Sri Lanka

Chennai to Colombo

February 14, 2012

We fly Chennai to Colombo on Sri Lanka Air. I notice that not just suitcases are being checked. There are white feed sacks with clothing sewn inside, odd shaped bundles wrapped in burlap and frayed cardboard boxes tied with colored twine. 

As we pass through Indian security our documents are scrutinized and stamped.  I’m hoping my visa will allow me to re-enter when we return on Sunday. India has firm rules about leaving. If you leave you must stay gone for two months before you are allowed to come back. There are a few exceptions and travel to Sri Lanka is supposed to be one of them. In India nothing is certain, but it’s a small risk. The official doesn’t seem concerned, so we’ll see.

 As always, there are separate security lines for men and women. The women pass through a curtained area which provides privacy. I listen to the squeals of delight coming through the curtain as Lesley and Claire are screened. The squeals are from the agents, not from Claire.

Sri Lankan Air? OK, I’m not an enthusiastic flyer but the plane is an Airbus and if the pilots are as professional as the flight attendants I’m thinking things should go well. The flight duration is just about one hour. In that hour, the women, dressed in graceful turquoise saris, manage to serve a hot meal. Food, imagine that, and done graciously. I can see into first class, and they are actually handed a menu.

 During the safety demo the flight attendant breaks decorum to smile and wave at Claire.

We land in a lightning storm. The clouds are sitting right on Colombo. It turns out the pilots must have considerable experience with this because each evening of our stay there’s a rain storm, gotta keep things green.

Behind the immigration counter a sign states: “possession of illegal drugs punishable by death”. Succinct, and one can surmise there isn’t a drug problem here. Signs also boast that Sri Lanka is malaria free. Glad to hear it.

The duty free shops are offering large appliances for sale. Can there be an advantage to purchasing your refrigerator at duty free? Must be so.

The Mount Lavinia Hotel driver picks us up after we wait 45 minutes for our bags, (Perhaps a feed sack gone astray is better than losing your luggage). The car is immaculate, sporting starched white seat covers.

We get a glimpse of Colombo through the rain splashed car windows. It’s a warm rain, evidenced by the shirtless men in bare feet hoisting umbrellas. There are saris here and there and a burqa or two, but for the most part the women are wearing long slim flowing skirts. Batik and embroidery are local crafts and they are reflected in the clothing.

Scenes From Mount Lavinia

It’s Valentine’s Day. Jake has stayed in Chennai to work and will join us on the weekend, and Jim is miles and miles away. Therefore, Valentine’s dinner has little importance for us. The hotel though, has big plans. Each restaurant has special dinner menus and chocolate flavored cocktails are being pushed at every venue. There are huge red tissue paper flowers adorning the dining rooms. All we want is a sandwich and then bed. The only option seems to be going to a fancy restaurant. We’re told it’s OK, we can order a la carte, but since we don’t have reservations we may have to share a table, cruise ship style. We don’t care; just feed us so we can get settled. We sit at a table for six and order. We’re soon joined by two older couples, ( yes, older than me), from Sweden. They don’t speak English. One of the men flirts with Claire and attempts to be pleasant. The others stare at their plates and do not speak a word to us or to each other, a clue to their time­­-tattered relationships. We aren’t looking to make new friends. We eat and escape.

Valentine Traveler

There are no Gideon Bibles in the rooms. Instead, there are books on Buddhist teachings. I read mine.