The Treasure of Four Crowns and me

              I can't exactly remember when I watched it.It was either in late 1980 s or early 1990 s. Anyhow what matters to me is not the year but the experience.

           My husband and I went to a film but the film we intended to watch was gone before the due date as it could not attract enough audience for a good income for the theatre owner. At that time we rarely watched films as it was very difficult to find time to be alone as I had to devote my entire time after coming home from work for my little kid, my grasshopper.                     

             So whenever I wanted to have a little pleasure away from my hectic life I planned it carefully  and this time it was to watch a very famous,classical Sinhala film. I was highly frustrated to see that it was gone and  thought of returning  home.but my hubby was against it."We have already come to the theatre. Let's watch the new movie in the theatre and see how it is." He said.                                           

                                      When we entered, the ticket counter and the surrounding area was jam packed with people.I was still angry for not being able to watch my long awaited film and waited without any interest while my husband went to buy tickets.                

               He returned with tickets but there was something else in his hands. When I threw a questioning look into his eyes, he shrugged his shoulders and meekly muttered"These were given together with the tickets ."                 

               They were two pairs of celluloid  glasses the kids wear when they play house.I was furious.                    

                       "Couldn't you tell them that our eye sight was normal as to watch the film without these ridiculous glasses?"              

                   "Don't shout. When the tickets are bought, each was given a pair of this. I think it is needed in the theatre."      

 "What nonsense." Throw that away!I am not going to wear it in the film hall."    

                    "O.K. O.K.  Let's not argue here. All are looking at us.Let's go inside and see what is happening."        

                         Finally I went with him and sat under a fan. I closely observed others.Some were looking at the glasses  while some others had already worn them and waiting  for the film to start.Then the third bell rang and the lights went out.       

                        In the dark I watched others' behaviour. They were intently looking at the screen.I stole a glance at my hubby. He also had worn the glasses and watching  the screen.I was angry for being made to wear this silly childish glasses and strongly decided not to wear them.                      

                                The story began but alas! Everything was a blur.  I heard the music and misty shadows moving on the screen but that's all.I squinted my eyes and tried my best to see what was on the screen but apart from the background music, I could not see anything else. I felt desperate and  looked around. My hubby too was watching the film.                

  I nudged him.How could he enjoy the film when his better half was feeling so uncomfortable?              

      He  looked at me and indicated me to wear the silly glasses and turned his attention back to the screen completely ignoring my plight in the dark.  I was outraged and pinched him tightly in the left arm.The arrogance of the man!   

                         It seemed that I was defeated. There was nothing else to do but to bow down and wear those wretched glasses and I cursed myself for being so foolish to agree to watch any kind of film with that ugly thing on my eyes.       

      What if my students saw me in the theatre now. I would be the laughing stock of the school the next day.              

             " You know machan! Yesterday I went to  a film and guess who I saw there!Miss  M...wearing  a pair of plastic glasses and watching a film!!!!"   

                He.. with them!Behave like a Roman when you are in Rome.  

                         I mustered enough courage to wear the glasses.  At once I was swept of my feet. Few people were running towards me and I waited cautiously until they disappeared. A helicopter started to fly and it came  directly towards me.Without thinking twice I ducked and from the corner of my eye I saw that the man sitting on my right was  doing the same. What the heck!   

                                            I was highly confused and didn't know when I removed the glasses. but when the images again became a blur only I realized I was without them and automatically my hands wore the glasses for me.  

                                       The story was about a treasure. Some people wanted to steal it and they had to face a self-defensive, auto activated mechanism which consisted of  fire balls, turning wheels, shooting arrows and daggers and sliding and disappearing doors and many more.When those mechanisms started to activate at unexpected moments there were many in the audience who ducked, wriggled or turned their heads aside to prevent a blow or an arrow in a futile attempt. I too did the same but when it became clear to me that my heart was going to explode with fright I shut my eyes tight and pretended watching the film but  just listening to the sounds.         

       After a few minutes I felt a whisper in my ear and heard " open your eyes fool!That scene is over."              

           I slowly opened my eyes to see the amused but kind look of my husband. He gave me  an orange and for a moment I had to focus my attention to the orange and my fear was forgotten.     

                     I enjoyed the film to the fullest  but once in a while was careful enough to remove the glasses for a few seconds until the highly intense moments were over.                      

                    During the whole time I was in the theatre I saw many frenzied and peculiar behaviour in the audience as they bent forward or backward  sometimes lifting an arm to avoid a blow aimed at them by the main character in the film.Though you knew that this was just a mere film those sudden reflexes were inevitable and we all succumbed to them in the hall.We, as a family laughed at each other in the hall and were highly amused at our own foolish and childish but unavoidable behaviour because the film was so intense and packed with action.               

