Sri Lanka

For Spring break, we decided to spend the week on the island nation of Sri Lanka. We were treated to warm weather, clear water, and this view for 5 days.

We ate well and spent a lot of time enjoying beer on the beach.

We also toured a small family run cinnamon farm,where 

this man demonstrated how the bark is removed by hand to dry and sell. 

 Sri Lanka was once ruled by many different cultures and nations before their final independence from Britain in 1948.  There are some leftovers from the colonial period, especially in the southern city of Galle.

Home to many different religions, Sri Lanka was a welcome retreat from the Middle East for the variety it offers.  We saw many Buddhist and Hindu temples, as well as dozens of mosques and churches.

Failaka Island, Kuwait

Failaka Island lies about 20 km off the coast of Kuwait. It was settled as early as the 3rd century BC and has been a part of several civilizations including Dilmun, Sumer, the Kassites of Mesopotamia, the Babylonians, and the Greeks prior to the 
spread of Islam. 




At the time of the Iraq invasion of Kuwait in 1991, about 2,000 people lived on the island. The Iraq army expelled all the residents to the mainland and took over the island.  The army used the island for military training and target practice.  The sewer and water systems were destroyed, making the island virtually uninhabitable. The residents have never returned, but there is a small tourist center that takes people around the island to view ruins from the ancient and modern world. 

  Wandering around the town ruins is interesting and a bit creepy. This school in particular was especially haunting.

The tour we joined obtained permission to visit these partially excavated ruins.