Noah

Noah, wearing Sri Lankan cricket team shirt, in his favourite form of Transport; a Tuk Tuk

When Britta and I decided to come here we knew that the experience would be good for our son Noah, but were slightly worried about how he would cope. It’s all so different from home. It’s hot and humid, all the food has got chillies in, there’s tropical illnesses like dengue fever, blah blah blah.

We needn’t have worried. I think we’ve found it harder than he has. He’s 3 and a half now, and although I know he still remembers home (he knows we have a cat called Marvin and he talks to his grandparents on Skype etc) I’m not really sure how he thinks of it, or if he’s all that bothered about going back there. Four months in the life of a three year old must seem like a lifetime, and I suspect it will be a bit of a shock to his system to go back to normality. Or maybe not…I guess when you’re three everything is just a new experience, whether you’re in Leeds or Colombo.

When we left England he was a fairly shy little chap, and didn’t really like talking to new people. Four months later he is bold as brass, makes friends almost everywhere he goes (he attracts lots of attention everywhere he goes) and talks in a Sri Lankan accent when talking to anyone with dark skin. I won’t say it’s all been easy…there have been moments when we’ve all been hot and tired and we’ve just wished he had an off switch but that’s the same for any parent…just a bit worse when you’re on a hot crowded bus full of people staring at you and your son is screaming his head off.

On the whole though, I think this has been great for him, and I really hope he remembers some of it, in one form or another in his later life! I think I’d have to say his favourite things have been Tuk Tuks (three wheeled taxi’s) with which is obsessed, swimming in his rubber ring, egg hoppers (Sri Lankan pancake type of thing) and Lemon Puff biscuits, though there's probably loads more...

So this post is, I’m afraid, nothing much about Sri Lanka, but more about the fun Noah has had here, and is unashamedly for the Noah enthusiasts out there such as his Grandparents, cousins etc. 

Noah holding hands with his friend Rukshi

Noah driving a Tuk Tuk with Rukshi

Noah on Kandy lake...he'd been harassing us for a boat ride all day, so he looks pleased that it paid off. 

Learning to swim with rubber ring...a big step as he was terrified of both sea and pool when we arrived.

Turtle hatchery, with baby turtles!

Enjoying a fresh Pineapple juice in the garden at Upper Glencairn. 

His best mate Roshan, at Ulpotha.

The three wheel obsession continues.

Looks like he's just had an idea...

Being in Sri Lanka Noah has developed a taste for cricket. 

Standing on the platform waiting for the train for Colombo.

Walking down the train tracks at Ella...Noah loves trains so being abe to do this is great...couldn't do it at home of course.

Noah on the broken Hunslet Diesel engine in Victoria Park in Colombo. 

Another Tuk Tuk journey... to a Buddhist Temple (Stupa). Noah can now tell whether a temple is a Buddhist Stupa, a Hindu temple (Kovil),  a Mosque ("where they sing to Allah") or a church ("where they sing to Jesus"). 

He's also a good research assistant for Britta, and a photographers assistant for me...we both take him with us on work trips and people love him being there...he's the perfect ice breaker in those  culturally awkward moments. 

Sitting on the Tsunami train

After looking the Tsunami train picture of him I though it would have been better if  it had been a 3rd class carriage, as he's 3, so I had a go at re-shooting it. 

Me and Noah on our bike, outside our house in Negombo. He went everywhere with me, sitting on the handle bars, with his feet in the shopping basket. And has learnt left from right so that he could also be my indicators.

I think this is my favourite Noah picture, taken of him outside a Hindu Temple at the ancient city ruins of Polonnaruwa. He was very pleased with his red dot.