Sri Lanka at Last!

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After many months of anticipation, our flight landed in Sri Lanka around midnight (2 am for us coming from Kuala Lumpur), so we had our first sleep in an airport hotel and the next morning Nada's driver came to take us to the apartment in Colombo (Wellawatte, actually, also known as "Little Jaffna") which we would be sharing with Nada and Sunetra for the first week. It was a great idea to have a chance to settle in under their guidance, and they were terrific hosts, doing everything they could think of to make us feel welcome and comfortable.

We joined Nada in his morning walks next to the ocean shore, briskly heading north along the edge of Marine Drive till we got to Holy Family Church, then retracing our steps and doing a heartstopping race across 4 lanes of rush hour traffic, dodging tuktuks, buses and cars, then hopping over two sets of train tracks till we got to the beach, where we offed our shoes and had a sand walk. The finish of the walk was the stand where we bought King Coconut drinks and the newspaper.

Nada and Sunetra introduced us to many Sri Lankan foods, including hoppers and the amazing paper roast, and took us around to some of the better dining spots.

They also introduced us to several eminent Sri Lankans who gave us perspectives on past and present Sri Lanka.

Midweek we took a day trip to the southern coastal city of Galle, riding the brand new expressway heading south and returning via the old coastal road.

At the end of the week we were all a bit sad to part ways and head off following our own agendas.

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Photos

First morning in SL
After a lovely outdoor breakfast, we waited for the driver to take us from the airport hotel into Colombo.

View from our apartment bedroom
We were close to the sea, which provided nice breezes to our balcony, but to get to the beach you had to cross 4 lanes of wild traffic and two sets of train tracks!

Tuktuk
These three-wheelers, made in India, seem to outnumber cars in Colombo. They are amazingly maneuverable and achieve road gymnastics beyond belief.

Sunetra with "paper roast"
This large cone-shaped cross between a very thin roti and a cracker is served with various dipping sauces and makes a lovely chewy lunch.

Martha and Phil at vegetarian restaurant
New foods at every meal! Martha tried a paper roast.

Plaited bamboo and elephant
Always on the look-out for new plant ideas, I was impressed with the plaited bamboo plants in the lobby of the vegetarian restaurant.

Nada and Sune Galle Face Verandah
Strolling through the breakfast verandah of the Galle Face Hotel--channeling the young John Murray.

Remember these girls?
John claims he can only remember the one on the left, but then he was very young when he lived here,

Martha Galle Face Urn
OK, John, do you remember the big urns on the lawn of the Galle Face Hotel?

The four travellers in Galle
Day outing to Galle: at the old Dutch fort.

Rumassala Peninsula
Looking across Galle Harbour to the Rumasalla Peninsula, where we'll be staying later in our trip.

Lighthouse Galle
The tsunami reached the top of this sea wall.

King Coconut break in Galle
Cut to look like Mickey Mouse, this King Coconut provided a refreshing morning drink, but much more expensive than those from the street vendors.

Gift from Japan
Japan gave this to the tsunami-ravaged coast of SW Sri Lanka.

Elephant Martha Sunetra
Final dinner together at the Raja Bojun Hotel in Colombo.

Comments

[Denise]

Hi from Driftwood Texas!
I really enjoy your blogs and pictures! S.L looks like an interesting place. You were lucky to have Sunetra and Nada to show the around. :) !

[HZ]

paper dosa
The paper dosa looks yummy :-), and I like how you described the 3-wheelers! Very scenic at the beach, its beautiful.

[Usha Harris]

Martha, Tanks for sharing your adventures. Now I want to see Sri Lanka.

[Michelle]

Sri Lanka
Good to hear that you've arrived there at last . I shall be very interested to see how this big adventure continues. Take care & sending lots of love. M xx

[Nathan]

wow