I love living out here, but like all places there are a few things that do annoy me. The most frustrating one is trying to get a job of work done at a fair price. On top of the fact that EVERYONE seems to be trying to make a fast buck its no help that I have two handicapped by the fact that I am obviously not a local and that I do not have a firm grasp of the language.
Bargaining in the market place over a piece of art, even the good natured banter with a border guard or customs office I enjoy - its the guys who are so blatantly out to make a fast buck that really really piss me off.
I think I'm ranting... not only did I have to spend the entire day trying to get the radiator fixed, but the maid had her bag flinched which meant I had to get the locks changed since her bunch of keys went missing too.
My weekend... I'm hoping will be a good one. I'm to leave for Togo on Sunday - apparently a rather adventurous decision on my part according to the almost everyone I've mentioned this to. The road "hasn't been repaired since the 2008 rains" I hear, which should make things interesting. Have given my self two days to make the 1000km trip to Lome with an open decision about which route I'll take on my way back. Worst case scenario I'll swing by Accra, Ghana, and drive North back to Burkina...
From what I've read, the route to Lome is a spectacularly scenic one through a range of mountains. I'm looking forward to it.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Life in a West African country
Its five months since I moved here to Burkina Faso and I'm looking back rather bemused by the entire thing.
While re location was something that was on the cards, it was more a project simmering in the back than an active one. When it did boil over, it happened at a speed that was unexpected as it was unlikely!
I had just got back to Colombo after a tour of the region, my annual pilgrimage to touch skin and bring myself up to speed on ground realities. But I digress.
Moving here has been a challenge - twice so due to the fact that I have had to grapple with the intricacies of a new language. And that is something that I have always found difficulty in, learning another language.
Burkina Faso, formally the Republic of Upper Volta, gained independence in 1960 from France. It had its first coup in 1966 when the army intervened after much civil unrest by student as and unions. Four years later a new constitution allowed for a military-civil government leading to the election of a democratic government in 1977.
Since then there have been 3 other coups, the most recent one in which current President Blaise COMPAORE came to power in a 1987 military coup and who has subsequently won every election since then.
BF has one of the worlds lowest GDP's, and agriculture represents 32% of the its gross domestic product - livestock, sorghum, pearl millet, maize, peanuts, rice and cotton.
In my five months here I become accustomed to leading a rather sedate, sheltered life style. Ouaga offers little in terms of entertainment, though there is a thriving art and culture scene patronized by western expats and the upper society of Burkinabè.
There is a lively club scene, a number of places that come alive closer to mid night, throbbing with a mix of Western, West African pop and traditional music. What ever is playing, the floors are packed as the night owls party the dark hours away. One interesting phenomenon I've seen across the region is the tendency for the girls to dance alone, facing the mandatory mirror on one wall... for a single guy, this can be a rather interesting spectacle indeed!
Dining out is a pleasure, and with dictionary in hand I've sat down to feast upon a range of cusines from Africa and around the world.
That said, the ability to enjoy a tradional west african staple meal is deffinitly aquired.
A typical West African meal is full of starchy items, meat, spices and flavors. The wide array for staples across the region is made up of Fufu, Banku, Kenkey, Couscous and Gari which are served alongside soups and stews. Fufu is generally prepared from starchy roots like yams, cocoyams, or cassava, but could also come from cereal grains or plantains. Banku and Kenkey are maize dough staples, and Gari is made from dried grated cassavas. Rice-dishes are eaten in the region, more so in the dry Sahel belt to the North. Examples of these include Benachin from the Gambia and Jollof rice, a pan-West African rice dish similar to Arab kabsah, with its origins from the Wolof people of Senegal.
The most popular spice is that of the seeds of Guinea pepper (Aframomum melegueta; also called grains of paradise or melagueta pepper) a native West African plant, were used as a spice.