                                Anyhow we both enjoyed it and we talked about nothing else for a long time. But once at home I became the victim and when my husband described the incidents in the film  hall my family members doubled with laughter making me red with shame.                     

                    But I have to say it. It was an experience of a life time. I will never forget it. I have never thought of seeing something like that even in my wildest dreams. Though the young generation was fortunate enough to  have  modern technology at their finger tips even the word 'computer' was never heard of at that time.Computers might have existed here but it was zillion miles far from the common man.     

                       The word '3D' became popular in recent years and then one day I suddenly remembered the film we watched many years ago.I  understood the reason why it was necessary to wear glasses to watch the film and how the audience was made to experience the film.I typed the title of the film  in Google and found out more about it.             

         My findings and my intense and  haunting  memories of the film  made this post possible. I hope that I was able to convey the joy and excitement I felt by  watching the film"The Treasure of Four  Crowns"  to you.

It's Not About Chicks

 I made chicken korma.

       
                             Actually I can't boast about my cooking as I am a lousy cook.That is why my family members(two innocent victims) are highly surprised once they had the first bite in their mouths.
                              My husband took the first bite with that ' what to do' look in his eyes which I have seen so many times in the past once they were forced to eat one of my elaborate but failed dishes  for the lunch. I was eagerly watching his response and got ready to listen to another lecture on  my cooking.
                His expresion changed and I closed my eyes waiting for the familiar set of words. When I opened my eyes he was full of smiles.Gobbling the first piece and taking another juicy one in his hands he exclaimed " oh,my! Finally my woman has shown  her culinary  expertise!"
                        Brimming with pride and joy but very cautious not to show it as he is unpredictable in his remarks, I controlled my facial muscles which were trying so hard  to surface a smile.

I threw a humble look at him.He was eating and talking and I couldn't decide which was faster.'That's what I am telling you all the time, woman! If you pay more attention to your cooking he and I won't have to go hungry "(nodding at the direction of my son) .

                       To say how much he appreciated my chicken curry, my hopes of sharing a dish with my neighbour  was totally  shattered.

        Up to now I kept you in the dark and now comes the most important thing.

          The secret was in  the simplicity of the dish.

        I don't want to tire you with my details but this dish  was very different from my regular chicken dishes and that's why I want to share it with you.

                 I did some adjustments with the ingredients and used only the most important. 

                                Apart from chicken I added a lot of coriander leaves,( not only for garnish but  in the curry too), curd, garam masala ( something similar to our spices) and water. Yes a lot of water. Three cups full!

        No coconut milk. I was puzzled as how to make the curry creamy and thick without coconut milk and doubtful whether it would  succeed.

                   Though it needed a few ingredients the method was somewhat fussy. Some ingredients were to be grounded and some were to be fried  and at the end  I couldn't find space to continue my cooking  as my table was literally cluttered with plates and dishes.

       but I shouldn't worry about them. The final outcome was a marvel.The gravy was very very tasty. As the curry was cooked in low heat for a long time all the flavours were absorbed well into the chicken pieces and it was heavenly to the palette.The dish wafted the strong flavour of corriander leaves(cilantro leaves) and it was tempting and mouthwatering. So I had to bear my husband's over indulgence with the dish.

               Hope any of you are tempted to try this at home and I would like to hear from you You can get the recipe from the YouTube.(there are hundreds of recipes for korma).. Actually  it won't go wrong. Whatever happens, your dish will taste good due to corriander leaves and the curd.

              

My Sheep is Jumping over............

 

Have you ever counted sheep?

                I have. Many times.

                                   Not that I own a ranch house.

                              Then don't you want to know where I counted them? You don't have to .You already  know it  because like me, you too  have done it so many times.

It is a very exciting feeling. To imagine an  unending line of fleecy lambs waiting patiently  to jump over a fence.

                 I start counting. "one,two,three,four"......... .

                          I visualize the eagerness of the lambs. One by one they are jumping over the fence  looking at me with their big, round eyes  and I keep on counting. "Fifty five, fifty six, fifty seven, fifty eight......................

                      The tall trees in the  green meadow sway in the wind and bees hum overhead. Gentle breeze soothes me.I feel calm and quiet."Hundred and one, hundred and two, hundred and three"..............

                 My heavy  eye lids lean on the eyes for support. 

                              "Two hundred and ninety nine.......

                     

How He Walks in Style !!

