Sri Lanka 12/4/2018

13/4/18 01.00 hrs This morning, I awoke after a decent sleep; we were already docked at what resembled a container port close to Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. Now, I don’t understand this; I lay in bed fully aware of where I was, but not at all excited that I was in another new country I had wanted to visit for many years. I put it down to the fact that for well over three months, I had done nothing but visit far off places almost day after day, and this privileged travel to the far ends of the earth had become sort of routine. Eventually, I pulled myself together and having enjoyed lunch in the Britannia Restaurant, presented myself at the starting point of a Highlights of Colombo afternoon tour. I had managed to acquire a returned ticket for this already sold out tour. It was very hot and sultry away from the much appreciated air conditioning of the ship. I was on bus number 4, a magnificent orange liveried modern air conditioned vehicle. For once, I had the front seat which was more than welcome, given the fact that somewhere, I am not sure where, I have sustained a knee injury which makes using the stairs painful. This was a typical city tour; we passed the numerous important buildings one sees in a capital city; we spent the usual half hour, this time at the Colombo National Museum. We also visited a major Roman Catholic Church and the Asokaramaya Buddhist Temple. Throughout the afternoon, menacing grey clouds, like smoke billowing from an oil refinery fire, assembled high above the city preparing to drop it’s payload of precipitation. A thunderstorm ensued and my shoes left outside the Buddhist Temple filled with water! Nevertheless, I was excited eventually by my all too brief drive around Colombo. And, of course, I would like to return if only to take the train to Kandy and see some fabulous countryside on the way. For once, I was able to take some acceptable photographs of QM2 docked at Colombo. It was a good day. Out side the Roman Catholic Church during the period of Easter Traffic in Colombo, seen from the coach. 4 views both inside and outside the Church Diagram of the frontage of the National Museum Colombo. 2 views inside the Asokaramaya Buddhist Temple. QM2 docked at Colombo Asokaramaya Buddhist Temple. More news to follow as we continue towards Cochin. Best wishes, David.