Colombo.....we did it our way!

Firstly I have to apologise for the lack of photos: seems to be a problem with downloading them . It could be user error ( in other words my total incompetence despite training from my husband).

Anyway we became more oriented to the sights and history of Colombo following a walking tour with Mark and Ruby, his wife. As a keen photojournalist and archivist, his passion for the history and architecture of Colombo was evident as we wandered around the  Fort area and then mingled with the locals in the market area of Pettah. Colombo was a hugely successful port as it was the regular stop en route from Europe. The Portuguese who built the port both here and in Galle in the early 1500s were ousted by the enterprising Dutch a century later. Others followed to make their fortunes including Mr Cargill from Scotland who built a delightful department store which we visited. 

Lots of superb solid colonial buildings  from the last few centuries are currently being rebuilt and refurbished by the SL Army and Navy: and the quality of their restoration is fabulous.  (Maybe some our ever increasing defense forces could be put to work! ?).
We stopped at the Grand Oriental Hotel which had been the place to stay in years past . It's faded glory was sad but we enjoyed the tea and the view over the docks, just as many sailors and traders would have done for many years as they passed through Colombo.
Mark introduced us to the joys of the local herbal juices truck. The owner picks herbs in the morning  and creates  soups and juices that he sells from the  back of his van. Delicious and part of ayurvedic medicine.

The rest of the day included many of the activities below:

- buying metres of heavy cotton fabric from Barefoot: a gorgeous shop which sells jewellery, homewares,  toys and textiles made locally.
- enjoying the ambience artwork and food at the Garden cafe built by Geoffrey Bawa
- perusing the fashions at Ode[ department store. Manufacturing garments  for overseas fashions is a huge business here so all of these garments were locally made
- purchasing EMBARK t-shirts to support the local dog refuges.
- wallowing in the pool
- enjoying an exhilarating ride in a tuktuk weaving in and out of the ( much larger!) vehicles.
- having a nap
.....and lots more
We regrouped in the Sky bar on the 10th floor for cocktails and to enjoy the lights if  the  city below.

Then we walked- or staggered depending on the number of cocktails imbibed - to the Dutch hospital to have a truly amazing dinner at The Ministry of Crab. Equipped with bibs we crunched and sucked our way through eating the largest prawns I have ever seen and huge mud crabs cooked in herbs or Chilli or curry or pepper sauce. We also had rice and veggies but everyone's attention was on extracting every last bit of the tender sweet meat.  By the end we were covered in juice and had to queue up at a couple of sinks in the restaurant to wash ourselves thoroughly before touching anything! 

Very enjoyable and very messy! !!!

Home to bed to face another day

Your slightly fishy smelling correspondent
Dianne