Colombo, Sri Lanka - TUK TUK - (1 of 4)

In May 2023 we were in Columbo, Sri Lanka. For detailed background information on Sri Lanka, see https://findpenguins.com/bruce-loves-to-travel/… [try the humming bee breathing to relieve tension, anger, anxiety, hypertension, headaches, builds memory and confidence per S.B. https://www.artofliving.org/kalady-ashram/yoga/…].

This time we decided to take a private 4-hour TUK TUK tour today that stops at all Colombo's key landmarks. We walked out of the port entrance and were “grilled” on politics by Sri Lanka military (guess they liked how we answered their questions about the war in Iran - phew!) and then hopped into our tuk tuk and drove only about 200’ from the gate to our first stop.

In the Colombo Port Maritime Museum (in a former Dutch prison from 1676) we learned about their maritime heritage. We really liked this museum (see photos). Beside information about the history of Colombo, we also saw sculptures of King Vijeya, model exhibits of ships, beautiful tapestry art works, and the equipment used in the Port operation in earlier years.

We rode along Galle Face Green a (12 acres) ocean-side promenade and park (created in 1859), now part of the busy city. Then as our real adventure in a tuk tuk began (no seat belts and open air “cart”) we drove around the busy city. We saw the old Parliament Building built in the colonial-era that houses the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka. While we were there, the military was out in force as they were President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed (Maldives) who were there for a State Visit with an invitation of His Excellency Anura Kumara Disanayaka, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, focusing on further strengthening the longstanding bilateral relations between the Maldives and Sri Lanka and identifying new avenues for cooperation.

Next we drove to the Old Colombo Lighthouse / Colombo Fort Clock Tower (it is a clock tower and was a lighthouse. The lighthouse (since 1856) is no longer operational, since its in the middle of a city now but is a historic tower, in a very busy traffic circle, remains and functions as a clock tower. We saw the pettah floating market as we drank and enjoyed freshly made King Coconut water.

Our next stop was the Colombo Fort in the middle of the city surrounded by tall skyscrapers. It was once a fortified stronghold used by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British. We passed the Colombo Lighthouse with a naval gun battery at its base used by the Sri Lanka Navy for gun salutes on special occasions. We went past the Old Town Hall a British-era municipal building that is now a museum. We rode up to and got out at a very interesting building. The 1922 “New” Town Hall and Colonial civic buildings, looks very much like the US White House and Capitol, is the headquarters of the Colombo Municipal Council and the office of the mayor of Colombo. We went for a short walk into the surrounding gardens (Viharamahadevi Park) there.

Next we drove up a series of small streets to get to the Red Mosque (Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque). It is one of the oldest mosques in Sri Lanka (from 1908) and can hold 1,500 worshipers. We got to do a quick tour as they were closing for the afternoon, so it was very quiet and we got to take a good look around before getting out just as the ominous doors were closing. It is a very distinctive red and white, candy-striped 2-story building, with a clock tower. In 1975, the mosque purchased adjoining properties and expanded to increase its capacity to 10,000 worshippers (very interesting history- http://redmasjid.com/v7a/).

Next was the oldest Hindu Temple and by far the most “”interesting”, the Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam (see photos). This temple has intricate Dravidian-style (native people speak Dravidian languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam) architecture, covered with vibrant carvings and statues that depict Hindu deities and legends. The exterior is adorned with close to 250 brightly painted, highly detailed sculptures depicting various Hindu gods, goddesses, and mythological scenes. The interior features beautifully preserved, colorful ceiling frescoes and lotus-carved stone pillars. It was a very peaceful sanctuary with some rules (i.e., no head covering) and there was strong incense burning.

We spent a long time at Gangaramaya Temple who interestingly charged admission (https://gangaramaya.com/) with so much to see and experience. This Buddhist temple with cultural treasures that are mostly donated, on an ongoing basis, from the population of Sri Lanka is overwhelming. There are hundreds of every item… many similar but different enough to display and interest us. The Nawam Maha Perahera, (since 1979) an annual international cultural festival, is held here and is one of Sri Lanka’s most important religious and cultural events held every year in Colombo. This sacred procession brings together spirituality, tradition, and national heritage in a grand public celebration to show Buddhist values of peace, harmony, and respect for tradition.

Of this long list of places we visited, the only place we had previously gone to in 2023 was Independence Memorial Hall, the symbol of Sri Lanka's independence, a national monument for the commemoration of the independence of Sri Lanka from British rule and restoration of full governing responsibility to a Ceylonese-elected legislature in 1948. Located at the head of the monument is the statue of the first prime minister of the country Don Stephen Senanayake "The Father of the Nation". Most of the annual National Independence Day celebrations have been held here.

South Asia's tallest tower (a little taller than the Eiffel Tower) is the Lotus Tower, (1,153 feet) and the site we had taken many photos and videos during the day and at night in 2023 (see link above). It was quite the light show as we left Sri Lanka that night. The lotus-shaped structure serves various purposes, including communication and observation. The lotus symbolizes purity within Sri Lankan culture and is also said to symbolize the country's flourishing development.

As you might expect, we skipped the gem experience (Celon Sapphire - Princess Diana's engagement ring was bought here) and the local markets time and instead had an extended stay at the Ceylon Tea Experience for a traditional tea tasting. Yes, we bought some great unique teas.

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