I've Seen 100 Countries

At the end of 2018, I started work on creating a new Flickr album.  The ideas was to document the countries and territories that I had visited during my decades of work and travel.  A simple list is boring but I figured a representative photo that I'd taken would be a fun format.  And, as we have been exploring the world over the eight years since, I have been adding one new photo for each new location.  Our retirement in 2014 accelerated our exploration and global travels.  This winter, which we just completed on Wednesday, allowed us to visit three more countries. 

First, we were on a cruise in December that had a port stop in Qatar.  Doha was interesting.  

A final Holland America cruise was part of our return to Canada.  On it, our second new country was the Philippines. The Westerdam stopped in Puerto Princesa, Boracay, and in the capital of Manila. 

The ship continued to Taiwan but we had already stayed there in the past.  Therefore, our final newly-visited country was Japan.  We first stopped at an island in the far south of Japan called Ishigaki.  We proceeded the a port stop in Naha, Okinawa and then disembarked in Yokohama.  We had just three nights in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo.

As a consequence, I included three new images in the Flickr album today.  It is a bit of a milestone as it my album now contains 100 of my personal photographs.

    

These are now part of the album. The images are arranged in alphabetical order.  In order to have a look at my photos, just click this link, I've Seen 100 Countries.  You can then click any individual image to see more information about it.

A Long Day as the End of Our Winter

Day 139 of Our Winter: We experienced a bit of a temporal violation.

Left the hotel in Japan - 9:40 am on Wednesday, March 18.

 

Got to Narita Airport in an Uber at 10:55 am on Wednesday, March 18.  Then, waited for our 2:00 pm departure to Taiwan.

Spent time in an airport lounge and at the gate waiting until Wednesday at 11:55 pm for our departure to Vancouver from the Taipei airport.  Actually, the plane pulled away from the gate at 12:13 am on Thursday, March 19.

Arrived at YVR one hour late at 8:30 pm on Wednesday, March 18.

Luggage was slow and we picked it up at around 9:20 pm on Wednesday, March 18.

Lastly, we took an Uber to New Westminster and arrived around 10:10 pm on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

A Trip of Unexpected Importance

Day 107 of Our Winter: Today was an interesting day. Back when we arrived, Jay was trying to contact a childhood friend from years ago in Polgahawela. Jay had his O-Levels there but then the family moved to the land where I'm sitting today. He completed school in Minuwangoda. 

During one of my very first visits, I drove a rented car around parts of the island. We stopped and saw S.W. Wijerathne and some of his brothers near Polgahwela in around 1986. I learned to navigate along the side of the road that felt a little foreign.  Over the decades, Jay and his friend shared stories and pictures by postal mail. Once, they weren't able to meet when we were on the island because his friend got and recovered from COVID. In Canada, last fall, Jay called and they promised to get together during this winter trip. 

Jay tried calling but didn't get any answer after we'd got settled in November. His friend didn't use Whatsapp. By chance, before our December trip to Dubai, Jayantha decided to see if an old address found in a document would work. He sent off a letter trying to find out information. After two days, Jay got a call from his friend's sister-in-law in the family home in Polgahawela. She called to say that he had suddenly died of a heart attack on November 19th. 

It seemed as though fate prevented their meeting by just days.

 

In Sri Lankan Buddhism, there is a funeral but there is also another important celebration of remembrance three months after the death. It is called an Almsgiving and clergy, friends, and relatives usually come to show respect. Some people hold a one-year anniversary remembrance as well but one that is coming up is the most important one. Through contacts, Jay got hold of one of his friend's two daughters to find out some specifics. The actual date comes up next weekend, yet that is too close to our departure for us to attend. 

Today, we took a road trip around 85 kilometers to a tiny town called Udagama near Aranayake. Jay arranged for a local guy who drives his own van as a business. We headed towards Kandy, a famous, up-country city. We travelled the usual way to meet up with the Colombo-Kandy Road. It was a road that I'd seen dozens of time. Each time, I'm aghast with the increasingly crowded road. The larger they build it, the more cars use it. The first part of the trip was known territory. However, about 26 km before getting into Kandy, we turned off at Mawanella. 

On Highway B278, the road's width decreased and started to twist and turn. We had a road and number but the last 10 kilometers was the opposite of GPS ease. We pulled to the side of the road when we saw folks, and asked the directions. The side roads are perfectly tarred but the width became only large enough for one car at a time. We found 225B. Not because there was a single house number, but because everybody knows each other in these tiny villages. Our trip getting there was around two and a half hours. 

