|
Post by OnlyMark on Feb 2, 2018 17:03:36 GMT 2
Time zones mean that even though I set off at 3:30pm yesterday and arrived at 3:30pm today, I only travelled for 21 and a 1\2 hours. Sri Lanka is one of those countries that add a half hour on. Nepal, just to be different than India, add on another 15 mins.
At the arrivals hall it all went smoothly, I visited an ATM, got a SIM card so as to keep in touch with numerous places I'll be staying, forgoed the taxis, walked out the airport to the main road and got a tuktuk to nearby Negombo. My pack weighs 6.5kg by the way.
My first impressions are as I've been told, it is like India but a lot less frenetic and noisy. However, unlike India, I've seen little street food so far. But then again, I've only just got here. I went for a walk and found a local restaurant to have a veg curry and rice. It was a lot more substantial than I thought it would be and a lot cheaper considering I am in a fairly touristic area. Photo another time.
I've now retired to my guest house room and I'm listening to the radio from the house next door. Quite pleasant actually with a woman singing something. Weather is high twenties Celcius and not as humid as I thought it might be. Tomorrow I move and will keep moving for some days.
On Monday I should pick up my transport for the next couple of weeks or so.
|
|
|
Post by kuskiwi on Feb 2, 2018 19:34:03 GMT 2
Nice to hear you are there safely and all set to start another round of exploring(and keeping us in touch)
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Feb 2, 2018 20:56:29 GMT 2
have fun!
|
|
|
Post by sophie on Feb 3, 2018 3:13:27 GMT 2
Have a great trip and looking forward to a few of your awesome pictures!
|
|
|
Post by OnlyMark on Feb 3, 2018 14:31:07 GMT 2
Now in Colombo, the capital. I'm not bothered about staying here long but I have had a walk round to see my version of the 'sights', which doesn't actually involve any tourist sites, more like local stuff. Got ripped off to the tune of about Euro 0.70c - yep, doesn't bother me either for so little but I'll fill you in another time. Took loads of photos but internet so poor I'm not going to bother, other than my breakfast this morning -
|
|
|
Post by OnlyMark on Feb 3, 2018 14:35:58 GMT 2
Sophie - do you mean - 1) My pictures are awesome but there is not enough of them.. 2) There are too many pictures as there are only a few that are awesome. 3) You are just being polite. 4) It's me that is awesome and some photos as well.
It's 4) isn't it?
|
|
|
Post by shrjeff on Feb 3, 2018 14:57:13 GMT 2
Sophie - do you mean - 1) My pictures are awesome but there is not enough of them.. 2) There are too many pictures as there are only a few that are awesome. 3) You are just being polite. 4) It's me that is awesome and some photos as well. It's 4) isn't it?
|
|
|
Post by Voy on Feb 3, 2018 16:06:48 GMT 2
is that a masala omelet ?? droooool. but I just learnt how to make it, so I can have it right here...
|
|
|
Post by OnlyMark on Feb 3, 2018 16:48:27 GMT 2
It is Voy, yes. To the right is what looks like a waffle but in fact was a toasted tomato sandwich, but probably done in a waffle iron thing.
For lunch today, sort of on the run but whilst walking round, were two veg. parathas, basically imagine a paratha or roti wrapped up like a rectangular parcel with a veg curry inside. Pretty yummy. And two fresh squeezed lemon juices with ice from a local stall/shop. Tonight, not far from me, is the YMCA. I wasn't bothered about eating the buffet in the hotel (never am) so nipped there for a dish called kottu. A basic staple here, maybe because it is quite simple to prepare. The base is cut up roti which is fried up with vegetables, egg or meat, or all three. Sri Lankan fast food.
At the moment I'm being bothered a bit by touts. To be expected really. Some are brushed off quite easily, especially after they've asked me where I'm from and then I ask them the same question. As they pause I turn away. A couple of others have walked along with me and eventually have asked me where I'm staying. One thing reported here is a bit of a scam whereby you are suddenly then introduced by the tout to a man who just so happens to work at your hotel. Some tourists then get duped and taken for a ride, literally in some cases, because they don't know when to say no. My two time tactic so far, which has worked very well, is to tell them I am sleeping at the Police Station and vaguely point behind me somewhere. I'm a visiting policeman from the UK advising the local Police on tourist fraud and robberies.