Both tomatoes and chillies have become a basis of cooking apparently introduced by western cultures
In reality local cuisine and recipes of West Africa remain in local customs and traditions, with ingredients like rice, Bambara and Hausa groundnuts, black-eyed beans, brown beans, and root vegetables such as yams, cocoyams, sweet potatoes, and cassava. Cooking is done in multiple ways: roasting, baking, boiling, Frying, mashing, and spicing. A range of sweets and savories are also prepared. Plantains, peppers and green peas, citrus fruits, and pineapples, are legacy of slave ship traffic between Africa and the New World and Asia.
Water remains the preferred beverage in the region, usually the first thing to be offered to a guest. Green tea is very popular, especially amongst the Muslim population though the consumption of black tea seems to be increasing, albeit in small increments. Palm wine is also a common beverage made from the fermented sap of various types of palm trees and is usually sold in sweet (less-fermented, retaining more of the sap's sugar) or sour (fermented longer, making it stronger and less sweet) varieties.
More to come
While re location was something that was on the cards, it was more a project simmering in the back than an active one. When it did boil over, it happened at a speed that was unexpected as it was unlikely!
I had just got back to Colombo after a tour of the region, my annual pilgrimage to touch skin and bring myself up to speed on ground realities. But I digress.
Moving here has been a challenge - twice so due to the fact that I have had to grapple with the intricacies of a new language. And that is something that I have always found difficulty in, learning another language.
Burkina Faso, formally the Republic of Upper Volta, gained independence in 1960 from France. It had its first coup in 1966 when the army intervened after much civil unrest by student as and unions. Four years later a new constitution allowed for a military-civil government leading to the election of a democratic government in 1977.
Since then there have been 3 other coups, the most recent one in which current President Blaise COMPAORE came to power in a 1987 military coup and who has subsequently won every election since then.
BF has one of the worlds lowest GDP's, and agriculture represents 32% of the its gross domestic product - livestock, sorghum, pearl millet, maize, peanuts, rice and cotton.
In my five months here I become accustomed to leading a rather sedate, sheltered life style. Ouaga offers little in terms of entertainment, though there is a thriving art and culture scene patronized by western expats and the upper society of Burkinabè.
There is a lively club scene, a number of places that come alive closer to mid night, throbbing with a mix of Western, West African pop and traditional music. What ever is playing, the floors are packed as the night owls party the dark hours away. One interesting phenomenon I've seen across the region is the tendency for the girls to dance alone, facing the mandatory mirror on one wall... for a single guy, this can be a rather interesting spectacle indeed!
Dining out is a pleasure, and with dictionary in hand I've sat down to feast upon a range of cusines from Africa and around the world.
That said, the ability to enjoy a tradional west african staple meal is deffinitly aquired.
A typical West African meal is full of starchy items, meat, spices and flavors. The wide array for staples across the region is made up of Fufu, Banku, Kenkey, Couscous and Gari which are served alongside soups and stews. Fufu is generally prepared from starchy roots like yams, cocoyams, or cassava, but could also come from cereal grains or plantains. Banku and Kenkey are maize dough staples, and Gari is made from dried grated cassavas. Rice-dishes are eaten in the region, more so in the dry Sahel belt to the North. Examples of these include Benachin from the Gambia and Jollof rice, a pan-West African rice dish similar to Arab kabsah, with its origins from the Wolof people of Senegal.
The most popular spice is that of the seeds of Guinea pepper (Aframomum melegueta; also called grains of paradise or melagueta pepper) a native West African plant, were used as a spice.
Both tomatoes and chillies have become a basis of cooking apparently introduced by western cultures
In reality local cuisine and recipes of West Africa remain in local customs and traditions, with ingredients like rice, Bambara and Hausa groundnuts, black-eyed beans, brown beans, and root vegetables such as yams, cocoyams, sweet potatoes, and cassava. Cooking is done in multiple ways: roasting, baking, boiling, Frying, mashing, and spicing. A range of sweets and savories are also prepared. Plantains, peppers and green peas, citrus fruits, and pineapples, are legacy of slave ship traffic between Africa and the New World and Asia.
