Word for the Travel Wise (02/06/07)

Seeing this music video from the Sri Lankan Tamil born artist M.I.A. yesterday reminded me that it is time for a lesson in the language and also world music. Now based out of England, M.I.A. still turns her focus to her homeland, making music that makes you think as well as move your feet. If you’re just as unfamiliar with M.I.A. as you are with the Sinhala language, I suggest getting with the program – at least one of them. (See comments for both “yes” and “no” in Tamil.)

Today’s word is a Sinhala word used in Sri Lanka:

owu
– yes

English is spoken by ten percent of the population and Sinhala is the official and national language of the country. I’ve actually never tried to learn this one much, but judging from the alphabet it looks like a challenge. Omniglot has a great starter page on learning all the characters and use of this English to Sinhala dictionary could slowly help in distinguishing common travel words. Let’s Speak Sinhala offers lessons at a very small and reasonable fee. They appear to be one of the better Sinhala language-learning websites.

Past Sinhala words: hari shook, a da, ga ma, ida netu, purusha, sthree, Senasuraa da

Word for the Travel Wise (10/15/06)

If time and money aren’t issues for you and say a fun travel companion then I suggest booking a first-class ticket over to the tiny tear-drop shaped island of Sri Lanka for Deepavali happening on October 21, 2006. Deepavali also known as Diwali is the ‘Festival of Lights’ which symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for mankind. The event lands on a Saturday this month.

Today’s word is a Sinhala word used in Sri Lanka:

Senasuraa da
– Saturday

English is spoken by ten percent of the population and Sinhala is the official and national language of the country. I’ve actually never tried to learn this one much, but judging from the alphabet it looks like a challenge. Omniglot has a great starter page on learning all the characters and use of this English to Sinhala dictionary could slowly help in distinguishing common travel words. Let’s Speak Sinhala offers lessons at a very small and reasonable fee. They appear to be one of the better Sinhala language-learning websites.

Past Sinhala words: hari shook, a da, ga ma, ida netu, purusha, sthree

Word for the Travel Wise (09/16/06)

Not much time to point out exotic foreign affairs or make cutesy conversation about the country or word of choice so as a courtesy I will provide you with two words today. That’s what you’re reading this for anyway – right? Besides, I make up the rules.

Today’s word is a Sinhala word used in Sri Lanka:

purusha – men
sthree – women

English is spoken by ten percent of the population and Sinhala is the official and national language of the country. I’ve actually never tried to learn this one much, but judging from the alphabet it looks like a challenge. Omniglot has a great starter page on learning all the characters and use of this English to Sinhala dictionary could slowly help in distinguishing common travel words. Let’s Speak Sinhala offers lessons at a very small and reasonable fee. They appear to be one of the better Sinhala language learning websites.

Past Sinhala words: hari shook, a da, ga ma, ida netu

Word for the Travel Wise (08/08/06)

Every time I go to the tourism site of Sri Lanka I am impressed. First off, the site is designed rather nicely and feels like a vacation within itself. Secondly, the country always has so much going on year-round. If it isn’t a huge spice festival of sorts you can bet you’ll get something just as cool to view. Right now the Randoli Festival is taking place, tomorrow the Grand Festival and the day after that will be the Day Festival. In November the country will host an international surfing competition. With all these things happening, you may wish to make plans early to make sure you’re well accommodated.

Today’s word is a Sinhala word used in Sri Lanka:

ida netu – no vacancies

English is spoken by ten percent of the population and Sinhala is the official and national language of the country. I’ve actually never tried to learn this one much, but judging from the alphabet it looks like a challenge. Omniglot has a great starter page on learning all the characters and use of this English to Sinhala dictionary could slowly help in distinguishing common travel words. Let’s Speak Sinhala offers lessons at a very small and reasonable fee. They appear to be one of the better Sinhala language learning websites.

Past Sinhala words: hari shook, a da, ga ma

Word for the Travel Wise (06/24/06)

One of my biggest travel fantasies of all time is to go some place like India or Sri Lanka and work in a media environment. Of course Bollywood has been on the very top of that list, but i-to-i offers some pretty mouth-watering volunteer programs for parties interested in working at the local newspaper in Colombo or with the Bangalore Magazine in India. Erik touched on this earlier. If media ventures are your sort of thing while traveling abroad I suggest you give it a glance. One of these days I’m going to actually buckle down and save to hang out in the Sri Lanka, but for now it’ll just stay at the top of my list.

Today’s word is a Sinhala word used in Sri Lanka:

ga ma – village

English is spoken by ten percent of the population and Sinhala is the official and national language of the country. I’ve actually never tried to learn this one much, but judging from the alphabet it looks like a challenge. Omniglot has a great starter page on learning all the characters and use of this English to Sinhala dictionary could slowly help in distinguishing common travel words. Let’s Speak Sinhala offers lessons at a very small and reasonable fee. They appear to be one of the better Sinhala language learning websites.

Past Sinhala words: hari shook, a da