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Mecca and Medina
Visiting Mecca is always this overwhelming experience, even for secular Muslims. I’ve seen the Ka’aba (black square building) for years in pictures and on television, and finally seeing it in real life is both surreal and exciting. The layout and architecture of the mosques in Mecca and Medina gives one the feeling of being on a futuristic movie set. Where everyone is in robes,...
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Phillip Island, Australia
My first trip out of Melbourne was to Phillip Island. The place is a very popular tourist destination both for its scenic beauty and wildlife sanctuaries. The island is named after Arthur Phillip the first Governor of New South Wales and is only an hour’s drive from the city. There are many things you can do in Phillip Island. My itinerary included: Walking along The Nobbies. Lunch...
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Blogging from Melbourne
I am sitting at a Middle Eastern cafe called Zaatar, in Coburg, a cosy suburb in Melbourne. Lined with Arab and Turkish cafes, Pakistani dress boutiques, and Indian restaurants, the place feels close to home. I order a chamomile tea and a piece of baklava so I can sit here and write my fist blog post since May. I am in Melbourne for many reasons....
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Laksa, Malaysia
Laksa has now entered my list of all time favourite things to eat. I just returned from Malaysia where I spent my Avurudu* week eating half of Asia. Malaysia is a great melting pot for Asian cuisine and my next blog posts will feature the different kinds of food I encountered on my holiday there. What is Laksa? Laksa is a noodle soup that...
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Pasar Malam: Malay Food Fiesta
Yesterday I went for ‘Pasar Malam,’ a food fiesta and hawker street organized by the Womens Affairs Committee of the Sri Lanka Malay Association. Having a Malay grandmother, I had been exposed to most of these food items growing up. My grandma loves to cook and she and her sisters make some amazing Malay dishes. A brief history of the Malays in Sri Lanka...
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The Melomanic Sessions
Always a delight to attend. The Melomanic Sessions happen every few months and brings together music lovers to a night of acoustic relaxation. This time Melo was held at “Nuga Sevana” (on the Cathdral premises on Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, near BMICH). I love the venue and the stage underneath the Nuga tree makes for quite a magical experience. I wasn’t there for too...
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Colombo Design Market
The Colombo Design Market has been taking place for the last three months in front of the Laksala store behind the Colombo Museum. Organized by sisters Alifiya and Munira Mutaher and some of their friends, the market is a fun place to socialize, and check out young new artists, designers and performers. It’s also a great place to promote your work. Some of my...
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Lime Tart at Havelock Place Bungalow
The Lime Tart served at the Bungalow is absolutely divine. It’s a rather rich dessert and is best shared between two people. Served with a scoop of ice cream, it’s a great finish to your meal. I love most lime based desserts and this is by far my favourite.
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The Parakrama Samudra
Polannaruwa is hands down my favourite heritage city in Sri Lanka. I had first visited the place when I was about 7, but could not recall that trip too clearly. Then in 2013 I went to help my cousin settle into his medical internship at Polannaruwa and fell in love with the place immediately. The temples and old city are quite a treat. Be...
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Helga’s Folly
Walking into Helga’s Folly in Kandy is like entering a scene from Alice in Wonderland. Surreal and over the top, all I wanted to do was sit down and take in the place slowly. Me being mad cat lover, with a penchant for colourful things, antiques and chaos, walking into the Folly was like being returned home. Which is also a very overwhelming experience...