Water remains the preferred beverage in the region, usually the first thing to be offered to a guest. Green tea is very popular, especially amongst the Muslim population though the consumption of black tea seems to be increasing, albeit in small increments. Palm wine is also a common beverage made from the fermented sap of various types of palm trees and is usually sold in sweet (less-fermented, retaining more of the sap's sugar) or sour (fermented longer, making it stronger and less sweet) varieties.
More to come
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Girl RD
A new (kind of) Super Hero was born last week - one who stands up for women s rights, ' even the ugly ones' in touch with he's feminine side.
Its a bird, its a plane, no its Girl RD!
I'm a fan, and I really do mean this sincerely. It cant be easy being a Super Hero, especially when nasty bad guys who stare at women s breast decide to act all kindergarten and go around posting your mug on lamp posts - makes coming home to the family and claiming that it was just another day at the office hard to make
So, in tribute, let me give you our Super Hero Girl RD revealed!
PS
Any resemblance to a real person or situation is purely coincidental (had to say that, else I might have the CID's of five countries, my ISP, mom , dad, estranged ex and god knows who else after me)
Its a bird, its a plane, no its Girl RD!
I'm a fan, and I really do mean this sincerely. It cant be easy being a Super Hero, especially when nasty bad guys who stare at women s breast decide to act all kindergarten and go around posting your mug on lamp posts - makes coming home to the family and claiming that it was just another day at the office hard to make
So, in tribute, let me give you our Super Hero Girl RD revealed!
PS
Any resemblance to a real person or situation is purely coincidental (had to say that, else I might have the CID's of five countries, my ISP, mom , dad, estranged ex and god knows who else after me)
"Look mommmy, I wet my pants"
Kids I tell you, so cute they are - the things they do. Sometimes its un intentional, lost in a world of their own hardly aware of just how cute they are drawing, playing, splashing around in a puddle.
Of course, there are the exceptions to the rule too - those kids are creepy, those are the ones who rip wings off butterflies and look around to see if the world is applauding, those are the ones I wonder if they were kept too long at the breast or perhaps not enough, perhaps they were kept in their diapers till they were twelve, for what ever the reason the are the kids who go "Look mommmy, I wet my pants"
And then they grow up...
They get into fights, I knew of a chap, who was dating this really sweet girl, a chap who could not go into an empty public toilet and NOT get into a fight! How the heck do you do that?
Its strange the length to some people will actually go to to get some attention. Most of us just get drunk and act silly, walk around with a dopey look on our faces ogling the girls. A few on the other hand turn to venting their frustrations on random bits and pieces of furniture and attempting to re arrange someone else features.
The advert of the blogs has certainly taken things to an all new height indeed! Just a few weeks ago there was a short discussion about why one blogs, was it for self or not. I am of the school that subscribes to blogging for ones own pleasure - I think that if you do something out of passion and enthusiasm, then only do you do it well. And then perhaps someone out there may stumble upon it and find in it something that stricks a chord - now that's good stuff.
Then of course there are the "Look mommmy, I wet my pants" blogers who blog to get attention - these ones tend to lean towards the extrema in their apparent out look of life in general, preaching the high moral ground not un like those extremist who go around bombing and shooting random people all around the world.
Sad people, you got to feel sorry for them... but oh some of them are so good! The lengths that they go to, you got to give em credit for effort! There was this one chap with a duel personality, one male the other female... he's female persona would write nasty bitchy almost threatening e mails to the people who commented on the post he wrote! Now just how sicko is that? The thing is, if you look at he's blog a majority of he's posts do take a rather high moral stand, there is just no live and let live with this chap at all. Its he's business really, but I'm glad he's there because to remind me about the kid who rips wings off butterflies.
Of course, there are the exceptions to the rule too - those kids are creepy, those are the ones who rip wings off butterflies and look around to see if the world is applauding, those are the ones I wonder if they were kept too long at the breast or perhaps not enough, perhaps they were kept in their diapers till they were twelve, for what ever the reason the are the kids who go "Look mommmy, I wet my pants"
And then they grow up...
