People: we have heroes among us and Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala is one of them. The first Sri Lankan to scale Mount Everest, Jayanthi isn’t content to rest on her laurels: instead, she consistently champions change (including through her #ClimbLikeAGirl campaign) and raises her voice to challenge stereotypes and combat gender-based violence.
Jayanthi was awarded the International Olympic Committee’s 2023 Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Champions Award for Asia last week – well-deserved recognition for someone who is a role model for many.
Speaking about the award, Jayanthi said: “I’m honoured and humbled to receive this prestigious award. In order to ensure gender equality, diversity, and inclusion, I believe that we all need to work together to challenge patriarchal stereotypes that prevent us from reaching our goals… Let’s break these patriarchal norms and create new norms that are based on equality, dignity, and respect for each other, regardless of who we are and where we come from.”
Words to live by, indeed.
Thank you for all you do, Jayanthi, and more strength to you!
Poet Stevie Smith
Poems: last week on X, American poet Joseph Fasano shared this disconcerting yet delightful poem by English poet Stevie Smith, titled ‘Not Waving but Drowning,’ which spoke to my heart and I found myself returning to read it and dwell on it many times:
Nobody heard him, the dead man,
But still he lay moaning:
I was much further out than you thought
And not waving but drowning.
Poor chap, he always loved larking
And now he’s dead
It must have been too cold for him his heart gave way,
They said.
Oh, no no no, it was too cold always
(Still the dead one lay moaning)
I was much too far out all my life
And not waving but drowning.
Given the turbulence of these times, despite the lives (and lies) we showcase on social media, there’s no denying that too many are struggling in so many ways. Here’s hoping that all of you who are drowning get safely to shore – and know you will soar again.
Traditional chocolate biscuit pudding
Plates: from succulent savoury dishes such as Portuguese seafood rice, Indonesian beef curry, pork Thai red curry, firecracker prawns, and mutton pol kiri badun to divine desserts like chocolate mousse, chocolate biscuit pudding, passion fruit mousse, and ginger mocha mousse, Food Prints by Koluu, which turns four in May, is a foodie’s dream come true.
There’s something to suit every palate on the menu – including soups, salads, and kids’ meals – and celebrity chef Koluu’s commitment to quality and generous quantities ensures your heart and stomach will be full every single time, while the prices won’t empty your wallet either.
When it comes to the savoury dishes, I’m torn between the Portuguese seafood rice (featuring Koluu’s special take on the dish) and the melt-in-the-mouth mutton rice for the top spot, while many others come a close second.
As for desserts, while Koluu’s personal favourite is the ginger mocha mousse (which I also love), my top pick will always be the traditional chocolate biscuit pudding, while the chocolate mousse comes a close second.