South Coast Weekend

Click here for photos from our weekend on Sri Lanka's south coast. Pat's surfing skills continue to evolve, thanks to the consistent waves and plethora of beachside surf shops in Weligama.

Home for the Holiday Lights

Click here from photos from some of the many holiday light displays we have visited this week around Portland -- The Oregon Zoo's Zoo Lights, Pioneer Square Christmas Tree, Alpenrose Dairy's Storybook Lane, Peacock Lane in SE Portland, and the Christmas Ships parade along the Willamette River.  We timed a trip to the Portland Saturday Market with the Santa paddle board parade, though credit for that photo goes to The Oregonian. 

Happy holidays to all!

Underwater Colombo

Click here for photos from Pat's recent dives with Island Scuba. He has been diving just offshore from Colombo, where there are a dozen or so wrecks to explore. If you have an Instagram account, you can click here for video of an specially friendly pufferfish. 

There are a few above-the-ground shots in the album too - featuring some of the festive holiday decorating we've been seeing around Colombo and some great sky views. 

Meanwhile back in Portland... Drew was recently featured in a promotion for a local surf shop, Cosube. 

Thanksgiving Week 2018 - Sri Lanka; South Coast

The photo above was taken at Talalla Beach on Sri Lanka's South Coast at sunset the day before Thanksgiving and November's full moon Poya Day.  

Click here for more photos from our Thanksgiving week spent enjoying Sri Lanka's south coast, from Hiriketiya to Talalla to Weligama. We walked along some of Sri Lanka's most scenic beaches, saw a peacock take flight, took in amazing sunsets, and were happy to see so many tourist kicking-off the South Coast's high season, in spite of political unrest. 

For more on the political situation in Sri Lanka, this brief video provides a excellent summary. 

Click here to watch a quick video of the fish we saw being dragged on shore and sold literally fresh off the boat as we passed through Galle on our way back to Colombo. 

Meanwhile back in Oregon, click here for a few photos of the kids enjoying a late Fall sail and Thanksgiving with great friends.  

And finally, here's a recipe for our favorite Sri Lankan dish, Pol Sambol. We can make sambol fresh at home now with the coconut shredder I got for my birthday.

• 1/2 fresh coconut, shredded
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 2 Tbsp crushed red pepper
• juice of 1 lime
• diced red onion to taste
• optional add-ins include diced tomato, dried fish flakes, cumin, mustard seed

Turtle Time

We spent the holiday weekend on Sri Lanka's south coast, in Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa. Both towns have lovely beaches, but Hikkaduwa gets our vote due to their resident population of sea turtles. The turtles hang out near shore, along the Hikkaduwa coral reef, and are very happy to be hand-fed sea grass. Click here for more photos of our turtle feeding experience and time at the coast. 

Peaceful Protest - Perplexing Politics

The protest photo above was taken a few days after Sri Lanka's President made a controversial and unexpected decision to dismiss the country's Prime Minister, replacing him with the previous president. Debate continues as to whether this action was constitutional and if the decision will hold once a Parliamentary vote called. You can read more about this evolving constitutional crisis by clicking here. 

Click here for a few photos from our daily life here in Sri Lanka, which has not been disrupted by the current political situation, at least not so far. It's interesting to talk politics with locals and ex-pats alike - debating what might happen next and/or whose country has more controversy on any given day.

October is a less-than-ideal weather month in Colombo, when monsoon season is most likely to impact the city. The sunsets have been lovely when the skies are not overcast, and though it's still very humid, the temperature is bit more moderate. Evening thunder and lightening storms have been frequent, and we experience occasional rainbows.

Celebrating Luna's and Diego's B'nai Mitzvah

Congratulations to our good friends Luna and Diego and their family on the occasion of their B'nai Mitzvah. Click here for party photos.

Thank you Tony, Lee, Elan, Luna, Diego and Ari for a great evening of dancing and celebrating.