They get into fights, I knew of a chap, who was dating this really sweet girl, a chap who could not go into an empty public toilet and NOT get into a fight! How the heck do you do that?
Its strange the length to some people will actually go to to get some attention. Most of us just get drunk and act silly, walk around with a dopey look on our faces ogling the girls. A few on the other hand turn to venting their frustrations on random bits and pieces of furniture and attempting to re arrange someone else features.
The advert of the blogs has certainly taken things to an all new height indeed! Just a few weeks ago there was a short discussion about why one blogs, was it for self or not. I am of the school that subscribes to blogging for ones own pleasure - I think that if you do something out of passion and enthusiasm, then only do you do it well. And then perhaps someone out there may stumble upon it and find in it something that stricks a chord - now that's good stuff.
Then of course there are the "Look mommmy, I wet my pants" blogers who blog to get attention - these ones tend to lean towards the extrema in their apparent out look of life in general, preaching the high moral ground not un like those extremist who go around bombing and shooting random people all around the world.
Sad people, you got to feel sorry for them... but oh some of them are so good! The lengths that they go to, you got to give em credit for effort! There was this one chap with a duel personality, one male the other female... he's female persona would write nasty bitchy almost threatening e mails to the people who commented on the post he wrote! Now just how sicko is that? The thing is, if you look at he's blog a majority of he's posts do take a rather high moral stand, there is just no live and let live with this chap at all. Its he's business really, but I'm glad he's there because to remind me about the kid who rips wings off butterflies.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
This is war
Over the last few weeks (months?) I've read how the Sri Lankan forces a "few days away' from wiping out the LTTE once and for all.
In those same weeks I've read and heard about the efforts taken by the GOSL to ensure the safety of those Sri Lanka's caught in between the Sri Lankan army and the the LTTE cadres as both sides edge up to a final confrontation.
While the LTTE has no obligation except for perhaps a moral one to ensure that no harm falls upon the very people on who's behalf they claim to be fighting for, the GOSL certainly does have an obligation, be it to those in the South, West, North or East of the nation.
What the actual ground situation is, very few of us know. Independent reporting of the situation is in fact virtually non existent and hardly anyone outside of the corridors of power and those at the front itself have an idea of the extent to which Sri Lankans have become causalities - in both a physical and mental sense
War has casualties, and what the Sri Lankan army is doing is something which should have been done a long time ago, an all out offensives to wipe out the LTTE who have over the last three decades brought so much misery upon all Sri Lankans. BUT this effort will be of no use unless there is solution to the core issues that brought us here.
That independent reporting is not allowed will more likely than not give rise to claims of severe civilian casualties, of atrocities, of gruesome deaths at the hand of the Sri Lankan armed forces. There is so much that 'Official' reporting can do after all
The most recent claim that of "The silent horror of the war in Sri Lanka" By Arundhati Roy
Understandably the GOSL has come back with a strong response questioning the source of her claims.
But is there getting away from the reality that Sri Lankan's are dying? If you happen to browse the site that carried Ms Roy's article, you will come across images most disturbing, of women and children and old people dead, killed in such a manner that screams out loud STOP!
Be warned, the images are disturbing, they are shocking to those of us cosy in our homes anywhere else but the theater of war
But it cant can it? And more people will die before this ends, more will be come traumatized and mentally disturbed before there is a light. I only pray that its not in vein, that at the end, we will find away to live together as Sri Lankans.
In those same weeks I've read and heard about the efforts taken by the GOSL to ensure the safety of those Sri Lanka's caught in between the Sri Lankan army and the the LTTE cadres as both sides edge up to a final confrontation.
While the LTTE has no obligation except for perhaps a moral one to ensure that no harm falls upon the very people on who's behalf they claim to be fighting for, the GOSL certainly does have an obligation, be it to those in the South, West, North or East of the nation.