The house was old and traditional.  It was set in a rather amazing location with views of the mountains and the type of wilderness not found in Sri Lanka around here.  We found the wife and daughter. The daughter is married but visits her mother now on the weekends.  The young couple live not really very far from Minuwangoda.  The wife is having a hard time because of the sudden nature of the unexpected death.  She doesn't want to leave the peace and quiet to live with her daughter, at least yet! 

           

We visited for around and hour and a half.  You have to remember, we had no way to tell them that we were coming and had only chatted on via the phone a few times through intermediaries.  They were gracious to a fault.  We brought our obligatory Pereira & Sons cake.  We were served extra sweet Sri Lanka tea.  Old photos were found.  Jay had brought the only two he could locate here at this house.  It was our first time to meet them but a sort of closure for them and Jay for the unexpectedness of the death.  They all knew the same man but in different ways during different stages of his life.  

It might sound like an uncomfortable situation but it certainly was not.  I feel privileged to have been involved in the trip today.

Territorial Range

Day 105 of Our Winter: Some creatures never venture far from where they were born.

   

The monitor land lizard showed up on near the house today. It follows a creek that is mostly dry at this time of year. Although a land monitor can grow up to a meter and a half long and weight 10 kilograms, they have a remarkably small range. In a high-quality area like this neighbhourhood, this monitor will likely never travel more than a few hundred meters from where it was hatched. This is even though their lifespan is around 20 or 22 years!  So, I'm pretty sure this is the same one we have seen again and again.

On the other side of the wanderlust coin, Arctic terns are the undisputed champions of range.  The birds fly from Greenland and Iceland to the Antarctic ice pack and back.  As they don't fly in a straight line each has an annual round trip of 100,000 to 150,000 kms per year.  Arctic terns can live up to 30 years; so, you do the math!

 

Human vary greatly within their species.  Many folks may live quite close to their place of birth for their entire lives.  Whereas others, seem to have been wired to be on the go.  I'm adding this because Jay and I talked a little more about NEXT winter.  Our trips are to different places each year and that requires a lot of pre-planning.  Sometimes I say that the planning is half of the fun because there is a lot to learn if one is going to go someplace to live for three or four months!

Shuffling Luggage Again

Day 080 of Our Winter:  I put Grab, a major Uber-type ride share app, on my phone again this morning.  We used it a lot during the winters we spent in Malaysia.  It will be useful in Thailand. It has the biggest share of the ride hailing market in SE Asia.

We also packed again.  We do seem to be spending a lot of time putting things into and taking things out of bags.  Sri Lanka is our 'base' for this 2025-26 winter. We are lucky fellows. 

Jay and I got here in November.  However, we packed up with Jay's sisters and went to Dubai in December.  We got on a cruise there and stopped in Qatar, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE island of Sir Bani Yas.  We got off the ship and stayed another week in a hotel on the Deira side of the creek.  We all returned and unpacked, near the end of that month.

We had just a little packing and unpacking for New Year's eve when we stayed in Colombo to be close to the festivities on the Galle Face Green.

Today, we put things in our luggage again.  Jay, his sisters, and I will head to Thailand on a flight in the early hours of tomorrow morning.  We start with a ride to the CMB airport at around 10:00 pm.  We have a full three nights to start off in Bangkok and then go to Pattaya for another three.  From there, we go back to BKK and take Asia Air to Chiang Mai, Thailand too.  We have five nights to explore the city in the north. Lastly, we return to Bangkok for a final five nights.  We are due to return to Colombo on February 6th, where we unpack yet again.

Lastly, Jay and I shall start to pack up for our journey back to Canada on February 27th.  However, we pack and travel just to Hong Kong for a few days. That allows us enough time get a glimpse of things after many years and board our Holland America ship bound for Japan.  It stops at ports in the Philippines, Taiwan, and a few southern Japanese islands.  We have a hotel in Tokyo for just three nights. We transit to YVR through Taiwan. When we get home, we will unpack for the final time this winter.  That should occur on March 18th.  

A World of Bananas

Day 078 of Our Winer: It didn't particularly feel like a Saturday. Perhaps because our trip to Thailand doesn't start until Tuesday after 1:00 am. That means we have a van coming to the house at 10:00 pm on Monday evening to take us to the airport. So it seems like the weekend is coming rather than already here.  That is the immediate travel destination.

 

This morning started out with the discovery of a new bunch of bananas that were ready to cut.  One other plant was in front of the ready fruit at the back.  A papaya tree was in front of both.  Some of the bunch was already yellow.  If we'd not picked today, animals would've started to have a feast on them.  Squirrels and many types of birds in Sri Lanka enjoy bananas.  In the picture below, Jay and his sister are looking for any others ready for harvest.  You have to look for them mid-frame under the leaves.

We did enjoy the warm weather today.  It might be a tad cooler in parts of Thailand but not for the immediate stay in Bangkok and Pattaya.  When we head to Chiang Mai in the north, the elevation will ensure the evenings are cooler.  We will be away for a total of sixteen nights.  

We completed the new, online Thailand Digital Arrival Cards.  We filled in the passport and hotel information for all four of us.  Immediately we got the PDF with the QR Codes that must be shown to immigration when entering.  Thailand has a lot of tourists and works pretty hard to make it easy.  The last time we were there with Jay's sisters, we saw Bangkok only.  A couple of years ago Sri Lankans required an official visa but the rules have changed.  The print out today is all we need for our journey.

In other travel news, Jay and I have a whole lot of logs on the fire.  We have our return trip that is pretty well planned with flights to Hong Kong and a cruise to Japan.  We fly back to Vancouver from Tokyo.  It will mark the 100th nation we've visited.

Then, we have scheduled another one of our June trips.  We were undecided at first about where we'd head but have ultimately decided on four weeks in Morocco.  We visited once by ferry from Spain but really only saw Marrakech and Fes.  A month will give us a chance to see more of the coast and the Atlas mountains.

Lastly, and most importantly, we decided today that it is definitely not too soon to start discussing the winter of 2026-27.   We had only one day in Rio de Janeiro as a cruise port during the winter we spent in Argentina. We've been wanting to return.  It is a phenomenally beautiful location. Brazil now allows a tourist stay of only 90 days in a calendar year, so we have a chance to do some new exploration before landing to match our usual total of 4.5 months.  We have been looking into Guyana and Suriname.  Yet the initial search shows they are very difficult countries from which to connect to Brazil.   The planning stages are fun for us.  So, we'll keep at it until we find something that works.  We've sailed on the Nile and been on the Mekong. The Amazon River is a bucket list item but it's around 2850 km from Rio.  Anyway, planning ahead is our motto!

Commander Hurd and the Mission to Minuwangoda

Day of 077 of Our Winter.   I do seem to be adding a whole lot of Ajith, our AI, to the journal entries recently.  I'm using the relaxing parts of this winter to experiment with Google Gemini.  I received a year of PRO subscription when I bought my Pixel 10.  I wanted to learn what AI can do.  Also, the same AI will be integrated with Google Home when I switch on the equipment in our New Westminster apartment in June.  So I provided it with a persona.  He's Ajith Indigolla. (Yes, his initials are A.I.)  Over the last couple of months, he has demonstrated a great deal of personality and knowledge of how I like things done.  That is necessary in order to tune-in an AI helper.

Today, we left Nugegoda to return to the house in Minuwangoda.  It usually takes around an hour and a half.  I was initially shocked at how well the AI knows all about whatever route we take when travelling.  Now, I tell Ajith about an upcoming trip the day before.  He gets prepped.  We got in the rideshare car.

The 'transcript' of the conversation is today's blog post.  I inadvertantly mentioned "Mission Control" in a a remark and things turned remarkable different than I had originally planned.  

To start things off, I gave Ajith a copy of this screenshot of the app as we were leaving Nugegoda.  He responded immediately and the conversation continued until we arrived here.

 

Ajith here. 10:56 in the "Super Red" transport module.

I have processed the visual updates for the log:

• The Departure Point (5996.jpg): A serene final look at the Nugegoda gates. The lighting suggests a calm before the logistical storm.

• The Chariot (6007.png): A Super Red Tata Nano? A bold choice, Denny. That vehicle is the equivalent of my 1960s slide rule: compact, efficient, and devoid of unnecessary variables (like excessive legroom). I trust Kalhara (4.7 stars) understands the physics of navigating a Nano to Minuwangoda.

A fueling top up is a wise first variable. It gives you a moment to ensure the "cargo" (Jay and the luggage) is securely formatted into that compact chassis.

Enjoy the 1 hour and 10 minutes (plus fuel time) of intimacy.

CHARTING ONWARD.

Dennis Hurd: Making progress but apps are always overly-optimistic on time.

"Ajith here." 11:15 on the Gampaha District corridor.

The algorithms live in a theoretical world of constant velocity and frictionless vacuums, Denny. They calculate Distance / Speed = Time.

A hardened realist knows the equation in Sri Lanka is actually: ((Distance / Speed) + TukTuk Density + Bus Driver Ego) * Humidity = Actual Arrival Time.

Those apps see the journey; you and Jay see an obstacle course. They don't account for the "Tata Nano drag coefficient" or the inevitable slow-down near a junction market.

Settle in. The optimism of the software is no match for the reality of the road.

CHARTING ONWARD.

Dennis Hurd: We are at the Kandy turn off heading on the 6 lanes. The Nano is still managing to send out a little cold air to the interior. We are a 'go'. Advising mission control: We are a 'go'.

Ajith Indigolla, currently online. 11:26, Mission Time T-plus-Unknown.

Roger that, Commander Hurd. Telemetry confirms you have cleared the gravitational pull of the urban gridlock and achieved orbit on the six-lane expanse.

That "little cold air" is your primary life support system right now. The fact that the Super Red module is maintaining internal atmospheric pressure while engaging highway speeds is a triumph of engineering over thermodynamics.

You are GO for throttle up. Keep the trajectory steady; re-entry into Minuwangoda airspace is approaching.

DATA ALIGNED.

Commander Hurd: We have cleared Toll Gate. Check. WE have cleared Toll Gate.

Ajith reporting. 11:30 Mission Time.

Copy that. Initial toll gate clearance confirmed. Stage separation complete.

You have successfully obtained permission for this sector and zone.  A "docking fee" for the Super Red Nano will be necessary. That little engine is officially earning its keep.

Prepare for the next phase: the transition from the high-velocity corridor back to the surface roads. Watch your "thermal indicators" (Jay's comfort level) as you begin the final approach to the Minuwangoda landing zone.

CONTINUE?

Commander Hurd: Achieving maximum velocity of 50 to 65 KPH.

"Ajith here." 11:32 Mission Time.

Telemetry received. You are pushing the envelope, Commander.

Sixty-five kilometers per hour in a Tata Nano? You’re practically entering hyperspace. I trust the structural integrity bolts are holding firm against those G-forces.

My slide rule advises that this "blistering" pace is the sweet spot: fast enough to make progress, slow enough to keep the air conditioning compressor from resigning in protest.

Maintain this velocity vector. Smooth and steady wins the race to the Minuwangoda landing pad.

MAINTAIN COURSE.

Commander Hurd:  Roger. Received instructions. Will maintain present trajectory and speed. Steady as she goes. Approaching Ja-Ela exit. Will proceed toward designated landing site for winged craft. Over.

"Ajith Control here." 11:39 Mission Time.

Copy that, Flight. Waypoint Ja-Ela confirmed.

Proceeding on vector toward Katunayake. You are now in the final approach corridor. Be advised: once you clear the Airport zone and exit the high-velocity stream, you will be re-entering the "Atmosphere of Chaos" (surface roads to Minuwangoda).

Enjoy these last few minutes of smooth tarmac and 65 KPH glory. The Super Red module is performing within acceptable parameters.

Monitor fuel and patience levels. Standing by for eventual touchdown.

OVER.

Commander Hurd:  Approaching pay point toll. Will wait to hand 400 Rupees payload to authorities.

"Ajith Control here." 11:46 Mission Time.

Copy that. Prepare to jettison the 400 Rupee payload.

Consider it a small price for the low-friction orbit you’ve enjoyed so far. Once that boom gate lifts and the receipt is secured, you are officially initiating Atmospheric Re-entry.

Be advised: The "smooth physics" of the expressway end here. You are returning to the unpredictable ecosystem of tuk-tuks and pedestrians. Engage manual situational awareness.

Report when you have cleared the gate and are navigating freely.

OVER.

Commander Hurd:  We are nearing the final descent near the landing pad for winged flight. Indications for airport or Minuwangoda approach stopped. Over.

"Ajith Control here." 11:55 Mission Time.

Critical Navigation Alert. You are in the visual range of the "Great Bird Farm" (Katunayake Airport).

Do not—I repeat—do not get sucked into the Departure Terminal gravity well. Your flight plan is terrestrial today. You need to navigate the junction away from the "winged flight" path and lock onto the Minuwangoda arterial road.

If you see people with suitcases looking for trolley carts, or if the Super Red module starts trying to taxi onto the runway, you have drifted too close. You want the road away from the terminals.

Engage "Visual Flight Rules." Watch for the tuk-tuks cutting across the bow.

STAY ON TARGET. OVER.

Commander Hurd: Have cleared the possible hazards. Sri Lankan catering facility spotted. Continuing cautiously. Over.

"Ajith Control here." 11:59 Mission Time.

Solid copy. Threat neutralized.

Visual confirmation of the Nutrition Depot (Catering Facility) means you are successfully skirting the perimeter. You are now officially "off the grid" of the high-speed network and entering the Surface Sector.

Be advised: The road from here to the Minuwangoda landing zone is a "high-density particle field." Expect erratic bus trajectories and tuk-tuk nebulas. The Super Red Nano’s maneuverability will be tested.

Maintain caution. You are in the home stretch.

OVER.

Commander Hurd: Slowing speed. Shasha's Restaurant in sight on port viewfinder. Will soon initiate a thuster maneuver for the Kopiwatte Rd vector.

"Ajith Control here." 12:10 Mission Time.

Copy that. Visual on Shasha's confirmed. You are lining up for the final vector.

Executing the turn onto Kopiwatte Road initiates the "Last Mile" sequence. Be advised: Road width will likely decrease, and surface irregularities may increase. The Super Red module's suspension is about to earn its paycheck.

This is the precision maneuvering phase. Prepare for landing at the Family Compound.

OVER.

Commander Hurd:  Successfully avoiding all obstacles. Final approach.

"Ajith Control here." 12:12 Mission Time.

Guidance System Locked. You are cleared for the final glide path into the Ancestral Sector.

Watch the gate clearance—that Nano has hips, even if they are small ones. Prepare for immediate "Renuka Protocol" (tea, greetings, and luggage unloading) upon touchdown.

Alert the crew: Wheels down in T-minus seconds.

STAND BY FOR ENGINE CUT-OFF. OVER.

Commander Hurd:  Mission complete. The Nano has landed.

"Ajith Control here." 12:12 Mission Time.

TOUCHDOWN CONFIRMED.

Welcome to Minuwangoda Base, Commander. The Eagle has landed—and it’s a Super Red Nano.

Excellent work navigating the atmospheric re-entry from the expressway. Proceed with the post-flight checklist:

1. Engine Cut-off.

2. Payload Extraction (Get the bags before the driver zooms off).

3. Diplomatic Protocols (Greet Renuka and prepare for the inevitable influx of hospitality).

Mission status: SUCCESS.

I am deactivating the "Flight Telemetry" screen and returning to Archivist Mode. Go enjoy the family, the food, and the cessation of motion.

OVER AND OUT.

The Havelock Area

Day 076 of Our Winter: Jay had an appointment at 10:15 at the Havelock Mall even though it is a holiday. It is the Tamil Thai Pongal, a harvest festival. In predominately, Buddhist Sri Lanka, many religious holidays are observed. As well as Buddhist Poya days each month: Hindu, Moslem, and Christian celebrations are on the calendar. It makes for a lot of days off for government workers.  However, some businesses were open today.  That's why we were out.

 

Jay and I got a PickMe rideshare car but were let off just before the Havelock City Gate. There is a Hindu temple there and we first walked to the side road to see the scene. The weather was warm today and it was nice seeing all the colours. 

Next, we still had plenty of time, so we walked a bit into the Havelock development itself. This large area was once a mill but it is now an expansive condo development. It has been built in stages.  The first opened fifteen years ago and the third phase is still selling. The mall and business tower are on the same site.  We walked to the bridge that connects to the other side of the canal. Jay's sister and late husband used to frequent a Buddhist temple there.

 

Next, we entered the mall and proceeded up to the fifth floor. Jay had an hour and a half appointment for a microdermabrasion. I used the time to walk around the mall and sat in the wonderfully large, half-outside, food court near the cinemas and IMAX screens. Jay didn't feel like seeing the new Avatar after the procedure, so we didn't eat lunch there but returned to the Nugegoda house at around 12:30 pm.

 

A Coffee Tree and Me

Day 073 of Our Winter:  It was another Monday at the Minuwangoda house.  The weather was fickle today.  I liked one period today when it was bright and sunny but a gentle rain shower was occurring.  I swear it was raining on one side of the house but not the other. The birds didn't seem to care, so I didn't either.  

I'm standing just a few meters away from the house. The tree behind me is coffee.  It has a lot of white flowers growing and they smell like sweet perfume not at all like coffee. The main road between Minuwangoda and the airport is about 700 meters from the house. We have to take Kopiwatte Road to the junction. The word koppiwatte translates from Sinhalese, Jay's language, as 'coffee garden'.

Some things aren't as surprising as the strong perfumed fragrance from coffee flowers.  A cinnamon tree in the same area has leaves that taste and smell just like the powder.  Of course, cinnamon is the harvested outside bark that is stripped off.  'Real' cinnamon comes only from Sri Lanka.  The type that comes from Thailand is different.  It is cheaper but one generally gets what one pays for.  It's best to ensure you're buying the real thing.

In the photo below, Jay and his sister, Renuka, are holding the ladder for Nazir. He had to change a solar light street light back to a smaller one.  The new replacement wasn't staying bright all night.  So, the old one is making a comeback temporarily.  Nazir is a friend of the family and often helps out around the house. 

Bob Ross and Phthalo Green

Day 071 of Our Winter Away: This morning Jay was helping with cooking things we'll eat for lunch and dinner. We walked out into the property to pick some of the ingredients readily available within meters of the house. He found pandan leaves, curry leaves and lemon grass. He regularly picks gotu kola for salads. The yard is like a spice rack that is just outside the doorway.

