Colombo : The Land of Tea

 Ep.12

“Success is not a place a which one arrives but rather with which one undertakes and continues the journey.” – Alex Noble.

CMB – Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Me at the inner part of Ganggaramaya Temple

On the 24^th September 2011, I was rather had a mood swing by that time. Knowing that most of my classmates got two long hauls (most of them got either London or Toronto already) and me? I got Colombo. When I look at my roster and see HKG-SIN-CMB-BKK-HKG, it was like I saw a thunder struck in the middle of clear day. Excited? yeah so-so. Disappointed? a little bit. And I know just the best way to pump up my spirit : open my mozilla firefox > google > type: place of interest COLOMBO! And as you know already, google never let us down, within few seconds (thanks to the fast internet connection here in my apartment) it shows some places that really interests me.

I like to travel a place, I tend not to search the food or shopping center, I rather will find any historical places and landmark of the places first. I like to learn a culture behind a place, that way, I felt that I fed my brain with useful knowledge and priceless experience. Its not because I don’t like to shop, I do, a lot. But this job for me is about traveling and exploring places, shop can wait, will do it IF I have spare time.

Sri Langkan Rupee and Maps

So when I search a place of interest, what will interests me? It will be Landmarks, Historical Places, Temples or Churches, Castle (I like kingdoms and hierarchy), and Market (of course along with the traditional foods).

My search engine showed me some places and I’ve made up my list in few minutes (I even checked the map from and to the hotel). Place to visit: Ganggaramaya Temple, Hindu Temple, Sri Maha Devi Park, Golden Shrine, and if I were lucky enough, I’ll find something on the way (getting lost is a way to find some unique places that you don’t even plan, for me..). I wrote down my list on a piece of paper, put it into my purse and start to pack my things.

Reclining Buddha

Sri Lanka, a country that never pop into my head before. I never ever imagine that one day I am gonna be able to step my own feet onto that land. To be honest, I don’t even know what is so special about Sri Lanka. As it was a one-stop flight from Hong Kong to Colombo via Singapore (on the way to CMB), then it took 3.5 hours to Singapore and another 3 hours to Colombo. The flight is, I would say, not really tough (and I realize that I never consider outbound flight tough as I’m looking forward for what am I gonna do at the destination). I arrived at Colombo around midnight. Checked in, and directly go my room. Ah! Some crew said that the next day, those who want to join to have lunch together, please meet at the lobby around noon time. I said I will join the lunch, as I haven’t know anything about outport culture of the company (I assume it was a courtesy to have one or two meals together with the rest of the crew).

The Sacred Tree

Sri Lanka time is 2.5 hours ahead of Hong Kong. The next morning I woke up at around 7 am. Lunch is so far away. And can I keep myself inside hotel room (even though the hotel room is really comfy and nice)?? NO!! definitely not! I took a bath, get ready to hit my list. I went down to the concierge, asking him about the places on my list. And by miracle (thanks God! You’re the best), he said he will give me a tour. Yippie! He hailed a tuk-tuk (really similar as Bajaj in Indonesia), and talk in Tamil to the driver. He explained to me a little about Sri Lanka history and ask the driver to stop now and then to stop over the places, took some picture and to the place that was on my list, he even ask the driver to wait for us (what an exclusive tour, heh?).

The Bride and Groom (+ a bridemaid?)

I went to Ganggaramaya Temple, Shrines in the middle of the Lake, Gold Shrine and many other Buddhist temple. Sri Lanka is mostly either Buddhist or Hindu. So this tour is definitely more to the Buddhist one. He explained to me about where about the stupa shape came from, what is the belief and tradition of locals. There were a shrine that believed if you pray in your heart to a sacred tree that has leaves with a shaped of stupa by holding a decanter of sacred water, pour the water half to the left sink and half to the right sink, your wish would be granted. One thing to be noted, while doing so, you cannot speak any word until you finished praying. Aha! I even lucky enough to see a couple of bride and groom praying for their marriage in the temple (of course I ask them to take a picture with me). There was also a chamber in Ganggaramaya temple which looked like a museum of gold. There were kept a piece of bone, which is believed to be Buddha's leg bone (it was a chipped little piece) together with the one millimeter carved Buddha in crystal sphere. When I was standing there, in the temple, I could see how these people really worship their beliefs and I pay even more respect to them.

Gold and Gold

Biggest Mosque in Town

Next, we stopped by the parliament building (there are some guards and there are many sign that “taking picture is not allowed”, but still I took some), Sri Maha Devi Park (a place where a princess met and finally marry a commoner), some colonial buildings around the city, and I bought a pair of my birthstone in one of the gem shop (I finally ended up make it into earrings). By the noon time, we’re already back to the hotel. As I request to do so, because I got to attend the lunch. I had my lunch with some of the crews, not the whole set, and we finally decide to have a tea time at the other hotel nearby and go to a ceramic store that is really famous. We went by the Hotel taxi, divide the fare between the four of us. We went to Noritake porcelain outlet. I am seriously said it, it was the most cheap (repeat: CHEAPEST!) set of chinaware that I ever found for such a good (repeat: excellent) quality. I didn’t bought any, coz I don’t think I need it at that time. Then we went to a souvenir shop. Bought some tea, as it is very well known that Sri Lanka has the finest tea product. And we ask the driver to drop us at the beach nearby our hotel. We walked along the beach to the Gale Face Hotel, which is really near to our hotel (as long as I can reach a place on foot, I will consider it as near), buy some local food on the way (which is very cheap!feel like a very rich person!) and sit on a table facing to the beach at the hotel’s café. I ordered an avocado juice. (standard!). The sunset was beautiful and we went back to the hotel afterwards.

Largest Hindu Temple

Selection of Teas

The next day, I start my day at 7am again, this time I visited the Hindu Temple and Market. I am lucky enough to have the same tour guide (ah in case I forget, I finally ended up giving him 2000 LKR as a tips), he said that the one on my list is only the small version of hindu temple, so he showed me the largest one up on the hill (Sweeeettttttt!). He also show me the unique mosque in the city and as always, he was more than happy to take all of my Colombo trip pictures. I bought my lunch in the market, which is roti paratha with sort of filling to dip in for only 50 LKR. I take away my food and stay at the hotel for the rest of the day, because I got to get back to Hong Kong around midnight and I guess I need to sleep before operating the flight (my strategy to keep me awake the whole midnight flight).

Sri Lanka, land of tea, an exotic place and full of traditions and beliefs. It was fun learning about something cultural and made me amazed on how people hanging on their tradition and believe. I would never expect that my visit to Sri Lanka would be as memorable as this one.

My 50 LKR Roti Paratha

“When you are happy, sing your heart out! Let your joy and well-being radiate and transform all around you.” –Me.