What the actual ground situation is, very few of us know. Independent reporting of the situation is in fact virtually non existent and hardly anyone outside of the corridors of power and those at the front itself have an idea of the extent to which Sri Lankans have become causalities - in both a physical and mental sense
War has casualties, and what the Sri Lankan army is doing is something which should have been done a long time ago, an all out offensives to wipe out the LTTE who have over the last three decades brought so much misery upon all Sri Lankans. BUT this effort will be of no use unless there is solution to the core issues that brought us here.
That independent reporting is not allowed will more likely than not give rise to claims of severe civilian casualties, of atrocities, of gruesome deaths at the hand of the Sri Lankan armed forces. There is so much that 'Official' reporting can do after all
The most recent claim that of "The silent horror of the war in Sri Lanka" By Arundhati Roy
Understandably the GOSL has come back with a strong response questioning the source of her claims.
But is there getting away from the reality that Sri Lankan's are dying? If you happen to browse the site that carried Ms Roy's article, you will come across images most disturbing, of women and children and old people dead, killed in such a manner that screams out loud STOP!
Be warned, the images are disturbing, they are shocking to those of us cosy in our homes anywhere else but the theater of war
But it cant can it? And more people will die before this ends, more will be come traumatized and mentally disturbed before there is a light. I only pray that its not in vein, that at the end, we will find away to live together as Sri Lankans.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Dogs In The Yard
its been one of those days, when all I wanna to do is go get lost.
Just worked out that its been 15 months since I've taken a break from work and this probably explains why I feel a little run down.
I need a break, I need sometime and space to myself, I feel the need to just run crazy.
I wanna
Just worked out that its been 15 months since I've taken a break from work and this probably explains why I feel a little run down.
I need a break, I need sometime and space to myself, I feel the need to just run crazy.
I wanna
I want to be bad
And not even care
I want to go out of my head somewhere
I want run crazy
Like the dogs in the yard
I want to cut the rope
But it's getting so much harder
I think I'll play poker
Stay out every night
Throw stones at the water
In the morning light
I want to be lazy like the dogs in the yard
Why can't I fly tonight?
Why can't I sleep all morning?
I'm going out of my mind tonight
That's where I'm going
That's where I'm going
Gonna have a good time
Before it's too late
Come on, baby, let's go uptown and celebrate
Gonna celebrate!
We're gonna run crazy
Like the dogs in the yard
We're gonna fly tonight
We're gonna sleep all morning
We're going out of our minds tonight
That's where we're going
That's where we're going
Paul McCrane - Dogs In The Yard
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Talented Walking Wizard
One of those days with very little to do and even less to say, so what happens then? Surf, aimlessly on the world wide web looking for this that and nothing.
Along the way I discovered The Hero Factory - how can you resist not seeing what comes up?!
Voila, The Talented Walking Wizard
What was truly amazing is the appearance of a title which was spot on to the character I had in mind as I scrolled through the various options open to me. Was it the selection of the staff that triggered the software to pick that particular name? How the heck did it know that I was thinking wizard, spells, cool...?!
Along the way I discovered The Hero Factory - how can you resist not seeing what comes up?!
Voila, The Talented Walking Wizard
What was truly amazing is the appearance of a title which was spot on to the character I had in mind as I scrolled through the various options open to me. Was it the selection of the staff that triggered the software to pick that particular name? How the heck did it know that I was thinking wizard, spells, cool...?!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Was reading Rantings in Colombo this morning and came across one of the most beautiful lines of prose I've read in a long time - If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you.
The simplicity of those few words and the weight of them, the implications in that entire line just stopped me cold. Dammit, why cant I think of something so cool like that?! About the most articulate I have able to be were a combination of two grunts and a barely audible, 'well, I kind of like you'....
So what options are there for an inarticulate male in the 'knock em out of their socks' terms of endearment department - I'll tell you, the titles and lyrics of songs!
Over the years, out of idle curiosity I rush to assure anyone reading this I've compiled a list of songs which are supposedly, theoretically, able to convey my heart and souls longings to the luck (or not) recipient.
