#3 Colombo and Galle

We arrive in Colombo and whilst cooler than U.A.E it's still somewhere in the low thirties. We're staying a few nights with a friend of mine from university, Rehan, in his home in Colombo. We're not actually expecting to see him when we arrive, but he is there to welcome us before going out later. We have a catch up and talk about the week ahead in Sri Lanka. Rehan is a film director, working on commercial projects to fund his own endeavours. He shows us three short films he co-made about Colombo, which focuses mainly on the bars an restaurants in the various districts of the city. We decide to book ourselves into a restaurant featured in one of the videos, The Gallery Cafe.

I want this to be a blog of honesty and whilst I won't be detailing every single event of conversation, I do want to mention some of the challenges and 'down moments' travelling brings. So whilst I'm not proud of the following, the below is a retelling of how I lost my passport.

We unpack in our room in Rehan's beautiful home and I notice my jacket is missing. I had put it at the top of my daypack because we has read a weather report suggested scattered showers in Colombo (side note: not a drop) but it is no longer there. It is a total mystery to me and one that was pretty annoying, to say the least. Later, Heidi asks me where my passport was. This  especially odd as she is unpacking my day pack further, and that is where I thought it would be. We search the bags and the room but it soon becomes clear; I no longer have my passport with me. 

I am, obviously, very annoyed with myself. After all, your passport is the one thing you are not meant to lose. The one thing! We make a plan to make a few calls in the morning using the landline, but I want to ask Rehan first (plus I may need his help!) so we continue out to dinner.

The Gallery Cafe is one of Colombo's upmarket restaurant. It's really nice, mostly outside seating with a canopy. I have the black pork curry, which I know will be hard to beat (and homemade ginger beer to wash it down with!). Despite the great atmosphere I can't relax or take my mind of my passport. Heidi then has a brainwave - during the taxi ride from the airport the driver wasn't sure where exactly to go. I tried to help and took my tablet out of my bag to get a map up - but to get to the tablet I had to dig through my jacket and...my passport case. Certain this is where I had left it, I felt a huge sense of relief wash over me. Heidi even kept the receipt of the taxi so we'd have a phone number to call. With a plan in place I could sleep (relatively) easily.

The next day we head out to Gangaramaya Temple (Just the two of us, Rehan let us know he would probably be up late). This is a Buddhist temple founded by an eccentric monk who is something of a hoarder. The temple is full of stuff, from old watches and spectacles to Rolls Royces. It really is an odd collection of things. I try and work out what the connection is between the assortment and a religion that practises non attachment to things and teaches the transience of everything, but I can't come up with everything and we don't have a guide to ask. We then try an find a smaller temple located on Beira lake but end up getting lost, and head back to Rehan's.

When I can, I try and phone the taxi company. There's no reply. We have lunch, a very tasty beefy curry with potato curry and salad on the side, and I try again. I get through and the gent on the line knows who I am, and why I'm calling. Our driver found my stuff whilst cleaning his car the night before. He says he can get him to us in an hour. When he arrives, I feel I can't thank him enough. I pay him the fare from yesterday again, plus extra. "Now it's been sorted, I'm allowed to be mad at you" says Heidi. I guess she's right.

Drama over, the three of us head into town. We go to a bar/cafe where there is some live jazz. It's very nice, just relaxing in the sun with a drink and some music. We then meet one of Rehan's friends Zack, who came over from the U.S a year and a half ago. The four of us chat some more about the week ahead, Zack and Rehan giving us some good tips (mainly on where to eat and drink).

After the bar we go to Galle Face Green to watch the sunset. This is a long stretch of beach right next to the city, and the atmosphere here is akin to a family festival - everybody seems to be out this Sunday evening to watch the sun set over the sea. There's a pier which seems to be the hotspot for pictures, so we head up there and take a few of our own. Unfortunately some clouds obscure the sunset, but when they eclipse the sun it still is pretty, and makes for some good photos.

We head to Galle Face Hotel for another drink. This is one of the most upmarket hotels in Colombo, with a terrace which looks out towards the sea. We chat some more then the guys recommend a place for us to have dinner. We go, and I have a pretty tasty squid curry, but in truth I preferred Heidi's dessicated prawn dish, which was dry.

Us and our amazing host Rehan

Sunset off Galle Face Pier

A classy place with some classy people

The next day we head to Galle, on the south coast. Galle is famous for having a fort built by the Dutch. These days a lot of the town is located inside the fort, including our hostel. after checking in we begin walking around the fort. Galle is a really nice place to walk around, but it is very touristy. I'm no travelling snob (yet) but when it's a struggle to find a good choice of Sri Lankan cuisine, it's a problem. A lot of places here have one Sri Lankan curry and rice option, alongside pizzas and pastas, etc. We take quite a few pictures around the fort and of the sea which stretches out before it. We eat dinner at a cool rooftop cafe and call it a day.

I really fort this was a nice place

Timed that well

The next morning I wake up very early for some reason. I check the time, it's around 5.45. I try and get back to sleep. As I'm dozing, I hear a sudden, low sound, which is followed by the hostel shaking for about a second. In that instant, I assume there's been an explosion because that's what it sounded like. I quickly rationalised that it must have been a tremor. I eventually get back to sleep but when I wake up I have to look it up to ensure I didn't dream this. Heidi slept through it.

Didn't make it up

Next time - Unawatuna, Kandy and back to Colombo!