Dutch is a very challenging language to learn, because the constant adjustments in the ‘official’ spelling of Dutch words make for a chaotic and inconsistent linguistic environment. A short blog but I need to keep going. I have been busy with translation work and this issue has been bugging me, hence the post. More recipes and Sri Lankan ramblings ...
The Exotic Delights of this Fruitful Island From the humble banana to the notorious durian Sri Lanka boasts numerous exotic fruits and the local markets are awash with colour. Fruit market in Galle Fresh fruit – especially the ever-popular pineapple, banana and papaya – often comprise dessert in Sri Lanka. Yet, there are so many other, more exotic varieties available, ...
Reblogged from Squirrel Translations: What is GTT? Actually, it is just the acronym of Google Translator Toolkit, a feature of Google that is especially designed to help you translate texts and that is actually VERY different from our old friend (or enemy?!?) Google Translate. Of course I do not want to advertise Google products and denigrate other softwares, but ...
I am honestly scared to support anybody now in the Euro 2012 Championship. I’m a jinx; every team I support loses. Ireland were kicked out yesterday and Holland are only hanging on by the skin of their teeth. Most people expect me to support England now… and perhaps I will but not publicly on this blog (only maybe if they ...
I’ve always been a bit of a rebel; going against the grain of what was expected of me. It started in my pre-teen years; alcohol, boys, bleaching my hair (I must add here that the first two were quite formidable because I grew up in one of the strictest Muslim countries in the world – Kuwait). My parents had amazing ...
The Sri Lankan captain celebrates the semi-final win Oh boy I’m nervous and I’m not even a massive cricket fan. Sri Lanka are playing in the final tonight against the West Indies in the ICC World Twenty20. For all you non-cricket fans out there click here for a bit of background. Now normally I only get excited about Holland in major ...
This video was released yesterday (11th of September, 2014 – actual party was August 2013) by my friends at HikkaduwaNET.com . I’m giving this a really big like and have decided to share this…. Because it’s really good and produced well Because Funky de Bar is awesome – it’s not just a bar, it’s also a great place on the beach during the day ...
My hunger has returned after the Dutch humiliation of yesterday but the less said on that the better. Friends and family tell me we are still in the championship – I think they are hugely deluded. So today some Irish flavours to complement the calm enjoyment of watching a football game when “almost” completely neutral. I would like to see ...
All football fans the world over will know that Euro 2012 kicked off yesterday (this football tournament is second only to the World Cup in the football world) and you may or may not know this but I am Dutch. Yes, from Holland, country of canals, tulips, windmills, cheese and FOOTBALL. And there is absolutely nothing else in the world ...
In case you hadn’t noticed it’s Rambutan season in Sri Lanka. Stall holders are selling these little bright fruits absolutely everywhere and at frightfully cheap prices too (the cheapest I have seen is 3 rupees for 1 on the Kalu Ganga bridge at Kalutara near the Kalutara Vihara). I’ve been told these ridiculously low prices (last year they were more ...
When I first came to Sri Lanka in 2003 I have to be honest and say that it took some time for my western palate to adapt to some of the fiery dishes on offer here. The following dish, however, I was instantly addicted to. I adore potatoes and to have them served fried with onions was already a favourite. ...
Another brilliant piece by my friend Michael about the real impetus behind the very Brexiteers now in charge (I use the term loosely) of the British Government. The world deserves to know about this so reblogging it! Padraig Colman Many detached observers have asked what the point of Brexit is. Who benefits? Many people have asked the simple question: why ...
I haven’t had time to blog much lately as I have been really busy but just wanted to share this with you today. Dale Mahon, a great friend of mine, wrote this out of the blue on his phone on a train journey from Colombo to Hikkaduwa. It’s poignant, poetic but most of all brings to life imagery in words. ...
Excellent piece by my friend Michael O’Leary if you’re wondering what the hell is going on in UK politics these days. Padraig Colman This article was published in Ceylon Today on September 26 2019 https://ceylontoday.lk/print-more/41193 I have been reading a very depressing book called How Democracies Die by Harvard professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt. They go back as far ...
A gathering of 100,000 Theravada Buddhist Monks in Thailand So, I’ve had my first (but certainly hopefully not my last) taste of Thailand, well the Bangkok suburbs to be exact. 3 nights and 2 days of a new country and culture hardly makes me an expert but as I mostly live in Sri Lanka these days, I thought it would ...
When you come across treasures like these it’s a disgrace not to share. Thanks to my dear friend Asanthika for sharing them with me. 1894 – Bentota Bridge from Aluthgama Galle Road – 1880 Coconut tree climbers A Tamil family – lovely and fascinating people with hearts of gold Buddhist Singhalese living on the river (Ratnapura Lake – famed for ...
If I had a euro (or even a rupee) for every time somebody told me that I was so lucky to live in paradise, how happy I must be and how that person wished they were me, I would be, one, quite bloody rich and two, probably quite a bit happier. Many expat/travel blogs will bore you senseless with fantastic ...
It may be happening to all of us, but we all react in wildly different ways. I am getting less relaxed about this now. Not that I was relaxed about this to start with but a few panic attacks later with a severely tight chest, and then yesterday a few dry coughs, and some crazy apps to people in the ...
No football here today. My apologies if you ventured on here to find a football recipe today. It’s not going to happen – I’m too sore. Rest assured that I will try to put aside my prejudices in time for the quarter finals. Don’t be expecting any German or Portuguese food yet though. These things take time. Instead I’ll give you ...
