Location: Delhi - Negombo (Colombo), Sri Lanka
TODAY'S HIGLIGHTS
A little bit of stomach turmoil punctuated the early hours of the morning. We were on an informal roster - taking it in turns on the loo and being mindful of the ever shrinking toilet roll. Both decuded to double dose on the Gastrostop at 5 am and things improved noticeably.
Risktaker - trying some juice - well, cordial
We presented ourselves to the dining room for a some fluids and a piece of dry toast and I returned to bed until 11 am and needed those extra few hours. We had lots of awake time in the night and had the hotel staff knock on our door in error at 8.30 am to remind us that it was time to check out! Our darkened room and me in my nightie paired perfectly with my mumbled response of "Not us." Thought that the Sydney/Melbourne people, who were on the early floght this morning had played a trick on us - but nobody owned up - and the same thing happened across the hall to the two @Sues.
All added up to grumbling unsettled stomachs and broken sleep. It was a quieter day though because our flight didn't leave till 6.45 pm.
Our arrangements for the day were a 1 pm checkout and a 2 pm collection for the airport
In our head, before arriving in India, the layover day had sort of looked like we might go for a wander, enjoy the pool and throw on some washing. The reality was that the pool was filled with algea, the running water so discoloured that the locals doing their washing had produced a grey tinged outcome for the linens and we were in the middle of nowhere.
As it turned out - the rest and the regroup of the tummy was an appropriate choice.
Our Teipadeal organisation went very smoothly. - someone to pick us up and get us to the airport and even escorted us as far as he was allowed into the security gate - and we arrived so early that the checkin desk for the flight hadn't even opened.
Felt we were flying on a wing and a prayer today - we didn't have seat allocations, couldn't check in early on line and didn't have a visa. Fortunately did score a very helpful gentleman at checkin - when he first pulled up our booking - @Mac was in row 42 and i was in 26 . He sorted that out thank goodness because we were both still running below par.
Security was a little bit of a drama - @Mac's gear was held up and scrutinised for some time - they pulled every item out the machine case before they would let him through and I complicated it all because I had a pair of scissors in my backpack. I hadn't even realised they were there and engaged in a couple of minutes if denial until I finally located them in the bottom LINING of my backpack. I realise now that the scissors were out of the first kit from when we taped up the broken handle of the suitcase on arrival in India a week ago - well, I don't have them now, they were thrown in the bin. Even with this hold up. I was through a long time before @Mac - his inspection and clearance was further delayed by the scheduled "emptying of the bins." Could do no more than wait patiently.
Admitting through that we are always grateful at security checks at the airport when they are diligent. Extremely happy for them to take as much time as they need to keep everyone safe.
Time flew by in the terminal and we were called to board at 5:30 for a 6:35 departure. Had a good giggle as we snaffled a priority boarding invitation because we were a "group." We had accidentally joined a group of 50 who were boarding first - just stood up because everyone was moving. As we reached the head of the queue though, we were politely ushered away however 5 minutes later @Bev kept her very straight face when approached and asked bu the staff member if we were a "group." Without batting an eyelid she innocently answered "Yes." When the flight attendant asked how many and the response was "6" the hostie didn't bat an eyelid either and we were ushered on board.Very grateful not to be in the push and shove of the general boarding that ensued. It was an eye opener.
The flight was full, except for a single seat beside us and two seats behind us! Only three and a half hours - just a hop, skip amd a jump and we were feeling smug- early boarding AND a spare seat. After take off though, it was a little like musical chairs, there was a little scrambling of seat changes and we ended up with a partner in our row and people behind us.
It was an easy one because it was so short. No TV screens though, so you did have to have your own entertainment with you. And the take off didn't do much to boost confidence in the aircraft itself - this plane was a real rattle trap - seemed like everything was vibrating and threatened to fall off. But once in the air, was relatively smooth flying.
While we were completing this transit, the group that had left earlier in the day had arrived and were sending us teasers of beachside comfort and cold beers beside the infinity pool. The journey was definitely incentivised - it was like we were flying into and on earth version of heaven.
Found the visa application desk and went through the process of acquiring the necessary paperwork for our next 7 days in Sri Lanka. A slow manual process that involved two steps - hand your passport in, then move to another line to pay. An expensive visa at $50USD. We had it though, skipped quickly through immigration, retrieved our luggage and we were out.
True to form our Tripadeal representative, @Nlla, was waiting to take the little group of 6 in the monster bus, for the 40 minute drive to the hotel to join the Sydney/Melbourne troop who had arrived in the late afternoon.
We had been baffled by the scheduling of two different flights but have to admit that the leisurely day was perfectly timed to allow us to regroup the luggage, get some rest and settle the stomach.
An 11.15 pm arrival at the hotel and definitely no meetup - of course it all starts again tomorrow with breakfast call at 7 am followed by a "team briefing " at 8.30. We were a little daunted to hear that the afternoon activity will be scaling 1200 steps on a two nd a half hour hike. Riiigggghhhtttttt ... welcome to Sri Lanka and we had a new greeting to learn - ayubowan.
First impressions if Sri Lanka, in the dark, from on board the bus
No traffic
No people
No cows
No rubbish
No blaring of horns
And best of all, our accommodation was a real palace. Not much time to take it all in - showered and fell into bed. Entertaining though - the large glass window in the sitting room meant you could either watch TV or watch your partner having a shower. I think you missed a bit @Mac!
Comfortable, spacious and clean digs
Only issue of the day has been understanking the Sri Lankans. They speak so very fast with a different rhythm and inflection. Had to be in hyperdrive to follow along and make sense of the instructions at the immigration checkin and on the bus. Additionally @ Mac feels extremely tall!
Weather: 33 in India a cool 26 in the evening in Sri Lanka
Steps: 3274 airport steps
Health Check: dicey but managed
Accommodation: Regenta Arie Lagoon Resort, Negombo - massive clean room, cement spa, hot water! Living the dream. On the downside - lots of mosquitoes on this tropical island.
On the Menu
Keeping it simple and sticking to dry toast and gastrostop. @Sue who is in our travelling group is still unwell after 3 days and has sipped her days through mineral water.
Straight from the itinerary:
Today at the appropriate time you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to continue your tour in Sri Lanka. Upon arrival you will be met by a tour representative and transferred to your hotel in the nearby beach town of Negombo.
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