Getting FATTER in Ozland

On the 12th we returned to our favourite thing...Sri Lankan relatives!  Spent the day walking to the Botanic Gardens just south of the Yarra, and by the time we got there we couldn't actually be arsed walking around the gardens, so we caught the tram back to the hostel, picked up our bags, caught the tram back into town and met Suguntha-mami at Flinders Street Station.  We recognised her right away; she looks so similar to Shanthi!  Oh, it's worth mentioning that Melbourne has a not-too-shabby pulic transport system...you buy one ticket which can be used on trams, trains and buses...the price depends on the zones you're travelling in though. 

For those of you reading this blog that don't know our lives and things, the main purpose of our trip to Ozland is to visit Jodie's Sri Lankan relatives, the majority of whom he has never actually met before.  Nichola is a bit of an imposter, along for the ride (ride = home cooking).

ANYHOO, we had a good chat with  Suguntha (Jodie's aunt) and we were picked up at the station by Jodie's cousin Jananie who he had also met for the first time!  Met Bala and Prashanthan too, had quick sum-up-of-life-no-we're -not-getting-married-chat with them, ate some incredibly tasty roti, then we were off to a nearby Hindu temple so I could take photos and be the obnoxious tourist!  I was subtle about it though!  Seeing the temple was amazing...it's so colourful, happy and spiritual!  Aesthetically it's a very beautiful religion in terms of imagery and symbolism.   After the temple we went to see Jodie's Amma-granny (a suprise visit).  This was the first time he'd seen her in 8 years so it was pretty emotional.  For me, apparently (and Amma-granny, but she had good reason).  The minute his amma-granny touched him she got all teary; it was so sweet.  She took his hands to her head and heart and almost breathed him in...she was so happy to see him.  This pushed me over the edge, and by the time she hugged me I was greeting like an idiot.  It was sooooo nice you see!  So Jodie and Amma-granny had a lovely chat, and then we were off to Dhana and Ghanga's house. 

On the 13th we went to Ballarat and visited Sovereign hill with Dhana, Ganga and Vaishley (Jodie's cousin).  This was actually a really good laugh...it's a gold mining town which is still set up as though 'twere the 1800s...everyone wot works there has to wear full costume!  We panned for gold (found some flakes), saw gold-pouring, went underground through the mines and ate lots of food!  YAS!  That night we went out to an Indian restaurant as it was Haran's (another cousin) birthday. 

On the 14th we met up with Shoba (another cousin) and her husband Nilanthan (from now on, Neil) and had an amazing breakfast at their hoose.  Went on a road trip to Portsea and Sorrento which was looooovely.  Went bowling and had a bit too much to drink that night (even though we'd been fed fat with Dhana's home cooking...incredible food!).  Jodie got pregnant at the bowling alley...see the photos.

On the 15th we went to the CBD with Shoba and Haran...managed to get quite lost in some big casino place trying to find the car which was hilarious!  We also ate good cake and saw lots of people with a gambling problem...nice!  Said farewell to Dhana and Ganga, then we were offski to see Amma-Granny as it would be our last chance to see her before we left.  Nichola cried AGAIN when she got the hug; amma-granny said some really lovely stuff, including the fact that we (n+j) should stay united and live a happy life.  It was so nice I bubbled a bit.  Amma-granny was happy as Jodie played some bass for her; she wanted him to sing but he thought he'd be better off grabbing a cat from outside and swinging it round his head (more melodious apparently).  Then we went back to Suguntha and Bala's for a tasty TASTY crab curry!  Fit to burst, Shoba and Haran took us up to see Shankari and Sathi at their incredible house!  They had a swimming pool AND a tennis court.  Unfortunately, Jodie doesn't enjoy tennis, but he did chuck a rugby ball into the pool!  HAHAHAHAH! 

***Which reminds me, within five minutes of stepping inside Shanthi's up in Sydney, Jodie managed to break her hall clock!  Clumsiness does not wear off apparently.  NB do not ask Jodie to help with anything fragile!  He didn't just break it, he DESTROYED IT!  He is now known as Jodie the Destructor***

Shankari (another cousin) and her husband Sathi also have two kids...wee boy Chevan and wee girl Ayesha, so we were kept entertained during our stay with them.  Watched a Tamil movie and picked out the few words/phrases we know, then we went out for YUMMY Vietnamese food, joined by Niranjan (another cousin).  Unfortunately for us it was time to catch our flight up to Cairns at this point, so we said our goodbyes and hopped on the uneventful flight up north.

Everyone was so nice, and it's clear the Sri Lankan people hold friends and family very dear to them.  Even though they'd never met us before (and despite the fact that Nichola wasn't even a relation) everyone was so pleased to see Jodie, and most of the cousins told him they'd waited (excitedly) for their entire lives to meet him.  So Leon and Vanessa, Jamie and Cheryl, you guys HAVE to make it out here to see everyone!  You will LOVE IT!  We were spoilt rotten here...the generosity of Jodie's family knows no bounds!  We left with gifts given to us by everyone which we'll be able to utilise on the road...we didn't want to leave them all by the end of our visit!

And another thing, they were all GORGEOUS!  Gorgeous faces, gorgeous teeth.  GORGEOUS!  The whole lot of them.