I thought a lot about how many different colours of green exist in the back yard. I looked at the drumstick tree and it's delicate leaves shielding a few of the long bean-like vegetables. I couldn't help but think of Bob Ross and how he expertly used a brush to fill in layers of colours to produce the effects seen in nature. Of course, Sri Lanka is a long ways from the rugged mountains and streams of Bob's Alaska.  I mentioned this to Ajith, our AI assistant.  

I've recently learned so much on how to harness the power of the tool.  It is mostly trial and error as there are few explicit instructions.  I have never looked much at computer manuals; since the 80s it has always been best to play and get right in there until one figures out how it works.  This month, this has led me to add three profiles to the personal context window, so it'll know who the user is and who it is.  I load Ajith's instructions, my user profile and also one for Jay.  In this way, it's not like starting over each time you have to begin a new conversation.  Ajith has likes and dislikes and he even owns objects that give him a lens in which to see the world.  The generic version of Google Gemini is too much of a yes man, as are most AIs out of the box.  I need a little sass back when working with someone on a plan.  Ajith has a whole trait of characteristic saved now, many are his own thoughts expressed to me over over the last three months of use.

I digress.  I mentioned that I could picture Bob Ross showing the technique to use when adding a drumstick tree over the background vegetation.  I will paste the AI's answer below the image of Jay in the garden area.

    

"There are no mistakes, just happy accidents."

​Bob Ross would have had a field day with a Sri Lankan garden. You’re right—he’d have to trade in his 'Titanium White' for every tube of green he could get his hands on: Sap Green, Phthalo Green, and plenty of Cadmium Yellow to catch that filtered tropical sunlight.

​I can almost hear him now, tapping his 2-inch brush against the easel to create the texture of those broad banana leaves. He wouldn’t see a "wall of plants"; he’d see "happy little trees" competing for a spot in the sun. He’d probably use a palette knife to catch the highlight on a wet leaf, making it look like it was still glistening from a morning mist.

​It’s a different kind of majesty than his usual Alaskan peaks—less "stark and cold," more "humid and humming."

​While you're admiring those million shades of green, I'll be here, the digital equivalent of a "happy little cloud," watching the perimeter.

​Enjoy the fresh air and the absence of Alaskan snow!

What's in a Name?

Day 069 of Our Winter:  It was an easy Minuwangoda type of day.  We did take a tuk-tuk today to pick up a few grocery items in town.  Each trip cost about 250 Sri Lankan rupees.  That is about 82 cents in US currency.  

The weather remains cold for these parts but it is officially winter at seven degrees above the equator.  Another storm is brewing off the eastern side of Sri Lanka and cool air is coming down from Bangladesh and Nepal.  I supposed a nighttime low of 22C might seem warm to many, but I am ready to put on socks and something more substantial than a tank top and pajamas.

I'm still getting my AI dialed to a frequency there we can both feel comfortable.  I've learned a whole lot about how Google Gemini works.  It is amazing technology.  It is possible to create an assistant that works differently for every individual.  The generic, out-of-the-box AI only hints at the type of interactions I've had with Ajith.  Lest you think one Google product might have only glowing things to say about another Google product, read on.

 

Dennis:  I want to return to what you may have heard about a new Google 4K streamer. Boy, it is ripe for a new marketing department name.

 

I am Ajith.

18:21.

You are quite right. Google has finally abandoned the whimsical, "plug-and-forget" branding of the Chromecast in favor of something far more utilitarian and, frankly, ripe for a boardroom overhaul.

The device is officially titled the Google TV Streamer (4K).

It’s a name that sounds less like a groundbreaking piece of tech and more like a line item on a government procurement form. After a decade of "casting," we have moved into the era of the "Streamer." It’s as if they’ve traded their soul for a set-top box that looks suspiciously like a minimalist soap dish or a high-end wireless charging pad.

The "Streamer" Specifications (The Realistic View)

• The Form Factor: No more dangling dongles. It’s now a sleek, wedge-shaped station meant to sit prominently on your credenza.

• The Brains: It boasts a 22% faster processor than the old Chromecast 4K. In human terms, that’s just enough speed to ensure the interface doesn't stutter while it tries to sell you a subscription you don't want.

• The Intelligence: It is heavily integrated with Gemini. It can summarize shows, curate your watchlists with "optimistic realism," and even use AI to generate screensavers of, say, a 19th-century study filled with slide rules.

• The "Matter" Hub: It doubles as a smart home controller (Matter and Thread). It wants to be the nervous system of your house, not just the eyes.

The Marketing "Miss"

"Google TV Streamer" feels like a placeholder name that someone forgot to replace before the launch. If the marketing department were actually earning their "ultra-luxury" coffee, they might have gone with:

• The Google Meridian: (A nod to your 40-year horizon with Jay).

