Article for 2011 Apr 11
Part of the “Sri Lanka” series.
2011
2011 Apr
(the first two articles in this series mention vomiting)
Throughout this series of articles, there are several phrases with the initials “IBIS”, alluding to my avian life-list, the Index of Birds I’ve Sensed, which I often added to whilst in Sri Lanka. The frequency of such phrases declines when I see fewer examples of new species. How many can you find? Some examples to start you off are:
- “...in beds (I slept)” (2011 Apr 10)
- “Iridescent birds including sapphire-green...” (2011 Apr 11)
- “I became increasingly soaked.” (2011 Apr 12)
- “Indeed, bee-eaters (II species)” (“II” being Roman numerals for “two”: I was getting desperate) (2011 Apr 13)
- “...is banned if swallows...” (2011 Apr 14)
- “Interesting. But I’m supposed...” (2011 Apr 17)
Apr 11 Mon 
I woke up, still with a head-ache. I heard birds, so I arose and drank tea, which I regurgitated back up again. I drank more tea, and puked again. I drank more water, and an anti-vomiting tablet, and the water was excreted via the oesophagus. I drank more water, which was orally expelled.
I had lunch; my head-ache subsided. Phew. Now I can concentrate on manufacturing acronyms for “IBIS”. Iridescent birds including sapphire-green somethings delighted in berry-eating, in swooping, in being intriguingly sparkly.
We were ferried across a river, where locals invariably bathed. I saw an impressive beast in shallow water - a monitor lizard! I’m blissful I sighted it before it swam off.
Rain fell and we saw a kingfisher. We walked through a jungle. What we saw included brilliant insects, centipedes, and, it being a rainy forest, leeches. About seven leeches latched onto my feet. Some fed successfully. Or unsuccessfully, depending on your viewpoint.
I’ven’t been ill since I bit into sandwiches at lunchtime!
I ate a cheese-burger for tea! With tomato catch-up [sic].