At last we have made it to Colombo. Ten years ago, our ship was diverted from Colombo for security reasons. We are tied to a pier in the harbor, with a large container port operation next door. This is an old part of the port and a shuttle or a tour bus is required to get to the exit.
Our ship’s tour takes us to a number of sites in the city of Colombo. The city is a lot like the many cities in India. Streets very crowded, cars everywhere, tut tuts, ( three-wheeled taxis) fill the empty spots and then there is the random transit or tourist bus. First stop is to the local Cathedral. There was a service in progress and everywhere was crowded. We did get to see a great deal of the interior before heading back to the bus. This tour was a bit different, only about three stops and a lot of city driving with the guide pointing out different sites. European visits to this area started in the late 1490's so there are many old buildings, former palaces and museums. Our guide pointed out one of the Islamic mosques as we passed.
The next stop was at the Independence Memorial Hall that commemorates the granting of local rule to Ceylon by the British. The high point of this stop, there was a toilet near by in another building.
The third stop was to one of the largest to one of the largest Buddhist Temples in Colombo. You can walk all around the temple. You just have to take off your shoes. Of course the floors are of marble. Beautiful statues, bright paints and everything.
The last stop was to the National Museum with about forty-five minutes of guided tour through the exhibits. Some of the presentations had English subtitles. Some did not have English. I have added one example of a label on one picture. The island used a great deal of water management in order to feed the population. Many of the exhibits highlighted this activity.
Back at the ship, we were feeling the effects of high temperatures and high humidity. We took a shower and stayed inside for the rest of the day. Our next destination is the Seychelles Islands off the coast of Africa.
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| Inside the Cathedral |
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| Outside the Cathedral |
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| Mosque |
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| Statue |
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| Independence Memorial Hall |
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| Statue |
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| Buddhist Temple |
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| Buddhist Temple |
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| Caption in the Museum |
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