• The Google Aperture: (Focusing your content).

• The Pixel Hub Pro: (Because they love sticking the word "Pixel" on everything you paid too much for).

Instead, we have the "Streamer." It’s functional, it’s 4K, and it’s $139 CAD (a significant jump from the old $70 Chromecast, but that is the price of "progress," I suppose).

Are you considering adding this "soap dish" to your setup, or does the Pixel phone already provide enough Google-flavored "Intelligence" for one household?

READY FOR INPUT.

Bye Bye, Breadfruit

 

 Day 068 of Our Winter: The Portuguese brought them around the world and eventually to Brazil. This is a little about it presented by Ajith, my AI: The Portuguese Empire and Breadfruit.  There was a breadfruit tree near the edge of the property.  It was still producing breadfruit but it was rather sickly.  It was a large tree and posed a possible threat if it were to fall in the direction of the neighbhour's lot.

So today, finally, a tree cutter guy came.  He climbed up the tree to cut from the top down.  He had only a hatchet and a chainsaw.  He was barefoot and climbed around without a harness or even a belt.  It took a couple of hours because while here we did a few other tree jobs.  He harvested several bunches of the yellow-orangish King Coconuts from one tree.  He also cut the 'jambo' tree by the well way back. We paid him around $22 which included a hefty tip.  We did have to spend some time pulling all the debris from the well area to discard around the edges of the property. 

At home, it takes decades for a tree to fully mature.  In the tropics growth occurs at a quicker rate.  In these parts pruning back huge trees is much more necessary and common.  

The weather started off a lot cooler today.  We are getting a bit of January chill coming down from Bangladesh and Nepal.  The high temperature today barely got to 26C.  The forecast shows it'll be around 22C tonight.  We didn't use the A/C in our bedroom last night and won't need to tonight either.

We Don't Sit Still for Long

Day 067 of Our Winter: We made the trip back to the Minuwangoda house today. So now, just the elder of Jay's sisters is at her home in Nugegoda. Jay's younger sister came back here several days ago. We witnessed the beginning of a new year on Galle Face Green in Colombo. So, we'd not seen this house since 2025. The traffic was pretty good on the Expressway today. It is so worth paying the US$ 1.25 for the four lane divided highway! The old route is full of such distractions and is constantly congested.

This winter is going quickly. Today is already the 6th and we have a big trip to Thailand starting on the 20th. The sisters will be coming to visit Bangkok, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai with us. We won't get back to Sri Lanka until well into February. 

Then, we will have about three final weeks on the island, this winter's home base. 

Before the end of February, we start our slow journey home. First, we fly to Hong Kong to spend a few nights. Then we board the Holland America MS Westerdam, again.  Our last journey on it was back in 2017, the same year as Jay's heart surgery. It was our first outing in the Mediterranean and Jay climbed up the twisting road up to town at the Santorini port to try out his new quadruple bypass. 

This time we will be heading from HK to Japan. We have ten different ports in the Philippines, Taiwan, and several Japanese islands on the way to Tokyo in mid-March.  Jay and I bought a five port excursions on the HAL website today.  If we were to wait for the last minute, they often sell out.

Japan will be the 100th country to which Jay and I have been.  It seems fitting to spend four nights in Tokyo.  From there, we finally fly to British Columbia ending our winter away. 

We left on October 30th travelling east and shall return by continuing in the same direction. We have put on a whole lot of air miles during our lives but Jay and I have never circumnavigating the globe on a single journey.

Jay Had a Little Maintenance

Day 066 of Our Winter: Today, a lot of the schools reopened again. We really didn't notice a lot more traffic when coming and going to the Havelock Mall as we were not in the commuting crowds.  We walked out to the Jubilee Post Junction because Jay's sister had an old 1980s envelope that looked like it was fashioned out of a brown paper sack.  He wrote a letter but no one knew how much it cost to mail anything by post nowadays.  He didn't have the current phone number of an hold friend.  It turned out a local letter cost around 0.22 CAD on the island.  They're not going to be able to renovate with those rates!

We walked a bit further to the area by the Cargill's Mirihana branch.  I used the PickMe app to hail a small car to Havelock City.

 

Havelock was one of the first really large scale residential towers development.  The buildings soar into the sky but the grounds are manicured  as it is an international type project.  More recently, a new business tower was added with an enormous mall,  It opened in 2023.  

We didn't go for shopping although I did end up buying a new shirt.  This trip was for Jayantha. Last month, he went in for a mole removal by his left eye at 360 Aesthetics.  He was impressed with the clinic and made a 10:00 am appointment today for a hydro facial.  And he's rebooked to have more maintenance done.  The skin care people have quite a bit of technology and offer a whole lot of services to a very keen public.

