Hello!!! Arrived in Sri Lanka about 2 days ago. Thought i should write a blog entry before we go to Kandy, as I don't think we will have any internet connection there.

First impressions of Sri Lanka are: hot and humid!!! As soon as we stepped off the plane it was like a heat wave coming out to greet us. Luckily it's rained the past few nights so that's relieved some of the humidity. Been bitten lots by mossies, new resolution is to wear lots of insect repellent!!!

The food is very good (quite spicy but not too bad) - we've had a lot of Erandi's mum's cooking which is amazing. Holly would love it here - they don't use any cuttelry! We tried the legendary cuttlefish on the 1st night, since then we've had pumpkin curry, cheese curry, fish curry, mushroom curry and hoppers.

During the days we've mostly been recovering from jetlag and reading up on a bit of Obs and Gynae before we start our placement on Wednesday (apparently the doctor supervising us is taking time out of her annual leave to teach us so we want to look like we've put in a bit of work). yesterday we went shopping in Odel's which is Sri Lanka's only department store!! Very nice and westernised, but still cheap, bought a nice skirt for hospitals for 6 pounds, nice sunglasses for 5 etc.

Also tomorrow is the Sri Lankan new year, so this evening we have to go to the temple then fast from about 6pm until the morning. I'm quite excited, I haven't ever been to a temple before!!! When we break our fast tomorrow we have to get up super early and eat all these special foods. I'm hoping this will help me convert to Sri Lankan time as I think I'm still partially operating on UK time.

Anyway I might not be able to write another blog until I'm back from Kandy in 2 weeks but if I get a chance to write one before then, I will.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx