Sunday, November 30, 2008

TNL OnStage 2008 - Finals



This year OnStage finals was superb, I honestly didn’t expect that much from the event. I was over thrilled by the performance of most of the bands especially ‘Nemisis’, ‘Ethereal’, ‘Love Me Dead’ and the soloists like ‘Rajitha’, ‘Dee’ and others; they were really good. But most importantly it was ‘CivilizationOne’ what the people were waiting for. And they ROCK !!

I missed the preliminaries and the semi's but glad i attended the Finals. I loved ‘Ethereal’ playing ‘Eye of the Tiger’ and ‘Nemisis’ playing ‘Nadee Ganga’.

The TNL OnStage band category winners were ‘Nemisis’ while the solo category was won by ‘Indumini’.

More info : TNL OnStage, TNL Rocks, Rock.lk

Hike to Handun Ella


Ranga was telling me about this place at Kithulgala where they have some estate type of property, in his blog he has posted many pictures of eye-catching waterfalls and stuff. We were planning on this trip to Kithulgala for quite some time; finally we made a decision to go there on 29th November, but I was planning to attend TNL OnStage finals on that evening, so we planned the trip to be back in Colombo by 7pm.

We started the trip early as 6.30am, I picked up Lahiru, Dilina and Dharshana on the way to Ranga’s place. Parked the car at his place and all of us got into his van and we were on our way to Kithulgala. About one hour later we stopped at this hotel called ‘Weerasiri’ at Puwakpitiya for breakfast and there was this buffet for only 120 bucks. Now folks, that’s a quite decent place to have the breakfast for a good price. Without wasting much time there we continued our journey again. By the time we arrived at Kithulgala it was almost 10am. Got down from the van and the guys were ready to roll :). Ranga told us there is a footpath through the jungle which leads to this waterfall, since it was raining time-to-time, there would be loads of leeches on that route, to avoid all that trouble we decided to go with the water stream which leads to up to the waterfall. The route was very long but it was just AMAZING.

(Going through the water stream)


After about one hour we were near one of the small type of waterfall, as we couldn’t continue going though the water stream anymore we stopped there for a while and had some snacks.

(Having a snack and finally reaching the 'Handun Ella' waterfall)


Then the bad part; we had to take the jungle route to go to the waterfall from that point :( and yes there were dozens of leeches waiting for us on the way. Quickly all of us went through the jungle footpath and we were at the waterfall removing all the blood suckers from our bodies. After that we jumped in to the water and it was good fun. The waterfall was amazing and there was a little cave kinda place which we could swim and go. The whole thing was superb and the reason why it’s still not polluted is; there is no easy way to reach the place.

After spending some time in the water we were hungry and came back for lunch. This time we had to take the jungle route :( yup it’s the leeches and it was raining too :( Just after having lunch we were on our way back to Colombo. Everything except the rain and leeches was great.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Mafia at Sigiriya & Dambulla


We have talked much about going to Sigiriya but we couldn’t go there since me and Udara were busy. Natty was a bit upset about not taking her to Sigiriya and finally Udara and I agreed to take her there. The day we chose was Saturday the 15th November. Initially we were planning to stay the entire weekend and I was going to make a booking at Cinnamon Lodge but later I was informed that I have to be in Colombo by 10am on Sunday so we changed our plans to a one day trip. On Friday the 14th November, Udara and I discussed the time we should leave and we agreed on leaving Colombo by 4.30am, the next thing Udara told me was that he is going out on that night and I told him not to get late since we had to wake up early. Natty also told me that she is also going out and what the hell I also went out ;).

I managed to come back home by 1.30am and as I stepped in to my place I saw a text message from Udara saying “Call me at 4.30!” I went to take a nap but something was bothering in my head so didn’t sleep at all. Around 2.30 I got a text message, this time it was Natty, she was saying that she is going to D’s from Sugar, yeah whatever!

Called Udara and woke him up at 4.30, then directly called Natty and it was the time she got to her place, GREAT! Somehow Myself and Udara went to Natty’s place by 5am and we were on our way to Sigiriya by 5.15am. When we reached Ambeypussa we were hungry and we stopped there had the breakfast buffet for a decent price. By the time we arrived at Sigiriya it was around 8.30am.

Right at the entrance of Sigiriya there was a wired guy who turned out to be some tour guide, and we asked him about the price of tickets for foreigners, and the price for them was 2700 bucks where as for me and Udara it was just 40 bucks each. No wonder why Sigiriya is called the 8th wonder of the world…! Udara tried to play his little trick to get Natty a ticket of 40 bucks but it got failed, so there goes 2700 bucks :(. There isn’t much to see at Sigiriya apart from some paintings.

