Sail-in photos this morning was compromised by a slight
problem with my camera so I had to rely on my I-Phone for some early morning
pictures. I overcame the camera glitch and left the ship with Ann and Cathy.
With no definite plans for the day except a list of sites we wanted to visit,
we negotiated a taxi for six hours and off we went. Leaving the port we passed
the clock tower and many British built colonial buildings. Our first stop was
in one of the oldest regions in Colombo...where we visited my Colombo favorite,
the Manning Market...this is a working wholesale market...with men carrying
heavy loads of produce on their backs...an absolute hive of activity. Next, we
went deeper into the Pettah district taking us away from the typical tourist
hotspots...along the way we explored the lively street stalls that sell
everything from vegetables and clothing to electronics to spices. Colombo is a
diverse multi-religious City with many temples, mosques and churches...today a
first for me we visited the Captain’s Garden Temple, an over 400 year old Hindu
temple. Next, we made our way to Viharamahadevi Park for a brief stop and time
to see the cobras. Our tour continued to Independence Square and to the Laksala
state run store to buys some Sri Lankan souvenirs...then our driver took me to
a camera store to buy a monopod. The day continued with a stop at Beira Lake
and the Gangara Buddhist Temple. A visit to Colombo would not be complete without
a drive down the Galle Face Promenade that stretches for a quarter mile along
the coastline, the area is the city’s financial, government and commercial
heart. Our last stop before returning to the ship was the Old Dutch Hospital
complex for shopping. Since my last visit, Colombo has rapidly changed, with
new skyscrapers rising where old buildings once stood...the new Lotus Tower
should be open by my next visit. We had a very relaxing and pleasant time in
Colombo.
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