The cab arrived on time, the train arrived 5 minutes after we got to the station, the tube train was pulling up to the platform as we arrived and the Heathrow Express left 7 minutes after we boarded. Clockwork.
We had set off very early as we wanted to get to Heathrow before the snow did. So we had several hours to kill and where better than a nice restaurant and bar? While we charged up our phones for free, I checked out the shops and Ronnie wandered into the World of Whisky emporium. Some time later he wandered back having blagged several freebies of expensive whisky- £78 a bottle!
Time to go to the gate now and again everything went like clockwork. We were just hoping for seats a) not near any very large people and b) not near any babies. Guess what? In the row in front was a lady with a young baby and two toddlers. There was some discussion with the cabin crew as her husband and one child had been allocated seats 29 rows further back and he wanted to sit all together. So we offered to change seats with him. When we got to Row 50 and our new seats - result! Not only were we not near the babies but we had extra legroom! We settled in and as we started to taxi down the runway, the snow started. Can’t believe how lucky we were.
So here we are up to date and just waiting for the drinks trolley. Waves of relief are washing over Ronnie. He is a martyr to altitude sickness and has been advised to take quinine as soon as possible after takeoff.
Wretched 11 hour flight in spite of extra legroom, as I hardly slept. Dinner was red curry,vegetable curry or salmon. Guess which I had. Breakfast was fish curry, vegetable curry or omelette. Guess which I had. Not a big fan of curry although I survived a month In Nepal on various curries and dahl baht but would not choose it out of preference
When we touched down at Bandaranaike airport, things could not have been more different from Heathrow. No queues, smiling faces, baggage arrived quickly. After
immigration there was a long hall of duty free shops including, in fact mostly, white goods. I was tempted by a new fridge freezer but would it fit in my case?
In the arrivals hall there were huge adverts for Celestial Intellectual Opportunities??? Quick transfer to our hotel in Negombo. The town itself was founded by the Portuguese with a strong Catholic influence which continues today. Religious statues on most street corners and today was a religious festival so the school children were out in force to celebrate.
We arrived at our hotel to see a line of smiling young men in long skirts, David Beckham style. Our room is a bungalow facing the longest pool I have ever seen.
The room is very spacious and the bathroom is outside under the stars. But will we be able to find the loo if need to in the night?
The room is very spacious and the bathroom is outside under the stars. But will we be able to find the loo if need to in the night?
Slept like the dead after not much sleep on the flight. Breakfast by the lagoon. As many kinds of curry as you like and lots of tubes, spaghetti, webby stuff all made from coconut necessary in the night? The restaurant is facing a lagoon, just gorgeous, while the reception faces the ocean We have mastered the Sinhalese words for hello “ ahyubovan” and thank you “istuti”. Early start tomorrow so early night.
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