On the road/ocean again… in Sri Lanka(January 21, 2016)

Right now we are at high sea again . This time only for one day before we get to the Male Island in the Maldives. We can tell we are getting near the equator, because it is getting hotter and more humid by the hour, and I am dripping again. I am opting for walking in the air-conditioned indoors instead of the 3 laps around the ship's circumference, like a gerbil on a wheel. Jim, meanwhile, is taking advantage of all that hotness. He is outside on the balcony, taking in all that humidity.

However, it is time to tell you all about the adventure we had yesterday in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Again, just like in India, we docked early in the am in a busy ship yard. That meant, no walking to the entrance of the Colombo, because of all the traffic. No Tuk Tuk ride today. Instead we booked a city tour and boarded a bus right next to the ship. That was a good move, because it was a jungle out there. Though we noticed right away that Colombo is a much cleaner jungle then Chennai, India. But the driving technic was the same as in India . Wouldn’t you know, we were put on the bus with a microphone that was not working. On top of that, the tour guide’s voice, which had a heavy duty accent, came over the microphone with an echo. Good grief Charlie Brown!!! After a while we convinced the guide to switch off the microphone and we just took pictures from the sights and figured out later where we were with the help of a map. It was still very impressive on this 3 hour tour. There are so many temples and all of them are just beautiful. Also, we stopped in a very nice hotel, where we had a morning tea with little finger sandwiches. On the way back to the pier, I even spotted the American Embassy. When we arrived at the ship a whole row of vendor stalls greeted us. Of course I had a good time looking at all the silks, jewelry and all the other stuff which comes with souvenir stands, while Jim had to go and graze at the lunch buffet.

And, again, no viable internet could be found in Colombo. One of these days we will be able to load up the pictures and you can see first-hand where we have been and what we have seen .





 Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), a tiny island nation south of India in the Indian Ocean, is a rugged land of rainforest, diverse wildlife and endless beaches. It’s famed for its ancient Buddhist ruins, including the 5th-century citadel Sigiriya, with its palace and frescoes, and the sacred city of Anuradhapura. Its flavorful cuisine reflects its history as a maritime hub and cultural melting pot.

 

Capitals: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, ColomboCurrency: Sri Lankan rupeeContinent: AsiaPopulation: 20.48 million (2013) World BankOfficial languages: Sinhala, Tamil