Sri Lanka was a beautiful country, and I just returned from my trip a few days ago. I spent nearly two weeks in the country with a couple of days to relax in Colombo, the main and largest city in the country. Colombo is a working city, but it does have some places to visit - temples, markets, malls, museums, and historical places left over from the occupations by the Dutch and English.
On my first full day, I went to explore the city via tuk tuk tour. This was my first visit to Asia and riding in a tuk tuk. The guide showed me a lot of interesting places around the city.
I saw the Lotus building, which is coloured like a lotus flower. There is a restaurant and bar on the top, but I did not go inside it.
We then went into a Hindu temple, and I had a quick look inside it and got some photographs of the temple with the lotus flower tower.
I was shown some of the buildings in Colombo - churches, temples, hospitals, etc.
Then I was driven around the markets. Each area specialises in something different - electronics, sweets, oil, plastics, clothing, shoes, hardware, lighting, etc.
Traveling through the streets on the tuk tuk was insightful and colourful.
I also went inside a newer Hindu temple, and there were bats living inside it.
In the spice market area, the guide treated me to a coffee shop. I don't like coffee, but I had hot chocolate. They had different types of coffee bean.
I liked to see the spices.
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In on of the market areas was a red and white brick mosque.
Near the harbour are the varioud buildings dating from the Dutch and English occupation with the majority of the remaining buildings dating from the English time. These are beautiful buildings. Some of them are abandoned.
I also went to the Dutch fort. It now has shops and restaurants inside it.
The guide treated me to a coconut drink, and I had this whilst looking over the Colombo skyline.
Next up was the Maritime museum. Inside was information about the people of Sri Lanka and its history as well as the contributions (or otherwise) of the Europeans. Next to and above the museum is a temple, built suspended in the sky so that people could see the temple's "spire" from the harbour. The country is primarily Buddhist faith.
There were so many bats hanging out in the trees. I saw these by the lake.
I went to the large Buddhist temple Gangaramaya. This temple has a museum and a lot of important figures and items from the different cultures. There was the smallest Buddha in the world. It was impressive with different styles.
I had lunch in a small cafe called Curry Pot. This is traditional Sri Lankan food.
One of the final stops was Independence Square and the structure built here.
The last stop was a small market in the wealthier part of town and near the cricket club, but I didn't get the name of it. It was not far from the hotel.
Near the hotel was also a chocolate shop and doughnut shop.
The following day, I went to the National Museum to se the different historical and cultural exhibits, and these were interesting.
I enjoyed my two days in Colombo, and I have more photographs to post over the next few weeks.
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