Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Of Road Races and Canned Pol Sambol

Along with Kavum and Kokis, another undying avurudu tradition is the marathons and the cycle races. Frankly I can’t understand how they became an Avurudu tradition in the first place, but it’s there so we have to live with it. Come to think of it, I think this year there are less of those as well. Maybe they couldn’t find any big wigs to do the start off. Anywhoo, came across two cycle races this Saturday, which is quite irritating when you are trying to get somewhere in a hurry.

My gripe is not with the cyclists, after all they are sportsmen and participating in a sporting event. I’m annoyed with all those other idiots who ride along the cyclists on motorcycles. For every one, there are about ten of these freaking idiots riding around the cyclists, like a guard of honor. They go weaving through traffic, shouting at other motorists like they own the road, trying to clear a path for their charge. Reminds one of those dreaded ministerial motorcades. What’s up with that? These posse riders should be banned from doing this.

Then there’s the other set of people who lineup along the way, eagerly waiting to throw a bucket of water at the cyclists. Why does a cycle race turn normal, sane citizens into water throwing maniacs? Another mystery of life yet to be answered. I wonder if the racers actually like this. I mean I would get pissed off if someone threw a bucket of water at me while I’m trying to win a race, but then again different people have different tastes. What a whacky and weird world we live in.



Source nedgallagher.com

As for the other part of the title, has anyone else out there seen Canned Pol Sambol made by MD? I’m not sure for how long this has been in the market, but I only came across it couple of days ago. Has it come to a point in time that people are too busy to make even a simple pol sambol? It is sad. I don’t even want to know what it tastes like. Call me old fashioned, but I still prefer fresh homemade pol sambol any day over canned stuff.



On a more serious note, today, the 22nd of April is Earth Day. I Did a post last year also on it, ranting about the things happening. You can get more information at the official Earth Day site and as well as Wikipedia.

We only have one planet to live on people, let’s try not to blow it up, coz we got no place else to go!!!

Cheers!!!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Canned pol sambol sounds like it would be absolutely disgusting. Something akin to sawdust maybe.

Anonymous said...

WTF!! Only in Sri Lanka will you get such a simple delicacy such as Pol-Sambol, and only in bloody Sri Lanka will you get retards who are too lazy to make their own.

Anonymous said...

Easily done if you still live with mummy. As for the rest of us, tinned pol sambol sounds great if it tastes good.

People probably turned up their noses at bottled katta sambol once too, or mango chutney.

I'd give it a try.

Dili said...

Yeah but katta sambol is meant to be preserved in the first place. Pol sambol on the other hand... Its probably either dried or drenched in yucky chems.. ughhh.


I always wondered how good one of those riders had to be to not get knocked off the road by those salvos of water buckets coming at them at high speed

Azrael said...

Rasti - Yeah, sawdust might be better :)

Chaarmax - he he, These things ARE making the people more lazy :D

Maybe it started out as an export, then they thought of introducing to the locals and see. We of course would eat anything ne...

David - FYI I still do live with mummy, but on the other hand I can also cook, so food won't be a problem even if Mummy isn't there he he...

Dili - Yeah, you cant keep pol sambol for long, so it must have preservatives in it. Damn should've checked the label.

"Staying on the bike while people throw water at you" is part of the racing criteria he he :D

Anonymous said...

"FYI I still do live with mummy, but on the other hand I can also cook,"

Ever made pol sambol? It's not worth the trouble, believe me, unless you're cooking for a dozen people. Much easier to buy it, so call me lazy if you like.

On the topic of freshness, we have tinned fruits, jams, & chutneys that taste great, so til someone tastes it, you all sound like a bunch of ol' grannies.

Azrael said...

David - He he...Oh well different people have different tastes.

True, it does make it convenient in this fast paced world, and it might not be bad either. I guess when it comes to certain things, I prefer the old fashion approach.

...and yes I've made it several time :)

pissu perera said...

i'm guessing the canned stuff is meant more for the folks who are going abroad. i know quite a few people who would buy quite a few cans at a time. i guess it's a choice of not so fresh, not the same as mummy's pol sambol over no pol sambol for them.

that said, i've never eaten the stuff, canned or other wise, ever :-s

Lady divine said...

coconut sambol in a freaking tin!!! good heavens.. I wonder what that would taste like....

then again, I guess it's more for those who're abroad.... coz i know lots of friends who take the Malu ambulthiyals, polos currys and all...