Day 4

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country. I have never seen so many shades of green bursting forth all around me. The splendor of nature here shames the word “life” with its vivacity. Everywhere I look, there’s lush and thriving greenery. And, everywhere I look mangoes and jackfruits hang low on their trees, some as low as my hip. One could just reach out and pluck them. It’s as if the entire country does not realize what treasure troves of delicious sweetness lies within its grasp. I am tempted to be a mischievous imp and pelt down the mangoes with stones or climb the trees and collect some in my skirt and run. Only repeating “foreign national, foreign national” like a mantra has kept me from breaking into a mad frenzy and grabbing the delicious mangoes.
Conversation as B and I are examining crystals and gemstones at a souvenir vendor at Sigriya
Aunty B: Aaah stones. B, didn’t you want a stone for your skin, baby?
B: Umm, err, you mean a pumice stone?
Aunty B: Hmm, that’s not there. Oh okay.

Aunty B is so darn cute! She is also phobic, maniacally phobic about public restrooms. You should have seen her rushing out of one that we had stopped at on the way – it was like the restroom had caught fire!

A step-by-step guide to creating your own Vanar Sena(Monkey Army)
Preparation time: 5-10 minutes.
Step 1. Buy a bunch of sweet Rabutan(a fleshy fruit like the litchi, with red skin and green spikes on the outside).
Step 2. Ignore all warning signs.
Step 3. Feed one Rabutan to one monkey.
Step 4. Stand back and watch. Pretty soon, monekys will materialize from bushes, tops of trees, nooks and crannies of the pathway, eagerly anticipating more Rabutan.
Step 5. Start walking away with the Rabutan. Watch with glee as malicious monkeys snarl and follow you in an attempt to snatch away the fruit.
Step 6. Maintain leadership by holding fast to the Rabutan – even if monkeys threaten to perch on your head. Show them who’s the boss!
Step 7. Enjoy the satisfaction of having led a Vanar Sena, for 5 or 15 minutes or whatever length of time you survived.
Note: Injuries including but not limited to scratches and bites may be experienced. Attempt at your own risk.