Me: Hello Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga how are you.
CHK: Very busy actually lots of stuff going on in my country.
Me: Just a quick question here can you tells us when you were born.
CHK: I was born June 29, 1945
Me: O.K. will you tell a little about your self
CHK: I have been the president of Sri Lanka since 1994 and just love it.  My father, Solomon Bandaranaik was a government Minister when I was born.  My father was assessed in 1959 and my mom became the first ever women prime minister in our country.  I went to collage in Pairs and finished with a degree in political science.   I am fluent in Sinhala, English and French.
Me: Sweet I am taking French back home.  Where you ever married.
CHK: Yes, I married actor and politician Vijaya Kumartunga in 1978.
Me: And he was also assassinated to right 
CHK: Yes in 1988.  I was re-elected in 1999 and was almost killed by a suicide bomber.  I also had a set back when I didn't get re-elected as prime minister.


http://profiles.incredible-people.com/chandrika-kumaratunga/
chathamhall.org

I am now visiting the capital Colombo.  This place is huge with over 5,000,000 people in it it gets crowded.  The ocean is right here and looks so beautiful.  One of the reasons this place was built was because of the trade routes on land and sea and this place is very helpful for traders.  During the Portuguese era Colombo was very famous for trading their cinnamon.  Portuguese where also given full authority over the island as long as they protected Colombo and Sri Lanka from invaders.  They also built a fort around Colombo but most of it has been torn down or turned into hotels.  Later the Dutch invaded Colombo and finally took it over.  The only reason they attacked was for the goods.  When the British final took Colombo over in 1796 they didn't use it like the Dutch and Portuguese they started building houses.  I was surprised to here all this history from my guide he tells awesome stories.  Another thing about Colombo is it is always warm which the ocean sounds nice to cool off in I didn't even bring a sweatshirt.  It rains hear a lot it averages 94 inches a year.  This place is very beuatful if you like the heat and it raining a little bit.  There are wonderful people here to assist you if you are looking for anything and they have just been great to me.
members.virtualtourist.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombo

http://travel.travelocity.com/flights/InitialSearch.do

http://www.triptosrilanka.com/

http://sri-lanka.saarctourism.org/sri-lanka-food.html

http://www.livingheritage.org.nz/schools/primary/milford/tsunami/q-a.php

Week 1 question

For this week, I want you to find out different cultural aspects of your country to gives us a good introduction to life there.  What is the housing like (apartments, shacks, etc)?  What is the food like over there?  What are their main dishes? Do they eat a big lunch and small breakfast, etc.?  What type of clothing do they wear?  What is their main religion? Main language? Types of sports they play? Big sports teams? Main source of income for the country (i.e. oil, cars, etc.)


Sri Lanka is a dream spot as they welcome me in with open hands and love to see me.  Some of there houses here are monstrous bigger than mine back in the U.S. then some our these little shacks that i am surprised anyone lives in them.  There food is hot and spicy, and there main dishes are fish and rice, but eat meat, fruits, and vegetables.  There main drinking dish is coffee and tea which I enjoy.  They are the fourth largest in tea production.  For there clothes they where mostly cotton because of the heat which can reach over a 100 sometimes.  The girls wear sari.  The children wear school clothes to school.  The majority of people are Buddhists but there are also other religions such as Hinduism, Islam and Christianity.  There main language is mainly Sinhala, but also Tamil, and English so some people I can understand.  There major sport they play is cricket which I know how to play a little but they also play Swimming, tennis, soccer, golf, badminton, netball, baseball and even a little bit of rugby.  They also compete in the Olympics but have only won to silver medals.  There main source of income is working out in the farms to get the tea ready   

Etihad Airways, Flights 267 / 151American Airlines, Flight  4175

2 Stops

Depart: 4:30 AM

Colombo, Sri Lanka (CMB)

Arrive: 11:05 PM

Des Moines, IA (DSM)

Connect in: Abu Dhabi, Chicago

Flight 1

Etihad Airways, Flight 267

Depart: 4:30 AM

Colombo, Sri Lanka (CMB)

Arrive: 7:40 AM

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (AUH)

Airbus A320-100/200

On Time: data not available

Connection Time: 2 hrs 45 mins in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (AUH)

Flight 2

Etihad Airways, Flight 151

Depart: 10:25 AM

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (AUH)

Arrive: 3:45 PM

Chicago, IL (ORD)

Airbus A340-600

On Time: 29%

Connection Time: 6 hrs 15 mins in Chicago, IL (ORD)

Flight 3

American Airlines, Flight 4175

Depart: 10:00 PM

Chicago, IL (ORD)

Arrive: 11:05 PM

Des Moines, IA (DSM)

Flight 4175 operated by AMERICAN EAGLE

Embraer RJ 145

On Time: 73%

Total Travel Time: 30 hrs 5 mins

$1573	Fare
+ $144	Taxes & Fees
$1717	Tota

American Airlines, Flights  4092 / 84Qatar Airways, Flights 28 / 304

3 Stops

Depart: 4:10 PM

Des Moines, IA (DSM)

Arrive: 3:25 AM

Colombo, Sri Lanka (CMB)

Connect in: Chicago, Frankfurt, Doha

Flight 1

American Airlines, Flight 4092

Depart: 4:10 PM

Des Moines, IA (DSM)

Arrive: 5:25 PM

Chicago, IL (ORD)

Flight 4092 operated by AMERICAN EAGLE

Embraer RJ140

On Time: 72%

Connection Time: 2 hrs 15 mins in Chicago, IL (ORD)

Flight 2

American Airlines, Flight 84

Depart: 7:40 PM

Chicago, IL (ORD)

Arrive: 11:10 AM

Frankfurt, Germany (FRA)

Boeing 767-300

On Time: 61%

Connection Time: 45 mins in Frankfurt, Germany (FRA)

Next Day Arrival

Flight 3

Qatar Airways, Flight 28

Depart: 11:55 AM

Frankfurt, Germany (FRA)

Arrive: 7:00 PM

Doha, Qatar (DOH)

Airbus A330-200

On Time: 100%

Connection Time: 1 hr in Doha, Qatar (DOH)

Next Day Arrival

Flight 4

Qatar Airways, Flight 304

Depart: 8:00 PM

Doha, Qatar (DOH)

Arrive: 3:25 AM

Colombo, Sri Lanka (CMB)

Airbus A320-100/200

On Time: 77%

Arrive on Wed Oct 20

Total Travel Time: 24 hrs 45 min

 

$2018	Fare
+ $108	Taxes & Fees
$2126	Total