New Adventures: Sri Lanka days 5-7 Colombo and Negombo

We left at 9am and drove about 6 hours to my hotel in Colombo. We stopped to look at a few waterfalls. On our way through Colombo, I had Savee pull over at a roadside store so I could buy a new suitcase. I needed more room to put my Sri Lankan purchases – carved wooden boxes and tea J

I stayed at the Concord Grand – I do NOT recommend it. It seemed dirty and a little unsafe. The door could have been kicked in by a 10 year old. I went out walking in the evening. The next morning, Savee picked me up at 10am to drive me to my hotel in Negombo. It took 2.5 hours!! Traffic was ridiculous. The stay in Colombo was unnecessary and I wish I would have gone straight to Negombo. I booked this hotel myself – Dickman’s Resort. It is only for people over 21 and it looked like it was painted by a 5 year old who loves rainbows. Each room/wall was a different color and it was awesome!!! I was in the pink room right above reception. Out by the pool, I saw there was a purple room! The pool was lovely and the people super nice and helpful.

My room was in the door at the top of the stairs

the pool

my welcome

I went walking in the afternoon and many tuk-tuk drivers stopped and offered me a ride. One in particular talked to me for quite a bit and wanted to take me on a tour of Negombo city – I declined. Several stores were closed even though it was mid day on Thursday. I asked someone why and he said “tomorrow is big Friday”. Good Friday! There are a LOT of Catholics around here. The next morning, I had breakfast at the hotel and went walking. A rickshaw driver pulled up and said “Hello from US, but lives in India” He remembered me from yesterday!! This time I took him up on his tour offer. He drove me around to several Catholic churches, a Buddhist temple, a fish market, a Portuguese fort that is now a prison, etc. He knew lots of information and I learned a lot about the area.

Hindu Temple

St. Sebastian church

They had the stations of the cross all around the grounds.

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Many churches were preparing for Good Friday services and Easter Services. Most of the Jesus statues in the city were covered up, which is customary on Good Friday because is in the tomb. Except for this big guy. No one wanted to cover him up!!!

This was the only Jesus not covered up on good Friday :)

This is the view from Jesus

Fishing market - It is hard to transport fish inland so they dry the fish here, then transport it. They lay the fish out and dry it for 3 days then they put it under the tarps.

He took me to an old Portuguese Fort that is now a prison. There were people lined up to see prisoners. Very little security for a prison.

He told me how to tell the difference between sleeping Buddha and dead Buddha. Dead Buddha has eyes half closed and sleeping Buddha has them all the way closed. Dead Buddha’s feet are not stacked completely even, sleeping Buddha’s feet are.