After five months of preparation we finally arrived. Sri-Lanka or, as understood by its various colonizers, Ceylon.
I must confess the hardest part was not conducting a research nor working with a group and finding the right angle for this project but, to see my little two year old daughter waiving bye-bye at the window as I left. My dear wife is also included in this moment of departures as it is the first time we are separated for such a long time. Not that long, 9 days all together, but long enough. I am sure the same was true for Eric and Charles.

We all met at the Business School where we took a van straight to the airport. As we had a couple of hours to kill we decided to have breakfast which was quite nice.

The first chunk of the flight, Newcastle-Dubai, brought back some memories from when I lived in Israel, especially when I was recommended by the check-in lady not to show my Israeli passport while in Dubai. It is sad that in spite of all technological advancements humanity still  finds irrational reasons to make war… but even I have my irrational (as well as rational) reasons to support one of the sides in this conflict.

After 8 hours on the air we finally arrived in Dubai for a 3 hour layover. It was around midnight according to British time, so nothing like having a nibble. Although consumption is encouraged by the myriad shops in the airport the food court was not so great and we had to go to McDonald’s.

From Dubai to Colombo I sat next to a British ex-military turned security contractor who was on his way to Iraq to provide his services to some high profile investors that would make sure the “Babylonian economy” would keep running. Having an Israeli citizenship was the obvious link that engaged us in interesting conversations.

We finally landed. The heat and humidity certainly clarified the fact we were no longer in the UK. In Colombo I had to change some Euros (60 all together) to keep me going for the following days. From there we met Jagath, the owner of the Jaga Bay Resort where the whole group is staying.

We were allocated to three cars. One for luggage and the other two for the 15 MBA passengers, about to embark on a micro-adventure.  Not so micro though. It was a five hour journey. Our barefoot driver could easily have been a Formula-1 pilot. He was driving quite fast but more impressive were all the obstacles he had to overcome along the narrow sole road connecting Colombo to Welligama; tuk-tuks, cyclists, shops, pedestrians, buses, cows, dogs, etc.

The first couple of hours were enough to made us realise we were in an underdeveloped country. The buildings looked quite decrepit, almost as if they were finding a way to survive amongst the madness that they were hosting along Sri-Lankan interactions. Nevertheless they proved to be efficient enough to almost keep people within the limits of civility. More interesting were some means of transport, in special a hybrid (not an electric/fossil fuel vehicle) that resembled a lawnmower engine attached to a chariot; ornated wherever possible. The same applied to the buses and outdoor banners.

It was interesting to observe how visual communication was being manifested. All bright shades were used, bright green, bright yellow, bright orange, etc. It was something like a “fluorescent kitsch-Lankan rococo”. No subtleness, all quite explicit which, in regards to civility tells a lot about the people’s openness. The more sober and contained, or monochromatic, we are the more our egos get inflated by the fact that we are models of civilized people. However, the more explicit and direct, and colourful or even tacky, communication is less attention is given to the ego as people somehow are leveled by an honest voice.  A bit too Freudian, but true.

After the crazy ride we finally arrived in the hotel which surprised all of us and may have given Team Tourism another aim, to improve the marketability of Jagath’s place. The website does not do justice to the place. It is very pleasant, sitting on the beach front with beautiful views and a breeze that has kept me inspired all through these words.

Some of us went to a nearby beach, I decided to stay and do some work. Around 7.30pm we are meant to have dinner and I heard that there will be some curry going on. Hopefully the Wi-Fi should be working so I can send emails and hopefully say hi to my family.

I am so tired now that I may just lie down at the beach…