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