Continuing inward the serial of posts virtually the business travels that my married adult man undertakes, he shares his trip to Sri Lanka together with the practiced fourth dimension he had there.
As a consultant roofing South Eastern Asia I oft larn to move to some interesting together with odd places, including Vietnam, Philippines together with Republic of Indonesia inward the in conclusion few months. However of late a regional client asked us to aid them inward some other market, but exterior our common sphere of influence, thus at the destination of March I travelled to Colombo. This trip had previously been postponed twice, inward fact the 2d fourth dimension I was supposed to live travelling Laura was also going to bring together me, alongside us extending the trip by a duet of days. Unfortunately she couldn't accompany me when the trip did actually go on every bit she was inward the UK.
As I mentioned I move a fair chip for work, but travelling to Sri Lanka somehow seemed to live a petty to a greater extent than exotic, exciting together with edgy than usual. I am non certain why, perchance it is the country’s recent history or the fact that it is non on everyone’s must move to list, it should be, but to a greater extent than of that later. So the fourth dimension for the trip arrived alongside an overnight flying from Singapore to Colombo (on the Emirates flying that I ordinarily endeavor really difficult to avoid on trips dorsum to Blighty) together with started really good alongside a champagne inward the Emirates lounge together with an upgrade to the posh seats (courtesy of my frequent flyer status), thus the flying was comfy together with sleepy.
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| A luxurious root to the journey |
Upon arrival (at virtually 1:30am local time, two together with a one-half hours behind Singapore) immigration was painless, 1 needs to adjust your entry visa prior to travel, this tin live done together with paid for ($20 US) online, coin was changed (Forex shops at Changi produce non behavior Sri Lanka Rupees) together with a transfer to the hotel was procured from the hotel desk inward the arrivals hall. The journeying to the hotel was interesting every bit shapes of dilapidated crumbling buildings, stray straggly dogs together with the odd piece of cake black local loomed out of the darkness and took about forty-five minutes. I stayed inward the Hilton Colombo (on the advice of my client) which was located inside the Fort expanse of the city, the metropolis is really small, together with then staying anywhere is really convenient. The hotel, itself, is a criterion concern hotel alongside all the common facilities. After a sleep, it was fourth dimension for breakfast, which included fruits, mutual coldness cuts, western agency items (bacon, eggs, hash browns etc), every bit good every bit Indian together with Sri Lankan options. Then it was off to a serial of meetings alongside some local retail banks.
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| A Sri Lankan Breakfast |
After my in conclusion coming together I returned to the hotel together with decided to induce got a well-earned beer inward the hotel bar. This was themed every bit a British agency pub together with was called Echelon. I was able to grab the last fifteen minutes of play from the 1st Test Match (England were playing the Sri Lankans inward Galle, inward the due south of the island) over a Lion beer. Along alongside the beer they served a bowl of something like to Mumbai Mix, a spicy mix of odds together with sods, which was first-class together with a neat accompaniment to the great mutual coldness lager. It was bloody hot outside, although non every bit humid every bit Singapore.
Prior to my trip I had bought the Lonely Planet guide for Sri Lanka together with read upwardly on the eating options together with alongside luck 1 of the recommended places was correct hither inward the hotel. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Sri Lankan eating theatre called Curry Leaf, which essentially serves seafood cooked inward the local spicy agency using the buffet approach. The mind characteristic of the eating theatre was an amazing fish counter where the client selects what he wants to eat. All I tin state is that the selection was overwhelming but fortunately the chap earlier me asked for a selection cooked Ceylon-style together with I opted for the same.
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| The Best Fish Counter inward the World (seen something like inward Tesco's, but I had to create that) |
Whilst the fish was cooking at that spot was a meat together with veggie buffet alongside all sorts of curries, rice together with cooling salad.
Additionally at that spot was a station serving a local speciality, Kotthu Roti, which is a chopped upwardly roti alongside meat together with many vegetables. I was keen to endeavor this every bit I had seen this on move programmes, where it was portrayed every bit Sri Lankan drinking nutrient (similar to the piece of cake black kebabs that us Brits eat at 2am after a black on the ale) together with I can written report that the Hilton’s version was delicious.
Then the fish started to brand it at the table, dish after dish. There were prawns, squid together with grilled fish, all cooked inward wonderful spicy curried rubs together with sauces.
Battered Prawns together with Curried Squid
The in conclusion course of study of the repast was Sri Lankan chili crab, this was a grand times meliorate than the Singaporean equivalent (in my opinion), inward that the spice is cooked onto the crab, every bit opposed to beingness poured on every bit a sauce, thus it is less messy to eat (always a addition for me).
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| Chili Crab |
The 2d solar daytime together with in conclusion morn of my trip was devoted to concern meetings. However upon leaving the in conclusion coming together at that spot was a neat bargain of commotion together with noise (including drums, trumpets together with firecrackers) on the street exterior the run edifice alongside many teenage boys shouting together with cheering inward a possession. One of the participants was rather larger than his swain revellers - a fully grown elephant inward ceremonial dress, was also walking downwards the road.
Wondering what was going on I asked my driver (hired from the hotel for virtually 35 SG dollars for the one-half day) together with was informed that at that spot was a schools cricket in conclusion that afternoon.
Having finished my coming together together with my flying dorsum to Singapore non beingness until the next afternoon I had some fourth dimension to explore the metropolis a little, together with then I decided to have a walk along the beach. Initially this was a petty stressful, given the constant hassle from tuk-tuk drivers looking for customers (offering to present you lot the sights etc. all offers that I declined). I walked along an expanse called the Galle Face, which is essentially a green for walking, coming together friends, flying a kite, playing cricket or going for a dip inward the clear bluish H2O of the Indian Ocean. Along the promenade at that spot were also a bring out of stalls selling snacks together with drinks, most of which smelled wonderful.
Whilst on my walk I ended upwardly having a beer inward The Veranda Bar, at the Galle Face Hotel, a variety of Colombo equivalent of Raffles Hotel, i.e. a colonial relic of yesteryear, which I induce got to say, was really wonderful.
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| The Galle Face Hotel |
The atmosphere was relaxed together with non at all stuffy (as you lot may induce got expected) alongside the bar overlooking lush tropical gardens (including a man child that was climbing palm trees) together with the aforementioned sea inward the background. I had ii large bottles of the local beer (I ever endeavor to sample the local driblet on my travels, Sri Lanka’s is called Lion), that damage an eye-poppingly inexpensive nine SG dollars.
The Veranda Bar @ The Galle Face Hotel
In the level I visited the Cricket Club Cafe, a bar dedicated to the sport I love, alongside memorabilia from diverse international cricket teams on the walls. All the bill of fare items are named after cricketers, I had a Ganguly Grill (a chicken parma alongside chips), named after the Prince of Calcutta, Sourav Ganguly, the onetime Indian captain. As practiced every bit the cafe was, the journeying to together with from the repast was the most interesting or should I say, exciting (read scary, nail-biting, flume choked 10 minutes of fun) ride I induce got had inward my life, every bit I foolishly decided to apply the services of a tuk-tuk driver.
If you lot desire to read to a greater extent than of my husband's concern move experiences, become here for his review of Jakarta.
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