48 HOurs in Colombo

Last week John and Sean (VP of operations) went to Colombo, Sri Lanka to recruit employees, I tagged along with them.

Interestingly Sri Lanka is 2 1/2 hours ahead of Qatar, yes 2 and a HALF.  Once we landed in Sri Lanka, it took us an hour to get from the airport to the hotel.  There was lots of traffic including big trucks, cars, motor cycles, tuk tuks (like 3 wheel golf carts) and bicycles all vying for a lane and a half, plus they drive on the opposite side of the car and road from us in the States.  I did not get back into a car until the hour and a half ride back to the airport and that was taking a short cut that included cows also sharing the road with us.

The next morning (Tuesday) we had some time to explore a bit, saw the Indian Ocean from the "boardwalk" not much beach front and many stray dogs (of which I wanted to take home.)  I spent the rest of the day at the gym and pool while the guys worked.  I got a little shopping in before dinner at the Ministry of Crab.  They serve crab from 1/2 kilo up to Crabzilla witch is 2 kg an up.  I got the small, Sean got the large.  John said it was one of the best meals he has ever had.

 Wednesday, I helped John out with the recruiting.  I typed up the employment contracts then had to run to the hotel lobby and print them (4 trips in all, the guys in the business center got to know me.)  It is interesting and a little sad to hear the guys say they want to leave their family for two years so they can make money to send home since they can't find jobs in Sri Lanka or jobs that pay well.  One guy had a 6 month old baby and one guys wife will give birth just after he leaves.  They only got about 15 guys of the 40 they wanted to hire, just didn't have many show up for interviews.  The whole thing was a real learning process and we will more prepared for the next time we go back.

Cupcakes, Fish and Michigan

This has been a busy week with AWA:

On Monday I went to an icing demonstration at the famed, New York based, Magnolia Bakery.  We got to try samples and learn how to ice the cupcakes.  It takes the employees 40 hours of training and once they get it down, they can ice 15 cupcakes in 5 minutes. I had to take a brownie home and it very good (although John said "not as good as Ann's.")  Then I went out to lunch with two ladies, one from the Detroit area.

Wednesday I had to get up at 4:30am for a snorkel trip.  After an hour drive north and a pit stop at the last gas station with a restroom, we arrived at the "French Beach" I guess the French used to go there.  We got on our gear and headed out with our guide named Steve, and he is from the St. Joe area.  Saw lots of fish and coral.  I also got to be Steve's first person to have a run in with a sea urchin.  My knee feel into it as a wave pushed me over.  It hurt a lot at the time, but the tiny pricks are almost heeled now.  In the end we were all glad we got up early to go.

 

On Thursday, I went to a sushi demonstration. He started from the very begining, as in fileting the  salmon. Then how to take bones out, skin off and cut it into pieces for the Shake Sushi.  We got samples, and yes I tried the raw salmon and it was good in the Sashimi dressing he made.  He also showed how to make the Wasabi paste and how to present everything.  Then one of his assistants made the Californa Roll Maki and of course passed out samples (my favorite kind of sushi.)  For the adventurous type, you could try your hand at making the rolls, I just watched and ate.  Didn't meet anyone fom Michigan at this event.