Seems to be ok up to now.
|
|
|
Post by sophie on Feb 3, 2018 18:43:42 GMT 2
I like the police bit.. that should scatter the touts! And as to the picture question, any answer I give will not be as funny as your rendering of them so I will just answer ‘yes’!!!
|
|
|
Post by kuskiwi on Feb 3, 2018 20:06:04 GMT 2
Love the answer to the touts.
|
|
|
Post by OnlyMark on Feb 4, 2018 17:30:39 GMT 2
I love a woman in uniform. Especially a dangerous woman in uniform -
|
|
|
Post by kuskiwi on Feb 4, 2018 19:08:36 GMT 2
Very smart.
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Feb 4, 2018 20:05:04 GMT 2
don't mess with these ladies.
|
|
|
Post by Baz Faz on Feb 5, 2018 11:58:52 GMT 2
Glad to follow your trip to Sri Lanka. I am jealous you are posting photos. Mrs Faz says she can't do it with the iPad. Don't forget to have hoppers for breakfast.
|
|
|
Post by OnlyMark on Feb 5, 2018 13:16:28 GMT 2
An egg hopper did feature for my lunch today. So far breakfasts have been part of the accommodation.
As for photos, I have a little netbook thing that means it can store all the photos from the day, as well as I keep a copy on a memory stick, plus they are easier then to post.
|
|
|
Post by OnlyMark on Feb 5, 2018 16:32:26 GMT 2
I'll do a more comprehensive report, probably when I return or if I stay somewhere for a few days. But for now I'll just drop in a few things to take your mind off the drudgery of day to day living. The plan is/was, I'd have couple of days knocking around and getting a driving licence for Sri Lanka, as an International one or a home country one is not good enough. You have to get a local one, which is easy enough to do but just takes a bit of time. I'd rather not anyway jump straight into travelling without having a day or two lazing around. So I did. I also got my haircut, which it needed and cost just 2 Euro. The barber did a good job and I look twenty years younger. It's good to look eighteen again. This lunchtime I picked up my transport for the next couple of weeks or so. I've done cars, campers, 4wd's, bicycles, motorbikes, trucks and the such like. Even canal boats. So I thought I'd have a laugh with one of these - Any ideas for a name? Apart from "Noisy gear grinding shitbag"? I drove about 60km south to my first stop and I'll have twice that to do tomorrow. We'll see how it goes.
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Feb 5, 2018 17:26:04 GMT 2
oh, lordy! the shaky red devil will have you wonder if you got Parkinson's...
|
|
|
Post by kuskiwi on Feb 5, 2018 21:26:38 GMT 2
Obviously it has to be the old red Sheila if driven by an 18 year old or the red devil if driven by someone slightly older.
|
|
|
Post by Voy on Feb 5, 2018 22:50:09 GMT 2
what a great idea ! I'd be panicked to drive a car in India or similar, but chugging along in one of these... !
|
|
|
Post by Baz Faz on Feb 6, 2018 3:00:37 GMT 2
Overtaking anything faster than a buffalo may be a problem.
|
|
|
Post by OnlyMark on Feb 6, 2018 4:01:54 GMT 2
There is a blanket 40km/h speed limit for them everywhere anyway.
|
|
|
Post by shrjeff on Feb 6, 2018 6:57:21 GMT 2
There is a blanket 40km/h speed limit for them everywhere anyway. i didn't realize that buffalo had speed limits put on them...
|
|
|
Post by OnlyMark on Feb 6, 2018 17:26:48 GMT 2
End of a long, hot travelling day -
|
|
|
Post by OnlyMark on Feb 7, 2018 13:49:19 GMT 2
Staying inland tonight. Somewhat less humid and a bit more comfortable. Stopped for a break late morning (no, I'm not driving with me feet) -
|
|
|
Post by tiltedflipcurves on Feb 7, 2018 14:49:22 GMT 2
>Any ideas for a name?
Why, shi__y shi__y bang bang, of course!
Or if you're feeling fonder, starting from the license plate, "Abigail."
|
|
|
Post by OnlyMark on Feb 8, 2018 14:56:54 GMT 2
Well, I won't be having fish for lunch -
|
|
|
Post by tiltedflipcurves on Feb 8, 2018 15:20:01 GMT 2
|
|
|
Post by auntieannie on Feb 8, 2018 19:24:40 GMT 2
tfc, it shows error 403 - forbidden.
|
|
|
Post by OnlyMark on Feb 10, 2018 12:43:21 GMT 2
Ganesh is apparently quite important here -
|
|