Colombo

Well our arrival in Sri Lanka was no less fun packed than usual. Walking through immigration in Colombo the entire airport stood still (like something out of communist Russia...) while the national anthem played, a kind of jingly carribean choir group song!? Very nice, also difficult to stay serious to epecially when Derek, not realising what the music was, started dancing to it! and prompty stopped when he realised he was the only one moving and people were staring... Way to break the ice with the locals. Anyway, it's really different in Sri Lanka in general. Apart from the intense police and military presence, the bus was unloaded and searched by large gun weilding soldiers on the way into Colombo (we didn't have to get off the bus :-), the place has a very mellow feel to it. As I said if you can ignore the machine gun turrets and soldiers every 100m, and not draw attention to yourself by taking photos (not much in the city that you're allowed take photos of) or walking up and then down the same street twice (we were approached to ask why). But don't get me wrong, the soldiers are super friendly (some actually suppressed smiles in case someone might see, but we knew!). It appears much more affluent and so much more organised than India, despite the guidebook writeup. Ps Rough Guide, you've got a lot of info but bloody hell improve those maps and have you ever heard of an INDEX?, it's impossible to find anything, you need to read the whole book to find what you need!! On first glance of Sri Lanka, we love it!!! :-) Unfortunately we tried to skimp on accommodation... Stayed with the Village People, that's right Y M C A!!!! which is fine, we found out, if you like mossies, cockroaches and the smell of urine in the hallways. Hmmm, nasty! Lesson learned. Cos tonight we're staying in a place for the same money but spotless, with mossie nets and a nice terrace. Well (you'll prob remember this Myra and Graham)
we got a 1st class, la dee da, not that special really and bloody cheap, train to a place called Ella up in the mountainous centre of the country. We're up about 2000m. A lovely journey, about 10 hours, from Colombo, through countryside, tea plantations and mountainside. The people here are so friendly and helpful, bought something (it's a pressie, can't tell..) and tried to post it this morning, but my wrapping was "wrong" and the wrapping man wasn't in till 9 (my train was at 9:30) so they all helped to find paper and glue and string (this is in the main post office) so I'd make my train in time, they were brill. So back to the train, by the time we got there, we, actually by three hours into the journey we were the only foreigners on the train!!! With 3 hours to go it felt like we were the only foreigners in the whole country! You could hang off the side of the train and everything, cool. Half the country waved at us and I had to run after the train cos it pulled away when I was getting a station snack in my bare feet! Half the platform was shouting at me that the train was pulling away :-o For all those back home if you're reading this it's a good omen cos the phone and net is meant to be a bit rubbish here, but we're still alive and will chat soon. Everyone else keep reading.