Friday, April 12th
We arrived here at 4pm yesterday after canceling our scheduled day in Galle. Colombo is the largest city (population of 800,000) and the commercial, industrial, and cultural capital of Sri Lanka. It's large harbor and location on the northwest side of the island was on the East-West trade routes for past 2000+ years. It has been a possession of the Portuguese, Dutch, and English before gaining its independence in 1948.
We are docked at the commercial dock not from from the city's center. Last night we listened to the noise of a huge container ship being unloaded. Seems the semi's carrying the containers all liked to blow their horns too. We also had the fumes from the ships exhausts come in our air conditioning system so smelled that all night long too.
It is a beautiful, perfectly cloudless morning but already quite warm. I am going on a 7 hour tour while Rebecca and Allison go on a 4 hour "shopping" tour. Just back from reception desk getting a cash advance for her.
We are back on the ship after tours and will be sailing at 4pm for Cochin, India. I enjoyed my tour even though it was a very hot day. The bus was air conditioned thankfully. Rebecca did not find anything she wanted on her shopping tour but did get me a T-shirt for $6. First stop on my tour was a Buddhist temple built around 300BC. It is a very important temple because the Buddha from India came here back then. Our second stop was at a colorful Hindu temple. We drove through the embassy section with some very nice homes around that area. We drove by their Independence Square, Sri Lankan white house, and several other things. I left my note book on the bus unfortunately. Maybe my photos will be of help. Our guide said that most US clothing brands have factories (Lands End, and other name designers). This is a democratic, socialistic country so schools and health care are free. The workers in the textile factories make around $700 per month.
Sailing into Colombo harbor
Where we will be docking.
Patsy & Hollis, our next door neighbors from San Antonio for this segment.
Shops set up on pier
My tour for today
Scupa for Buddhist temple near port
Old clock tower near port
Old colonial building from when British ruled here
Hilton Colombo
Another Buddhist scupa
Train system comes from India
Buddhist temple
Another Buddhist temple
The most important temple here because the Buddha came here.
Flower stands outside the temple grounds as they place the flowers when praying.
clay pots
Guy cutting bread fruits
Galvanized roof slum area. There were lots of them.
their White House in background
Cultural center for arts
Took me 5 minutes to see the museum
Huge banyan tree
Front of the National Museum
Prime Minister's home
Cinnamon Hotel where we had lunch
Blue temple
We drove past train and bus stations (within 2 blocks of each other. Tomorrow is New Year here so everyone going home for holiday.
We arrived here at 4pm yesterday after canceling our scheduled day in Galle. Colombo is the largest city (population of 800,000) and the commercial, industrial, and cultural capital of Sri Lanka. It's large harbor and location on the northwest side of the island was on the East-West trade routes for past 2000+ years. It has been a possession of the Portuguese, Dutch, and English before gaining its independence in 1948.
We are docked at the commercial dock not from from the city's center. Last night we listened to the noise of a huge container ship being unloaded. Seems the semi's carrying the containers all liked to blow their horns too. We also had the fumes from the ships exhausts come in our air conditioning system so smelled that all night long too.
It is a beautiful, perfectly cloudless morning but already quite warm. I am going on a 7 hour tour while Rebecca and Allison go on a 4 hour "shopping" tour. Just back from reception desk getting a cash advance for her.
We are back on the ship after tours and will be sailing at 4pm for Cochin, India. I enjoyed my tour even though it was a very hot day. The bus was air conditioned thankfully. Rebecca did not find anything she wanted on her shopping tour but did get me a T-shirt for $6. First stop on my tour was a Buddhist temple built around 300BC. It is a very important temple because the Buddha from India came here back then. Our second stop was at a colorful Hindu temple. We drove through the embassy section with some very nice homes around that area. We drove by their Independence Square, Sri Lankan white house, and several other things. I left my note book on the bus unfortunately. Maybe my photos will be of help. Our guide said that most US clothing brands have factories (Lands End, and other name designers). This is a democratic, socialistic country so schools and health care are free. The workers in the textile factories make around $700 per month.
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