At Long Last, Lanka


I arrive in Colombo just before midnight.

Compared to the airports in India, Bandaranaike Airport, just north of the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, is a dream. It was large, bright, and air conditioned. The immigration agents were smiling and kind.

The duty-free area sells large appliances, like refrigerators. Apparently, it's a spoil for those who return after making money elsewhere. It's interesting to see people wheeling out ice boxes on the same carts as the rest of us are using for our luggage.

As I exited the airport, Marwaan found me and I waited in the exit area for the rest of his bride's incoming party from Japan. The humidity was immediate and stifling. As I waited, I received a cell phone call from my friend Jeff, whom I have known since 1967. He and his wife just had their first baby. We eventually got to the vehicle that his brother's employee, Prasantha, was driving.

The journey into Colombo was sort of like a dream. It was deadly quiet out and I was quite tired. It took about a half hour to reach the Indra Regent Hotel, and I slept soundly that night.

Posted: Thu - March 17, 2005 at 02:54 PM        

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