Something Italiano

Breakfasts have been expansive in Sri Lanka, at the guesthouse we had loads of fruit, fruit shakes, coffee, bread, eggs for the one that eats them. I realise that doesn't sound much when writing it but the actual quantity we got was loads. This morning was no exception, we got our first try of 'hoppers' which I think have a similarity to Indian Dosas. It's a rice flour batter, that's cooked so it's thin like a pancake but shaped like a bowl. It came with some coconut sambal (full of spice, chilli and garlic) that you put inside it and then consumed. It was also fruit overload at the table, in fact there wasn't enough room to put everything (for size think of a standard table that has room for 4 people!).

At 10am we were back on the road, leaving Tissa behind us as we started the journey back to Galle. I had already mentioned the unused airport infrastructure, but they have also built expressways around the country to drive between the major places. These are also very empty, our car was going about 60/70 of the 100 km/h speed limit, which on a empty road felt extremely odd.

Taking the expressway also meant we missed our chance to ask to stop and take pictures of the stilt fishermen. We had seen them a few times going past one of the beach locations. Not sure exactly how it works but they manage to catch the fish whilst on these stilts.

The journey to Galle took about 3 and a quarter hours. We brought the train ticket for the next leg back to Colombo and went and found somewhere for food. We found one of the hotel style restaurants I mentioned before. My dhal came out with some spinach some chick peas and some soy meat curries and I also had a veg rotti. If this could be lunch for the next 10 years I would be happy.

When the train pulled into Galle there was a rush for the 2nd class seats, but we discovered that 3rd class didn't seem to be much different. The seats were more like benches but still soft and they still had fans in them. As the train got busier people started standing in the aisles but still not that bad overall. I did give up my seat so a little girl could sit down, you just have to be ready for the heavy braking and acceleration as you approach each station so you stay vertical! A 10 minute tuk tuk ride to our Colombo bed for the night made the total journey just under 6 hours.

I don't know why but both days we have been in Colombo I feel the need to replace the words of that Mambo Italiano song to "Hey Colombo, something Italiano". Not to be confused with "Una-Watuna" in the style of the Lion King's "Hakuna Matata" track.

We went to a restaurant from the Lonely Planet book called Pilawoos (it's name has been copied around the city because of its success, this happens a lot in Asia). They had ran out of curry (it's more of a lunchtime thing in Sri Lanka but were still serving Kotthu's (the fried roti dish I had on my first day). The waiter recommended Masala Beef, it came out and tasted good for the first 5 mouthfuls, but the meat was mainly gristle and it got really annoying trying to eat it (plus I find this dish a bit boring anyway). No Kotthu's being made when I get back home.

I think the stupid things I do make for a good read, so here's another one! I had a shower but the shower itself was on a raised bed. After using it I got out and left the door of the shower open, not noticing all the water running out onto the bathroom floor (the shower wasn't sloped towards the drain). I mopped it up using the towels but didn't realise it had gone out into the main room, with some of it soaking up into my main rucksack. I hung it up hoping it would dry in the six hours before we needed to be on the move again.

Hours travelled; 111.75
Bowls of rice; 58
Sri Lankan trains; 3