Day trip to the Capital of Sri Lanka

Visiting the Capital- Colombo

We walked on the train tracks back to back in toe, to the nearest station which was called Mount Lavina station, because it was the quickest way and it cost nothing. When we got to the train station it was empty and had a lot of stray dogs laying on the ground keeping them selves cool in the shade. There was a little wooden desk behind glass with two male attendants who were so shocked to see two westerns carrying our entire life on are back. We purchased two tickets which cost about 7p to travel a 40 minute journey into Colombo, the trains had a class system, 1st class, 2nd class and just standard class, the only difference literally was the seating, in 1st class the seats were slightly more comfortable as they was leather whereas in standard class the seats were wooden (num-bum central). I noticed that the type of people would also vary depending on what class you was in. For example in 1st class you would see slightly rich Sri Lankan's and in standard class you would see a lot of homeless/sick people who would bother you for money and it would be quite smelly. We learnt along the way to travel by 1st class for long journeys and travel by standard class when doing short journeys because it was cheaper to do so.

(Walking the tracks)

(Train ticket) 

Moving on, we boarded the train and on this day it was empty so we could choose good seats by the window that was just open the whole time, (you could of easily fell out). (See photos)

(The train stopped on the tracks, and so many locals appeared , something had happened to a 25 year old woman, personally I think the train hit her but I'm not sure, it was so nice to see the community helping each other) 

(Picture of two locals, mother and her son)

(Chris on the train , this is what the seats looked like in standard class) 

Before we arrived into Colombo we decided not to follow the guide book, we wanted it our experience by doing our own thing and seeing what we can find along the way. This day was so hot so we just strolled from the train station and headed towards the coast, we got bothered a lot here, tuk tuk drivers were constantly driving past and beeping at us and stopping asking if we wanted their service (I honestly English people must have a reputation of being lazy) (see photo)

(Chris being hasseld) 

We carried on walking anyway and stumbled across the business district of Colombo, we stopped because we seen this gorgeous women dressed head to toe in a sari- we honestly thought she was the princess of Sri Lanka, she was entering the Twin Towers of Colombo with her entourage. 

(Twin towers)

(Veiw from a bridge) 

(Twin towers) 

(not sure what this building is called)

(View of the Business district from the beach front)

Finally we arrived at the beach it was so nice to see it full of locals, most of them were couples sitting together canoodling under umbrellas  it was so cute,  (Kissing in public in Sri Lanka is generally not accepted) (See photo below)

We also stumbled across some sort of Government House (There was lots of military presence)  and no information just big advertisements of the president of Sri Lanka, i managed to get a cheeky photo without anybody seeing (see below).

There was a lot of solders and locals surrounding this area so it was quite intimating because we was the only tourists, and i didn't really know what to expect but luckily we was fine and nobody bothered us, we carried on walking and came across a park called Viharamahadevi Park, it can be found sandwiched between the White Colombo town Hall Building in the north east and the Colonial National Museum building complex in the south.

We entered the park by the side gate, we didn't really know what it was to be honest because it looked a bit scruffy and deserted, there are lots of trees and wildlife at the park, we seen hundreds of very large bats hanging in trees, making this high pitched screeching sound. When we entered the park we was faced with locals of all different ages, families, teenagers, men and women, there was also lots of stalls selling snacks and drinks. We was the only tourists in sight so everyone just looked at us and smiled, some of the children were following us and asking for photos they were so cute.

(Bats)

( the man we met whacked the tree with a stick and all the bats started flying)

(Dead baby bat)
We seen a sign for a "Ornamental fish sale & exhibition" only 20 ruppes which is 40p so we thought why not, it was built like a cave and you walked into darkness and around the cave was really dirty fish tanks, with all different types of fish what they have probably captured from the sea, the photos didn't really take because of the lighting but I managed to get the best one ...

( from this fish's expression you can only imagine the life it has - haha)

(Chris by the cave)

(Ticket to the fish)

We moved on anyway and this man approached us, he took us around the park and showed up some interesting things- he was funny apart from at the end he asked for English money, but we had fun. (See photos)

( Chris and me in the park) 

(Town hall) 

(Loved these trees) 

(Me and Chris )

(Hiding from the man)

(He called this the cobra) 

( the man insisted I got this photo - haha) 

(This did have a name but I have forgot) 

(Ants nest)

(Tree swinging) 

The man also showed us these plants that grew on the ground with grass and when you touch them they close over, the was similar to a Venus fly trap he called them "touch me not" he was so funny when he was repeating it. 

( "Touch me not" plant )

Check out my Sri Lanka video here:

Until next time,

"Travel. It turns you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller"

-Unknown