All of the come under the title of SOB, the meaning of which if I am asked nicely, I may be cajoled into revealing.
With no further ado my list then
Afterglow - INXS
All I Want For Christmas - Mariah Carey
Amazed - Lonestar
Annie's Song - John Denver
As Long As You Love Me
Beautiful Soul - Jesse McCartney
Because Of You - Tony Bennett
Breath - Faith Hill
I'm Calling - Celine Dion
Come What May - Nicole Kidman and Ewan Mcgregor
Crazy Love - Brian McKnight
For You - John Denver
Forever In Love - Kenny G
From The Inside - Ben Harper
Goodbye My Lower - James Blunt
Help Me Make It Through The Night - Gladys Knight and The Pips
Here For You - Firehouse
Here I am - Air Supply
Here With Me - Dido & Enya
How To Save A Life - The Fray
I Finally Found Someone - Bryan Adamas & Barbara Streisand
I Have Always Loved You - Enrique Iglesias
I hope You Dance Ronan Keating
I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight – Air Supply
I Live My Life For You – Firehouse
I Love You Just The Way You Are – Billy Joel
I Love, Need And Want You – Patti Labelle
I Need You Now – Firehouse
I Only Want To Be With You – Hottie and The Blowfish
I Think We Are Alone Now – Tiffany
I Wanna Be Your Everything – Keith Urban
I Want To Hold Your Hand – Sung By TV Caprio
I Will Be Right Here Waiting For You – Richard Marx
I Will Find You - Enya
I Won’t Go Home Without You – Maroon 5
If Tomorrow Never Comes – Ronan Keating
Inside Your Heaven – Carrie Underwood
It’s Your Love – Faith Hill & Tim McGraw
I’ve Had The Time Of My Life – Bill Medley
Killing Me Softly Roberta Flack
Lost – Michael Buble
Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley
Love of A Lifetime – Firehouse
Love Me – Collin Raye
Missing You Now – Michael Bolton
Neon Moon – Brooks & Dunn
No Matter What – Boyzone
Not Fire, Not Ice – Ben Harper
Oh What A Night – Billy Joel
Secret Lovers – Atlantic Star
She’s Always A Woman
She’s Got A Way – Billy Joel
Somewhere Out There – James Ingram & Linda Rostand
Spend My Life With You – Eric Benet
Standing At The Edge Of The Earth – Blissid Union
Stolen Moments – Hank Snow
Sweet Love – Anita Baker
Thank You – Dido
Thank You For Loving Me – Bon Jovi
The Closer I Get To You – Luther Vandross
The Love I Found In You – Jim Brickman
The One That You Love – Air Supply
The Way You Look Tonight – Toney Bennett
The Way You Make Me Feel – Ronan Keating
This I Promise You – Both The N’sync and The Ronan Keating Versions
Together Forever
We Belong – Pat Benatar
When I Look In Your Eyes – Firehouse
When I See You Smile – Firehouse
When You Really Love A Woman – Bryan Adams
White Flag – Dido
Wouldn’t It Be Nice – Beach Boys
Wrapped – Gloria Estefan
Yesterday – The Beatles
You And I – Kenny Rogers
You Are The Love Of My Life – Jim Brickman
You Decorated My Heart – Kenny Rogers
You Don’t Have To Be Alone – N Sync
You Are All I Nee – Kelly Clarkson
The simplicity of those few words and the weight of them, the implications in that entire line just stopped me cold. Dammit, why cant I think of something so cool like that?! About the most articulate I have able to be were a combination of two grunts and a barely audible, 'well, I kind of like you'....
So what options are there for an inarticulate male in the 'knock em out of their socks' terms of endearment department - I'll tell you, the titles and lyrics of songs!
Over the years, out of idle curiosity I rush to assure anyone reading this I've compiled a list of songs which are supposedly, theoretically, able to convey my heart and souls longings to the luck (or not) recipient.
