Nothing happens just like that; everything is designed and has its causes. Chain of actions and upshots take us to new horizon. Analyzing strands of very chain that took us to Sri Lanka is not of great concern to me and wasn’t ever, however for who asked us why Sri Lanka. Here is my answer - its serendipity. This island was serendipity, that’s the very reason why we visit this island. If this island was not discovered then we would not be in Sri Lanka.
Most I have read about Sri Lanka was stories of relentless civil war, Tsunami, sufferings of evicted people. These problems apart, this country have wealth of nature, culture and history of prosperity these attracted travelers. On AD 2007 Oct 17 we a group of four buddies reached Bandaranayake International Airport (Colombo).
We had a plan and we were all set to experience and enjoy most this land has to offer, having said this to be truthful, I must say there was tint of fear. We decided to forget everything that we knew about frenzied attacks by militant group in Colombo recently. After immigration procedures and customs security check we got out of Airport. We got visa without any questions asked, valid up to 30 days from issuance. I was pulled into an illegal action right after I got my visa stamped. First Sri Lankan I ever spoke in person was emigration officer and he asked me for a favor, unfortunately illegitimate but fairly simple. I agreed to take a risk and help him out. The deal was this; officer had two bottles of scotch whiskey in his office, those were bought from duty free shop at airport. Law prohibit him to take that out from airport, however it’s legal for a foreigner to do the same. All I have to do - be an owner of those two bottles for 10 to 15 minutes and clear customs and security checks. One of his friends who worked in airport came along with me to exit and I handed over the bottles to him.
Renting car and a driver is cheap when compared to all other places I have been to.
Some of the travel agencies have small van which can seat up to eight adults; all vehicles in Sri Lanka are imported from other countries. We rented city van - Toyota Nova. Lot of used cars is imported from Japan our driver ‘Raja” said. In Singhalese “ayya” means brother. From here on I would refer to Raja as Ayya, we called him “Rajayya”. If I ever write about people I have met during this visit to Sri Lanka, he will be the first one I will be writing about.
Places we have visited in Sri Lanka:
First day: Pinnawala
First night, Second day and night: Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa
Third day and night: Kandy
Fourth day: Nuwara Eliya
Fourth Night, fifth day and night: Negombo and Colombo
I don’t want to write everything in one post. I will write about places and people I met in separate posts. I am trying hard to be organized.
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