Just a week back and already it feels like a lifetime. I think this stint will be good. highlights include attending a gala reception at a five star hotel of an international NGO, which was started up in the 1950s as a recognized front for the CIA and the State Department for its Cold War activities in the Asia-Pacific region (and as a result has been banned from certain countries). Even now, this NGO trains local foreign service personnel and is involved in defence issues. Met the old trustee emeritus of this NGO, who talked to us about declassified information about American military movements in the Phillipines in the 50s and how he still influences the strategic direction of this NGO. Over 50% of their funding comes from the US govt, some reputedly from slush funds, although 10% is still voted on by Congress.
Then, went to a school opening ceremony in the South, in a resettled village by a Texan, with journalists and reporters. There was a poster welcoming me and my colleague by name, as well as our organization, and it was beautiful. I released a white dove into the sky, trembling (the dove), terrified, strangely feeling alive at that moment. There was an auspicious ceremony at the time, where the Buddha was installed in his shrine, and Rebs was telling me how she had transported him last night from Ambalangoda, in the back seat, with seat belts on.
We were driving along Galle Road past Weligama, and we came to secluded beach cove, and the three of us snatched a moment, the first time since I've come to Sri Lanka where we've just kicked off our shoes, ran into the waves with our clothes on and got half-drenched and felt so alive, with a storm brewing off the coast and the palm trees bending double in the wind. Getting back into the van, the driver started playing Eminem and as we drove past a Buddhist shrine, he switched it off for 2 minutes and then immediately switched it on as we passed it. Such reverence! A true devotee. And so it goes.
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