In October 1984 I found myself in Sri Lanka. I was an economist for a large engineering firm with an international presence. My boss asked around the department if anyone wanted a 2-month overseas assignment. I jumped at the opportunity. I always wanted to work overseas.
After a stop over in Hong Kong, my boss and I joined the top 3 guys in the firm's Asian practice in Colombo. We traveled around the city meeting people associated with the project and gathering information.
Sri Lanka was definitely a Third World country. Shabby, unkempt buildings and people were everywhere, telephones did not work, most cars were British models from the 1950s, the rolling stock was circa Britain 1940, etc., etc.
At my first hotel, The Oberoi, the color theme for the hotel and staff attire was dark, mostly brown. I had a tight work schedule, a Compact III lugable computer and a dark room hotel with poor lighting. That did not work so well.
My second hotel, The Galadari Meridian, was a different story. The color theme for the hotel and staff was light blue and white. The lighting in my room was excellent. The hotel was a 5-star western style hotel.
The local female talent was not so good. Too few local women knew anything about cosmetics, deodorant, clean garments and western attire. All in all, there was not much to look at. That changed soon after moving to The Galadari Meridian.
I moved to the Meridian November 3 the very day Indira Gandhi was cremated on television following her assassination. Living in the Meridian was great. In addition to being a modern hotel I was one of the few guests. The hotel had been open one month. The front desk staff knew me by name.
The first Wednesday at the Meridian I was waiting for an elevator with my PC, printer, printer paper, brief case among other work items on a luggage cart. When the elevator door opened several affluent local women started to exit the elevator. I could tell they were affluent because their saris were colorful, clean and looked tailor made. A crisp Australian accented voice from the back of the elevator said "Excuse us please." From the accent you could tell she was educated.
I responded "No problem."
Her accent caught my attention. The last female to get off the elevator was a striking, in her late 20s Australian woman in a knee length drab green floral print dress. She stood 5' 10" with 2" black heels. Her hair was propped up Nancy Reagan style, about the same color. She was slim with 36B boobs. I could not take my eyes off her as she walked by. She was the best looking woman I had seen my month in Colombo.
The following Saturday afternoon I was taking a work break, walking through the lobby. There she was, walking towards me. The tall Australian woman was wearing a dark blue pleated dress with a different pair of 2" black heels.
As we approached, I smiled and said "Hello."
She responded. "Hello. Permit me to introduce myself. I am Helen Grey, Director of Hospitality."
I introduced myself in turn. We shook hands.
Helen said "Are you enjoying your stay at The Galadari Meridian?"
"Very much so." I replied.
"With the Meridian being a new hotel, I wish to invite you to our penthouse dining room, the Colombo Millennium, for dinner this evening gratis. You will be my guest."
"Excellent. What time?"
"8 o'clock. Attire is coat and tie."
"Thank you very much. I look forward to dining with you. See you then."
Fortunately, I brought a dark suit with 2 dress shirts and 4 neckties.
I arrived at the 15
th
floor restaurant entrance at 7:50 PM.
While wait for Helen I looked out the windows at the panoramic view of Colombo. Being after sundown and in the Third World few lights were on. There was nothing to see.
At 5 minutes till 8 Helen arrived. She looked great. Her hair was propped up more than usual. She spent time at the beauty salon that afternoon. Helen was wearing a Color Block dress, very stylish that year. The dress was predominately white, plus red and green with black lines separating the colors. Her feet bore a third pair of black high heeled shoes.
I said "You look fetching this evening."
"That's best compliment I have received since arriving in Colombo" Helen replied.
The glass paneled west wall of the Colombo Millennium overlooked the Indian Ocean. The color theme was medium blue with dark, smoky glass. The dΓ©cor was modern.
The maitre d' greeted us.
"Agit, take us to your finest table with a view of the Indian Ocean." Said Helen.
"Yes, madam" replied Agit. Agit led us to a table next to the windows.
The waiter, Sunil, pulled back Helen's chair before I could reach it.
We were the only customers in the restaurant.
"What will the lady and gentleman have to drink this evening?"
"I'll take a scotch and soda without ice." Said Helen.
I said "I'll have a Tanqueray and tonic without ice."
The drinks arrived within the minute, lightening fast for Sri Lanka.
We could see the Galle Face Hotel and Colombo Swim Club. That was it.
Helen was an excellent conversationalist. We quickly got to know each other. She was from Melbourne, I was from Wichita, Kansas. Both of us loved to travel. Helen had been all over, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and North America, like a typical Australian. In North America she had been to New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Toronto, Montreal and Boston. She had been in Europe when I was backpacking there with a buddy. We compared mental notes, but we were not in the same place at the same time. She had been employed by international hotel chains which made international travel a requirement. I dazzled her with my knowledge of Australian history, geography, politics, movies, television and cultural norms. We had a blast chatting and laughing.
The Colombo Millennium was a South Asian restaurant. I had Curried Prawns. They were terrific. The sauce was red and spicy. I would pay the price the following morning. Helen had Chicken Tiki Masala. The drinks continued to come.
I kept up with her cocktail for cocktail. By the third round she was calling me Mate. Then we started to talk about the peculiarities of life in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka has a caste system. Each level of society can only perform certain duties. For example, getting a one page document photocopied is a 20 minute exercise. First, a bell is dinged, eventually someone shows up to take the document. They disappear. Who knows how many people handle the document to get it copied. 20 minutes later you have your photocopy. Communication between castes is poor. Next to no information is passed from one caste to another. As a result, mistakes are made.
Then there is the Sri Lankan tradition in a meeting of moving their head in a sideways figure 8 pattern. You are talking to them. They begin moving their head side to side in a figure 8 pattern. Moving their head in a figure 8 pattern means they hear you. They do not agree with you, but they hear you. This leads to longer negotiations, training, what have you.
Helen had been in Colombo for 3 months hiring and training staff. Other duties included getting to know the movers and shakers in Colombo and other marketing tasks. She had 2-year contract with the Meridian.
After the entrees neither of us wanted dessert. We focused on finishing our 5
th
round of cocktails.
About that time Helen began chatting about her huge penthouse suite. My 9
th