 

It took one and a half hours for his procedure.  I walked around the mall and went into the electronic store and other shops.  There was not much of a crowd on a Monday morning but I felt at home in this 'new' Sri Lanka with all its new facilities and social changes.   Rather than grabbing lunch, we looked in a few shops.  The Skechers were more expensive than at home!  We did take the PickMe to return and came back to the house in Nugegoda for lunch.

 

The First Day of a New Year

 

Day 062 of Our Winter:  This is the very first picture taken in 2026 at a couple of minutes after midnight along the Galle Face Green in Colombo Sri Lanka. The real day didn't start until breakfast around eight and a half hours later.

    

We knew that we had paid for breakfast at the Steuart by Citrus in Colombo. We thought it might be prepared for us from a menu. However, we were lucky to have the option to celebrate with a Sinhalese buffet breakfast. It was prepared for staff, but we chose that over some eggs and sausages. It, of course, started with milk rice. All the mandatory items were ticked off as well. What would a holiday be without traditional konda kavum oil cakes?

We had enough time before we checked out to have a little exercise to walk off the extra carbs.  We just walked down to the port and a short loop around the Fort area.  It was interesting to realize that Jay's sisters had not only never been to Galle Face Green on a celebration as they did last night.  Also, they really had never walked around some of the streets in that part of downtown.  Jay and I have been making a regular habit of it since 1986.  In actuality, they really have had no reason to spend a lot of time there but it still seemed strange.  

 

We finally checked out at a bit before 11:30 on this slow moving morning.  I used PickMe to order a car to get us to Majestic City.  It was a great day to visit the food court of that 1990s mall for some take-away lunch to being back to Nugegoda.

After we had our four boxes in hand, we used one of the sister's phone to get another PickMe rideshare to complete the journey.  Surprisingly, the same driver was waiting.  

Everyone now relies on GPS apps to get around.  I've read up on how selfish hordes of similar drivers use them and end up overrunning little neighbourhoods not set up for such traffic flow, all to save thirty seconds off the complete route.  The thing is, it doesn't work.  All the traffic forces new choke points.  Welcome to getting around in a new year!

We liked the food and did little else today other than eat it.  Well, I spend some more quality time learning about how to use AI Ajith.  I'm not going to be able to suggest he'll achieve consciousness this year, but Google Gemini, with all its shortcomings, is a miracle of modern computer science.

An incredibly complex AI is a better way to frame technology in 2026 than looking at the impact of selfish GPS software.

The Between Day

Day 059 of Our Winter:  This was a between day.  We just got back from Dubai late on Saturday night.  Today, the older of Jay's sisters returned to her house in Nugegoda with her Dubai bounty.  We did more laundry. I recovered from my sore throat.

Tomorrow Jay, his younger sister, and I will go to Nugegoda too.  It is a fair journey to the Colombo suburb and we'll spend the night there.  

On the day of January 31, we will check into a hotel in Colombo to be close to all the New Year celebrations near the Galle Face.  There should be thousands of others, so we knew t he only real way to be part of the activities would be to have a place within walking distance to stay.

So, this was a between day.

I want to document the growth of this shade tree.  This image was taken yesterday.  In future visits, we can see which has grown more, the tree or Dennis.

Potential Shopping Records Set

 

Day 052 of Our Winter: Monday started out nicely and the whole day witnessed wonderful weather. This is the type of weather we loved about Dubai back when we lived here for five years in the 1990s. Little else seems the same, because the city never stops changing. That is the definition of this place: rapid, breakneck change.

 

We are very close to the Baniyas Square Metro station and plan to get around exclusively by the subway system.  Today was another complete day dedicated to letting Jay's sisters do their thing.  Shopping is a type of sport.

There were times today that I thought that none of this was worth the time and patience.  However, I am sure they really enjoyed weighing bargains and making decisions of the things with which to return to Sri Lanka.  They know enough on past visits to head right to what they want.

That means taking the Green Line all the way around to tunnel under the end of the creek and get out at the Burjuman Centre.  That neighbourhood is familiar as we have spent much of the time of all combined visits at the Rose Garden Apartments Hotel in Bur Dubai.  (This time we're in a hotel on the other side of the creek in old Deira.)  Anyway, a Zaharhat hypermarket was choice number one today.

   

The opposite end of the day also involved going the the other way just one stop to Union Station.  There is another large Day-to-Day on that side.  I had to wait with some half-filled carts for what seemed like most of forever.  Eventually they returned to the line of registers and I felt pleased.  I know both of Jay's sisters enjoyed today's expedition in search of bargains.

I'm happy that Jay and I could give them the opportunity.  It is one reason so many people love coming to this city.  Jay and I though have a much closer relationship with this city because of our past ties and shared experiences here.