Back in Colombo

The drive didn't seem quite as long today. We passed the time by finishing off our survival snacks of granola bars and peanut butter crackers. When we got back on the highway between the airport and the city of Colombo, it was like entering a different country. For the first time in days, we saw a road with multiple lanes, though the traffic rules were still a bit shaky with some of the drivers. We checked back in to the Cinnamon Red Hotel, same as five days earlier, and decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood.

We discovered that the "world's largest christmas tree" was, as of yet, still incomplete. Also, its trunk to tree ratio was a bit skewed (in favor of the trunk if you were curious). Either way, my friends Isuru and fellow classmate Dinindu met up with us nearby at the Galle Face Hotel. They couldn't stay long since they are waist deep in study materials for their new airline jobs, but we were able to catch the sunset together over some drinks. It was a very calm and relaxing locale.

As they ran off, Nicole and I stayed to have some food. As this was a restaurant at a hotel that very clearly catered to foreigners, there was nothing remotely Sri Lankan on the menu. This meant no curry. Nicole had penne pasta. I went with the fish and chips. They had forgotten about my fish and chips, so they offered me a free drink to make up for it. Fiiiiiiine. If I must make these kinds of sacrifices, I shall. After dinner, we watched the waves crash against the beach .

We then made our way back to the hotel and took in a few glimpses of the extensive christmas lights throughout the city. We have an early day tomorrow. We get on a flight from Colombo to Vienna, Austria, where it is currently 27º. That is a 60 degree temperature differential. I don't think either of us are quite ready for that, but perhaps it will seem more like the holidays with that kind of weather.