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So yesterday/this morning I said goodbye to Sri Lanka and hello to Thailand. No more flights now for 3 months now it's a hop on hop off bus.
I had a chilled morning but spent it fretting that my credit card wouldn't work or the hotel wouldn't accept it but all was OK. I had a 12 noon check out so it meant I didn't have to hurry to get ready and head off any where.
I had a late breakfast at 9.30am so I wouldn't need to eat until tea time. Check out was fine and my credit card was fine. Lala picked me up at 1pm as he had gone back home the night before to see his wife and kids. His son was being made a prefect at school so,he went to the ceremony at his school and Lala also made a speech on behalf of all the parents. A proud moment indeed for him and his family.
So we headed off to see some of Colombo. I'd said earlier in the week that id like to do some shopping, so shopping was the order of the day. Firstly
we went to a government approved tourist outlet. There was some tourist tat but some nice items, and some expensive items. I made a couple of small purchases of the none tat variety and then we headed off again.
As we were touring around Lala was pointing out the various landmarks around the city and explaining about the moon festival which is due to start the day I depart (didn't get that one right did I !). The city and many of the towns and villages decorate their houses, government buildings and roads with lanterns and coloured lights. It's a Buddhist festival lasting 2 days And is a national holiday. A have attached a pic of a lantern at the airport for info and context!
After the tourist shop we headed for a shopping mall! It was small compared to the ones we have in the UK, but who cares it had hand made chocolates, English chocolate, sweets and cup cakes !!!!! However I was very good and opted for a small selection of pick and mix but I could only pick and not mix lol.
I wandered round looking at
the clothes, some of which I liked, but no room in the ruck sack so I didn't make a purchase. I also used the ATM and got some rupees out to change up later at the airport, so all my fretting was for nothing lol.
After an hour or so I was mooches out and headed back to the car. Next we headed to an outlet that sold local hand made goods, and cosmetics and cream, lotions and potions all made from natural ingredients. Postcards, cards, books, hand made pottery, clothes and household items etc. I think the profits went back in the communities which made the items and other such projects.
Finally we headed to the beach. I had a walk along the prom. It was quite busy with a few tourists, couples and families! And groups of teenage girls and boys. Playing in shallow water were a few groups of young teenage schools girls still in their uniforms, giggling and screaming as they paddled in the cold sea lol. It was quite breezy so lots of breakers on the shore line and it was still very warm and humid.
Also along the promenade were various street vendors selling hot food, snacks, fresh fruit and of course the obligatory footballs and beach balls lol. And for some random reason there was a guy with a horse! I suspect he was the Sri Lankan answer to our donkey rides lol.
The tied was pretty much in but I think it was heading back out again. It was a very clean beach in most places and there were a few area of rocks but they were flat rather than the bit boulder kind. There was also a small pier which I had a walk on and it was quite busy with all the locals coming to view the water. One side in the distance you could see the port with lathe orange cranes used to load and unload the containers from the cargo ships which visit.
As i was stood there lost in my thoughts and looking at the view a young - I would say late 20s started chatting to me, where are you from, how long have you been here, what have you see next. So I politely responded to his questions and he
said he has been back packing and to Bangkok several times with friends and to go to the Koshan Road area of the city as it caters for tourists etc. then he mentioned places to go and see in Colombo and that I should give him my number so that next time I come he can show me around, and he was on about visiting the gem dealers etc. I knew he was a tourist tout and was after fleecing me in some way. I did say I had a guide in the car and I was happy with him, and if I came back again I would contact him. He could see he was getting no where with me so politely said good bye and left. Does he think I was born yesterday!
I headed back to the car after 40 mins or so of walking along the prom. I was getting hungry so we headed back to,the hotel where got washed and changed, had something to eat and used the free wifi again lol.
Around 8pm we headed to the airport and Lala and I said our goodbyes, I gave him the feed no back form for the travel agency and his own personal feed back form and a tip.
I headed inside the airport, had my first security check. Checked in on line, changed up my rupees to Thai Bart and then decided I needed more money some could get some US $. I couldn't see one so asked at the info desk only to be told it was outside the airport. I headed back out and was stopped by a security guard so had to,explain i needed the ATM and he pointed me int the direction of its location. I didn't out in enough zeros so got out 1200 rupees instead of 12000 so had to use the machine again lol.
As I headed back into the airport I had to do,the security check again Nd I had some very strange looks from the guards who had sen me a few minutes earlier. I then changed my money up for USA $.
Check in was opened some went through but had to have all my bags checked first. All ok and headed in for the self serve check in desk to put by bag in. All OK. Then headed to immigration, again all ok. Then I headed towards the departure gate to sit and wait for 3 hours! Didn't want to miss my plane lol.
There were two flights leaving the gate before mine so just sat and watched the comings and goings around me until it was time to broad my flight. I got chatting to a lady who was originally form India but now lives in Oz with her hubby and had lived in Bangkok and was giving me too tips on places to go, watch out for the pick, pockets etc.
Then it was flight time which went with no hitches, and more security checks both in Colombo and in Bangkok. I had the instructions for my hotel printed out from the email they sent me both opinion English and Thai and a map. I cleared immigration ok and headed forma taxi which brought me to the hostel all in good time. It was closed when I arrived so just sat on the steps out side of the Pridi hostel and until it opened. I was me by a lovely lady called Nalin who runs the hostel. I'm in a 4 bed female dorm but currently the only one here in my dorm. There are ores staying here but I haven't met them yet as I have had a couple of hours sleep, the room has AC so that is a blessing.
Bangkok is 6 hours ahead of the UK so at the moment it's 10.43am
What will my next few days hold I wonder?
More updates to follow
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