(Sigiriya paintings)


(Sigiriya paintings)


By 1.00pm we got down from Sigiriya and we headed to “Vil Uyana”, now this place is truly awesome..!

(Vil Uyana - The Entrance)


(Vil Uyana - The pool)


(Vil Uyana - A place to chill)


After having lunch at “Vil Uyana” we went to Dambulla Temple, and there is the 9th wonder of the world, they charge 1100 bucks as the ticket price for foreigners, and for locals it’s free. Where else on earth would they issue a ticket to see a damn temple?? I think this whole thing is a bloody MAFIA

Monday, November 3, 2008

2008 Formula 1 finals


Well it was thrilling till the last movement. I was hoping that the history would not repeat this time for Hamilton. My heart stopped at the final lap when Vettel overtook Hamilton, but thanks to Gloak and Team Toyota for their stupid decision, my heart started functioning again.


(Lewis Hamilton, the champion of the 2008 Formula One season)

I love Ferrari but in this particular season I’m a little more Hamilton Fan :) (Come on you have to pick a side rite?). It’s no doubt that all Formula 1 fans have felt the excitement of yesterday’s race. And before I go any further respect all the other drivers and teams.

Now this is what Nadike had to write on my Facebook wall..

"F1 F1 F1
F1 rocks the world
well not as much as football
but still it rocks the world

Massa Massa Massa
he is the world champion
well not in the stupid records
but in peoples' hearts
Hamilton Hamilton Hamilton
boy almost screwed it up boy needed his mummy
when Sebastian Vettel overtook him
in last minute of the game

Champion champion champion
boy made it somehow
Massa entered to the flag as the champion
and left as the runner up
how the hell Lewis did it?
well he did nothing
unless Toyota and their stupid driver Timo Glock
and also his stupid dry tires,
Massa would be the champion
champion champion champion.

F1 F1 F1
Massa Massa Massa
Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari
Rocking Rocking Rocking"


Ok, I know that there is “some” truth in it, but here goes my comments.
  • “not as much as football" - Get a life dude.
  • “not in the stupid records” - Now that’s what mater because just refresh your memory on the 2007 Formula 1 season.
  • “almost” - That word almost, its either you win or its nothing; No almost!!
  • “when Sebastian Vettel overtook him” - Even I felt butterflies in my stomach to be honest, but didn’t you see how Massa cried at the end? Oh I forgot he covered his face :D
  • "Massa entered to the flag as the champion" - Respect but, its like winning a battle but losing the war.
  • “how the hell Lewis did it?” - That’s not even a question, check how Massa got in to 2nd position and how Kimi swept back to 3rd in Shanghai. Oops…
  • “also his stupid dry tires” - Decisions made by Toyota are not what Hamilton or Massa could control.
  • “Massa would be the champion” - Again refresh your memory on last Formula 1 finals.
  • “Massa Massa Massa” - Conclusion: Massa is good but Hamilton is a little better.
Now Massa/Ferrari fans please accept the defeat and don’t tell me that Ferrari won the Constructors championship, that ain’t news for me.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

A different Halloween


We were planning on going to Shine for some Halloween party which Udara told me, Thursday morning he called me and said we'll go to Natty's place by 8pm Friday, what 8pm??? isn't is too early? I asked him, he said we'll be celebrating Dinendre's birthday also so he thought it would not be that early.

Finished my work and came home went to take a hair cut, had a shower and saw about 2 or 3 missed calls from Udara and Dinendre. I called both of them and told that I’ll pick them by 7.45 ish. Then Dinendre called me up once again and said that he'll be going to Natty's place directly and he asked me to pick Udara and come there. So, I picked up Udara and one of his friends and on our way to Natty's place we stopped at Pillawoos and bought Cheese Chicken Kottu.

Finally we arrived at Natty’s place around 8.30pm, soon Dinendre and others joined us there. And we started the party (well this meant to be the warm up kinda thing) what a surprise 2 of our people were in deep trouble even before the midnight.. Damn…!! (I do not wish to go into detail here as this is opened to the public, use your own imagination to get a picture of what I’m saying)

Yes, the Halloween began when the owners of the Natty’s apartment came, and they kinda asked us to leave the place :(. We somehow managed to stay quiet and hanged there till about 2 in the morning. We left the apartment around that time and I headed home to bring some “stuff”, during that time Wehitha and others has gone to Shine and we were also on our way there, soon we figured out that the party is almost over. Went to Pillawoos had the usual Ice Milo and went to Wellawatta beach and stayed there for about another 2 hours and came back to Natty’s place because we had some “cleaning stuff” to do. Ya I know that’s one wired Halloween.