Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Tuesday – March 20, 2018

We arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka before 8:00 AM this morning.

Alice left our breakfast table to get some pictures when the cruise director announced that there were musicians and dancers greeting us on the dock. She returned disappointed. For some reason the dancers were facing away from the ship.

After breakfast we gathered our things and headed for the gangway. On the way we stopped at the desk set up by the local tourism office. We got maps and inquired about getting to the government operated handicrafts shop. We learned where it was and were told to take a Tuk Tuk to get there. The walk in the 90 degree heat would be too much. He told us that the fare should be $2 or $3. Don’t pay more.

We left the port and headed toward the Tuk Tuk parking area. The first driver wanted to sell us a 4-hour tour. Then we were quoted $10 for our ride. Finally a gentleman offered to take us for $5. I countered with $2 and he went to get his Tuk Tuk for us. What a ride this turned out to be. Tuk Tuks are driven like a motorbike with seating for two in a “cab” behind the driver. It is comfortable enough. It is also exciting. Traffic is wild. We wove in and out around buses, trucks, cars, motorcycles and Tuk Tuks. Just inches separated us at times. Silva, our driver, was an older man and very skilled in maneuvering. He pointed out many sights along our way, often slowing or stopping so Alice could take pictures. It took 20 minutes to get to the shop. When I paid him he offered to wait. We explained that we did not know how long we would be so he should leave.

We went inside and discovered that there were 5 floors of local products. The first floor was souvenirs. Clothing, Leather goods, Woodwork and Books and Art Works occupied the other floors. After almost an hour of shopping we paid for our treasures and asked where we might hire a Tuk Tuk. The clerk pointed out a street across the traffic circle. We left and started to cross thee parking lot.

Silva came running up to us. He had waited for us after all. We boarded and started back to the port. Again, his narrative proved informative. Soon he stopped in front of a shop. It was a gem store. We had been warned about the glass that was sold as gems. We did not want to go in, but he insisted. He got credit for bringing guests to this shop. We entered and courteously declined to make a purchase. We were out in a matter of minutes, and everyone was happy. As we continued back to the port, Silva showed us a huge area of reclaimed land that was still being enlarged. The Chinese were doing this for a real estate development. It will be huge.

At the port Silva happily accepted our $2, and bid us a good day. He was truly pleasant and helpful.

In the port there was a market set up on the pier opposite our gangway. We shopped before boarding. Tomorrow night we will have an Indian Dinner. Alice was interested in buying a sari to wear. We waked up and down and around the aisles before finding a very beautiful white sari with blue and gold designs. We both reacted that even if Alice never wore it again, it would make a lovely tablecloth. The shopkeeper agreed on $10 for the sari, and gave us a lesson in how to wrap it on Alice to show off the design. As she bagged it another lady from the ship complimented us on our purchase. She loved the fabric. She has been in Colombo before, and has bought many saris for herself and for gifts. She told us to wash it in cold water by hand and air-dry it. Never try to iron it. When she heard what we paid for it, she was stunned. We got a really, really good buy.

After lunch in the dining room we went to join our 4-hour walking tour of Old Colombo. Our guide, Mark, was a former architect turned professional photographer. He had always lived in Colombo. Now he was an activist in saving architectural landmarks that were being demolished in the name of progress. He has had significant success.

He pointed out buildings of historical interest as he led us to the central market. This area of several square blocks was home to vendors of produce, grains, fish and meat as well as every other form of merchandise you can think of. It was crowded with seller, buyers and men pulling carts of goods. We walked the aisles of the food market and saw fruits and vegetables we hardly recognized. Everything would be sold by the en of the day. We marveled at the very reasonable prices.

Hard goods are brought here from the port and are sold in varying quantities. Some carts were being stacked high with goods purchased by shop owners throughout the city. The men who pulled these carts can earn $20 on a good day. Pay is determined by the number of loads hauled.

After the market we stopped at the restored Grand Oriental Hotel. We had tea and cookies on the 5^th floor with views of the harbor. It was not ornate. But it was tastefully decorated. Best of all, it was air-conditioned. We needed this respite from the 95-degree heat outside. We were dripping with perspiration.

Back on the street we viewed other preserved landmarks including the red and white mosque and the Old Dutch Hospital. We had a pause there to shop in a branch of Barefoot Store, another handicraft shop. This was done to allow Mark to summon the coach for our return ride to Amsterdam. This was a hot and tiring, but very enjoyable experience.

After dinner we skipped the evening entertainment and went to bed early. Sleep came instantly. What a wonderful day.