All of the come under the title of SOB, the meaning of which if I am asked nicely, I may be cajoled into revealing.
With no further ado my list then
Afterglow - INXS
All I Want For Christmas - Mariah Carey
Amazed - Lonestar
Annie's Song - John Denver
As Long As You Love Me
Beautiful Soul - Jesse McCartney
Because Of You - Tony Bennett
Breath - Faith Hill
I'm Calling - Celine Dion
Come What May - Nicole Kidman and Ewan Mcgregor
Crazy Love - Brian McKnight
For You - John Denver
Forever In Love - Kenny G
From The Inside - Ben Harper
Goodbye My Lower - James Blunt
Help Me Make It Through The Night - Gladys Knight and The Pips
Here For You - Firehouse
Here I am - Air Supply
Here With Me - Dido & Enya
How To Save A Life - The Fray
I Finally Found Someone - Bryan Adamas & Barbara Streisand
I Have Always Loved You - Enrique Iglesias
I hope You Dance Ronan Keating
I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight – Air Supply
I Live My Life For You – Firehouse
I Love You Just The Way You Are – Billy Joel
I Love, Need And Want You – Patti Labelle
I Need You Now – Firehouse
I Only Want To Be With You – Hottie and The Blowfish
I Think We Are Alone Now – Tiffany
I Wanna Be Your Everything – Keith Urban
I Want To Hold Your Hand – Sung By TV Caprio
I Will Be Right Here Waiting For You – Richard Marx
I Will Find You - Enya
I Won’t Go Home Without You – Maroon 5
If Tomorrow Never Comes – Ronan Keating
Inside Your Heaven – Carrie Underwood
It’s Your Love – Faith Hill & Tim McGraw
I’ve Had The Time Of My Life – Bill Medley
Killing Me Softly Roberta Flack
Lost – Michael Buble
Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley
Love of A Lifetime – Firehouse
Love Me – Collin Raye
Missing You Now – Michael Bolton
Neon Moon – Brooks & Dunn
No Matter What – Boyzone
Not Fire, Not Ice – Ben Harper
Oh What A Night – Billy Joel
Secret Lovers – Atlantic Star
She’s Always A Woman
She’s Got A Way – Billy Joel
Somewhere Out There – James Ingram & Linda Rostand
Spend My Life With You – Eric Benet
Standing At The Edge Of The Earth – Blissid Union
Stolen Moments – Hank Snow
Sweet Love – Anita Baker
Thank You – Dido
Thank You For Loving Me – Bon Jovi
The Closer I Get To You – Luther Vandross
The Love I Found In You – Jim Brickman
The One That You Love – Air Supply
The Way You Look Tonight – Toney Bennett
The Way You Make Me Feel – Ronan Keating
This I Promise You – Both The N’sync and The Ronan Keating Versions
Together Forever
We Belong – Pat Benatar
When I Look In Your Eyes – Firehouse
When I See You Smile – Firehouse
When You Really Love A Woman – Bryan Adams
White Flag – Dido
Wouldn’t It Be Nice – Beach Boys
Wrapped – Gloria Estefan
Yesterday – The Beatles
You And I – Kenny Rogers
You Are The Love Of My Life – Jim Brickman
You Decorated My Heart – Kenny Rogers
You Don’t Have To Be Alone – N Sync
You Are All I Nee – Kelly Clarkson
Friday, March 20, 2009
Silence
The area around the Grand Marché of Ouaga is usually a hive of activity with people constantly on the move as trucks load and unload goods coming in from the port towns of Tema and Lome and go out to the villages.
The roads around this area are a constantly moving panorama of people, cars, lorries and moto's - motor bikes of every hue and color. The sounds are a medley of people talking, selling and buying, the growls of engines, the honk honk of the ice cream sellers - the one sound conspicuously absent to my ears is the sound of automobile horns - unlike in SL, in these countries the use of horns considered to be extremely rude and only resorted to in an emergency.
