Colombo, Sri Lanka (Day 2 or 2)

We had an early start to our second day in Colombo. Our friends Doris and Louis had arranged a walking tour at 7:30 am(!?!) and asked us to join them and four other passengers. Given how hot and humid it is here, we thought the earlier the better given it was forecast to go up to 31 degrees today. We met our guide Harold at the port gates and off we went. It was great to get up close to the sites we’d driven past yesterday afternoon.

Once the tour was over mid morning, we hired a tuktuk to take us to the large Hindu temple, the Lotus Tower and to a barbershop 💈. The temple was one of the most colourful and ornate we’ve ever seen. We learned that you can make a wish/pray for something and then smash a coconut to help it come true. One throw only and the ideal smash is when the coconut breaks cleanly in two. I decided to give it a go and aced it😁

Next, we visited the Lotus Tower, a smaller CN Tower-like structure, that was built by the Chinese. China’s investments in this country are noteworthy. They’re currently building Port City here, a special economic zone and International Financial Centre located on reclaimed land. The land reclamation work had been completed and can be seen from the Lotus Tower. Many Sri Lankans are concerned about China’s dominance and one person jokingly called the country Chi Lanka.

We then asked the tuktuk driver to take us somewhere where Brad could get a haircut. Brad hadn’t had a cut since we were in Montevideo on February 27 and was looking pretty wooly. We were taken to a proper salon and Brad got handsome again for $10 US.

We wandered around for a bit but it was getting way too hot so we grabbed a tuktuk back to the port.

I wanted to watch the coronation and attend the special coronation tea time with my friend Geraldine. I had found tiaras in town for us to wear for the occasion. We went and had our scones and tea and watched this historic event.Read more