Denzil's Stories

  Unveiling Contrasts Part II An experience in a train ride. Denzil Jayasinghe 4 min read·1 hour ago I was intrigued by the  contrast of my bus ride  in Sri Lanka, and I wanted to experience a suburban train. The train tracks evoked memories of my childhood trips. So, I found myself at the ticket counters in Colombo station, the central station in the capital. I felt like I had travelled back in time as I saw the wooden counters that looked like they belonged to another era, maybe half a century ago when I lived in Sri Lanka. Each counter had a row of iron rods as a fence for the queue. Behind the small window with grills, a man was issuing tickets. He would take the money in cash and give paper cardboard tickets after pressing them with a hand-operated machine that made a loud thumping noise. The station was crowded with people from different walks of life, but I noticed a trio: an old woman, a younger woman who looked like her daughter, and a teenage boy who seemed to b...

Unveiling Contrasts An experience in wilful disruption Denzil Jayasinghe 4 min read·1 day ago 1 S tepping out of your comfortable zone and trying new things is a sign of healthy growth — a change that brings energy. This idea struck me as I embraced a wilful disruption to my otherwise firstworldview during a recent trip to my old country, Sri Lanka. I stayed in a huge bungalow in Colombo’s fanciest neighbourhood where multi-story dwellings were surrounded by 10 feet walls and black metal gates, separating walled gardens from the commoners. Staying there felt like staying in a five-star hotel, with helpful butlers taking care of everything and skilled chefs preparing meals. The garages housed a fleet of limousines, while at the mere flick of a call, half a dozen drivers sprang into action. Security guards were always around, helped by cameras watching everything. While living in this sheltered space, I saw the chaotic traffic on the nearby roads. Buses poorly made from lorry chassis dro...