Cultural Contrasts

Arrive back in Colombo at 04.30am this morning and already it's 29 degrees and there are paper lanterns everywhere - a reminder that I've been away during the most important religious festival in the Sri Lankan calendar - Vesak day. What a temperature and cultural contrast to the last week spent in France in 12 degrees and revelling in the snippets of afternoon sunshine ...

After Paris we jumped on the train to Rouen, which is the closest transport hub to my parents village. Then by car for 30 minutes through green and yellow fields, forests, past 15thc and 16thc houses and chateaux. Picturesque in the way that only Europe can be.

Finally we arrive at this beautiful old homestead on 5 acres which my parents have gradually renovated over the past 18 months. 2 dogs going crazy with excitement; 4 chooks indifferent to our presence, and oh the serenity!

Over the next few days I meet their delightful neighbours and friends; go to the local market; eat crepes in the village square; um and ah at the local hypermarche and generally feel a million miles away from development work in Sri Lanka. Food for the soul.