Back to Colombo

Going back to Colombo from the outset had been an exciting prospect; the very thought of meeting friends or visiting places where I roamed around almost a year back or enjoying the sea-side culinary delicacies is fascinating.  So when Karthiga called up in June to invite for her marriage the decision to travel was spontaneous.  The icing on the cake was of course Brig’s ability to travel too.  When I visited Brigitte @ Zurich in May, I never thought we will meet up again so soon, and that too at SriLanka.   

Leading upto the trip was fun, thinking about what all we (me, Mukula and Brig) can accomplish to do/see keeping our commitments for the marriage.  For Mukula it is the first time in SriLanka, good that she is a CSC-experienced IBMer and had met Brig earlier so engaging herself in conversations was not that difficult.  Of course, eventually I became the outsider as the two ladies happily deserted me often to take care of their own chores…..poor me!!!  

Anyway on reaching Colombo on a hot sultry afternoon we were picked up by Brig and Karthiga’s mom from the airport and we went straight to the hotel. It is no surprise that we stayed at Galle Face Hotel; for me and Brig we wanted to relive the experience.  By around 4:30 we are finally back to our favourite spot, seated at a table with LION beer in hand overlooking the sea.  It’s such an amazing experience in such a wonderful setting.

Karthiga and Krish joined us for dinner at TAO’s. Interestingly, TAO’s have a new “dress-code” policy – so guys watch out.  You are not allowed to enter in shorts, but for the ladies it is OK even anything “shorter” is fine J. Thanks, they didn’t force me to wear the sarong so long I keep my legs covered …. but sorry no picture to share!

So my CSC friends – do these words “hoppers, laksa ….” ring any bell ? well, that’s we had for dinner.  No one ordered PAPAYA Juice, though.  We were told that this precious fruit has been kept aside in storage to cater to a huge demand from an east European #happymaker visiting in late September………

Marriage took precedence over the next couple of days.  Karthiga and Krish make a wonderful couple,  of course Krish doesn’t realize now what he is getting into (we all married men know that well !!!!), at the moment they are both head-over-heels and madly in love.  To see Brig in a sari(something I was looking forward since the last trip) eventually materialized on 9/11 (famous day in world history) and indeed she was looking good and very different.  While I was busy with photography and Mukula got involved in some ceremonial things Brig was the center of attention, being the most photographed person in the entire crowd barring the couple.  Strangely, I have never spent so long (3.5 hrs) in a temple but it’s all for a friend’s cause. It also gave me the opportunity to meet up with LSF and WSO2 friends (Mano, Sanjiva, Chanaka, Iromi, Mufthas, Devaka and others).  Mt. Lavinia is the only other place we managed to visit during these 2.5 days.

So, overall a wonderful trip – a mix of fun and socializing.  The sea at Galle Face is definitely much more rough, gloomy weather throughout not allowing us to enjoy “OUR SUNSET” experience and Hua, believe it or not the crabs are on strike.  I couldn’t find CRAB on the menu at any place.  Finally, we almost missed our flight on the way back, that’s another story… some other time.  Me and Mukula are almost certain to go back to SriLanka sometime soon to see the country, till then….