I would be doing an insult to my country as a Sri Lankan  if I  forget to mention the great cultural pagent; The Esala Perahera in Kandy.Though many things have been written and said about the perahera there is still some thing in it which never ceases to amaze us.
       For those who don't know anything about this cultural pagent, I would like to say that it is indescribable in its splendour and exquisite as a creation.
       Buddhists believe that the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha is enshrined in a casket in the temple of tooth  relic in Kandy. Every year that sacred casket is taken out from where it is devotedly deposited safely and reverently and taken around  in a procession along the Kandy city during the month of August.This procession is very very beautiful because it announces the world our proud history which goes back to 2500 years.The perahera consists of various dancers,cultural items and especially a large number of elephants especially prepared for the perahera by  multicoloured shiny  clothes with various designs.
                   They are the most eye catching picture of the perahera except the beast of grandiose which steals the lime light of this special occasion. That is none other than the Tusker which has been selected to carry the sacred tooth relic on its back.The success of the entire operation solely lies on this beast and he knows it very well.That is why that never in the history of the esala perahera an elephant had dropped the casket or had taken a wrong turn or ran wild midst all these terrible noise of whips,drums, songs and high pitched sounds and more than any thing else; the fire rings used by the fire dancers.
                   "Nedungamuwe Raja"; one of the few tuskers remain in Sri Lanka (unfortunately the numbers are diminishing fast due to various reasons , especially killing for tusks) has carried the sacred casket this time and it is said that this elephant is very intelligent and has a mind of his own when it comes to take correct decisions without a mahout.
                     It is a complete wonder to think that a mammoth task like this, which needs the time, energy and brains of several hundred people is carried out precisely and accurately by a single beast and this is a tribute to that intelligence, patience and wisdom. Hats off to Nadungamuwe Raja . May you live long to carry out the tradition of Esala Perahera.



(I would very much like to read your comments whether they are criticisms, praise or queries.)

A picture of a winter scene inspired me to write this poem

                Can't You Hear My Sobbing Heart?

  

 Oh! how I long to fit

 into this heavenly atmosphere,

To walk on untrodden snow

which is something rare

in where I live.        

Reminding me the tales

Of winter Lands

I heard in my grand ma's lap.

The house coated with white,

soothes my tired eye sight.

The horse waits ready

 to pull you to etenity.

Oh! how I long to fit

 into this heavenly atmosphere,

where I can stroll in the floor

of crispy, crunchy snow,

to be exposed to all elements

or walk in the dark woods

 behind the house;

or sit under the tree

reading a book

 of Daphne Du Maurier's,

covering my head

with a  scarf.

Oh! how I long to fit

 into this heavenly atmosphere,         

 let my toes feel

the tingling cold of the brook

and watch  they turn blue;

or to rub my palms together

 and make myself warm,

to open the windows and let

the chilly wind seeeps in.

Oh! Can't you hear my sobbing heart?

Can't you hear my sobbing heart?

This is what I feel about my son

MY GRASSHOPPER in the SUMMER

He composes hip hop and R& B

"REASON" is his tool.

Too old not to do a job

winks when I reprimand him

for his in-activeness.

Society expects the children of the teachers

to be at top levels! How troublesome !

I avoid the gaze of my friends on the bus,

dreading that they will inquire about my son,

 He has a phobia

of exams of any kind:

Used to fall ill a lot

 during his term tests.

His favorite doctor looks at me

with a question mark in his eyes:

indicating that

It is rather psychological than physical.

I,    

With a broken heart,

Return home with medication.

 Yet:When his aththa fell ill

He spent a whole week in hospital

looking after him like a baby.

He was the friend of

all the old men in that ward

fetching them all they need.

A cup of tea from the canteen:

a packet of Cream Crackers

 from the nearby  boutique:

Calls to their sons and daughters   (Though I suffered)

Takes his own time to complete the degree

doing everything he can to postpone the exams.

I , wait  helplessly

thinking what I can do to change the situation!

But Whatever you do,

 I love you!

The GRASSHOPPER of mine!



P.S.

(Luckily for me the situation has changed. He is doing a job now while continuing his studies.)

The overflowing hospitality of a proud Nation

The month of May is very important to us Sri Lankans.As the Buddhism is the major religion of Sri Lanka, we celebrate the birth, the enlightenment and the passing away of Lord Buddha during the month of May.We attend to religious work in the temples, make wesak lanterns, and display big pandols in major towns and do various charity work to commemorate the supreme religious leader.

                                 Another special feature of the month is the immense hospitality of the tiny, yet a very proud nation with a 2500 year history attached to it.People in all walks of life, irrespective of their cast and creed offer free food to all passers by on the Wesak Day.It is a marvelous and a heart warming sight to see the generosity of people who go out of their way to please others and to quench their thirst and hunger. Sometimes it is funny to see little ones waving flags and trying to stop people who are on their way to various destinations.Though the country is struggling to solve various problems arising from the past no one can deny the generous heart of a proud Nation.