All this happens from Monday to Saturday, from 0800hr till 1800hr; except for one hour on Friday.
On Friday at 12 noon a silence descends upon the market as the roads around the Great Mosque are closed off to vehicular traffic. From every direction the faithful come to spread their prayer mats on the roads around the mosque, to kneel as one facing Mecca brought here by a tradition that goes back to the days of the Prophet Mohamed.
There is a quietness in the air and an cold tingling along the back of my neck as I watch these people in their 100's kneeling and standing in unison, the hum of these multitudes voices praying to their one god.
This particular day my senses were assaulted in another way too, a light sprinkle of moisture falling from the heavens, the first rain I have seen in almost 6 months. As the water fell upon the hot tar of the roads, that peculiar warm damp smell rose of the ground in faint clouds of steam, hitting me like a steam roller - for that smell I associate with the roads of SL, of seeing the steam rise of the roads there, smell that fresh, warm, clogging smell that is so intense.
I miss my home, I miss the lush greenness of my mother land, the richness of its soil.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Of change
I've been following the writings of indi.ca now for quite sometime with a growing sense of admiration for style content and bluntness.
Kudos indeed for voicing out in simple, precise language what I hope are the thoughts of a growing segment of Sri Lankans.
Indi's most recent post democracy-is-a-practice certainly articulates that nothing comes free, everything needs an effort, bringing to mind the words of a the fox in The Little Prince - that what makes something important is the time and effort spent on it.
Indi, may the force be with you and those who have the courage to stand up and speak. While my geographical location prevents me from being at Alexandra Circus this evening, my thoughts and spirit will most certainly be there. It is time to stand up, it is time to make a change in SL, not for the Sinhalese or the Tamils, the Burghers or the Muslims, not for any group, but for all of us, Sri Lankans!
The leaders we chose to lead our nation have corrupted, abused and raped what was indeed paradise - through thuggery and thievery, through greed and petty mindedness they have systematically torn everything that was good about Sri Lanka.
I was taught to worship the robe, not the person who wore it, a tradition form a time when a monk shunned all things material, lead by example, provided spiritual guidance to the populace. When I read about and see the wealth that is accumulated by the very people who are suppose to shun it, I am ashamed, ashamed that our society looks on in silence, even encourages such behavior from the ones who should know better. The day a monk sat in Parliament was the day that I stopped worshiping the robe, for I dont know whether its a a fox, a wolf or a sheep inside!
Nothing is irreversible, even this. All it takes, to use the thoughts of Edmund Burke, is for 'good men to do something'.
I hope there are more Indi's out there
Kudos indeed for voicing out in simple, precise language what I hope are the thoughts of a growing segment of Sri Lankans.
Indi's most recent post democracy-is-a-practice certainly articulates that nothing comes free, everything needs an effort, bringing to mind the words of a the fox in The Little Prince - that what makes something important is the time and effort spent on it.
Indi, may the force be with you and those who have the courage to stand up and speak. While my geographical location prevents me from being at Alexandra Circus this evening, my thoughts and spirit will most certainly be there. It is time to stand up, it is time to make a change in SL, not for the Sinhalese or the Tamils, the Burghers or the Muslims, not for any group, but for all of us, Sri Lankans!
The leaders we chose to lead our nation have corrupted, abused and raped what was indeed paradise - through thuggery and thievery, through greed and petty mindedness they have systematically torn everything that was good about Sri Lanka.
I was taught to worship the robe, not the person who wore it, a tradition form a time when a monk shunned all things material, lead by example, provided spiritual guidance to the populace. When I read about and see the wealth that is accumulated by the very people who are suppose to shun it, I am ashamed, ashamed that our society looks on in silence, even encourages such behavior from the ones who should know better. The day a monk sat in Parliament was the day that I stopped worshiping the robe, for I dont know whether its a a fox, a wolf or a sheep inside!
Nothing is irreversible, even this. All it takes, to use the thoughts of Edmund Burke, is for 'good men to do something'.
I hope there are more Indi's out there
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