage those very waters wrought on the people of Sri Lanka. It is sobering to say the least. I say a prayer for the dead, dying, and living before going to bed.