Compassion
The highest expression of compassion is the principle of Guru (Guru Tattvam)
This was my last night in the mountains. Today I would take a train west to Colombo. Everything was packed, so I ate breakfast at 08:00. Mary made a Sri Lankan breakfast with roti, dal, curry, fried eggs, and some fruits. It was much more than I could eat. The Tuk Tuk driver came at 08:30 to bring me to the Railway station. It was only 300 rupees. I paid 1300 rupees when I arrived, and this happens when you still don’t know the distance. There were many tourists at the station. I had a nice talk with an Australian guy. I had a reservation for the third class, the last ticket available for this train when I bought it in Nanu Oya. The train arrived 15 minutes late. I found my place next to a local lady. She was quite a good companion on this more than seven-hour tour to Colombo. She spoke well English. The train would pass Kandy again, where I had been the first week. Coming down from the mountains later the train could drive much faster. After more than 7 hours we reached Negombo. I planned to take an Uber from Colombo to Negombo, but the lady suggested trying a private bus stand, close to the bus terminal. It should be smaller buses. I didn’t see them. It might be a holiday in Sri Lanka. They have a holiday at every full moon. So I checked the local buses. I asked for the bus to Negombo, and a guy told me to cross the road, and there was another bus terminal. I asked twice again before I entered the bus to Negombo. The ticket was only 150 (50 cent) rupees. I remember when I came to Sri Lanka I paid 6700 (€22) rupees from the airport in Negombo to the railway in Colombo by taxi. It took more than 1 hour to drive, of course, it is more comfortable and faster to go by taxi. I like doing this local stuff sometimes. You get a real feeling of how people are living here.
At the bus terminal, I checked with the PickMe app to get a Tuk Tuk. I had to download the app again while I was on the bus, I saw a sign next to the road with a PickMe advertisement. A driver confirmed my booking to Alexis’s Guest House, but I didn’t see him coming closer, always seven minutes away. I called him, but I guess he didn’t speak English or couldn’t hear me. Then the app said the driver arrived. I called him again. Then I cancelled the trip and crossed the street to get a Tuk Tuk. I paid 400 rupees for going to my accommodation, with the app it would be 225 rupees. When I arrived Ruan welcomed me already on the road and showed me my room. A very nice and clean room with an attached bathroom. There is not a nice view from the window, so they are closed with red curtains. Alexi’s Guesthouse has a very high rating, it has a reasonable price and is well-organized and clean. It’s very humid in Negombo, next to the sea but more than 80% humidity. I checked in, had a shower, and left to have some dinner. I didn’t eat much today. Ruan suggested a Restaurant called “Sonnero Pub & Restaurant”. It is one kilometer from here. There were many Restaurants along the road. When I reached it looked like a very nice place, but just loud music was playing. I don’t like this while eating. When I walked back I entered another one and had my dinner.
Back in my room, I was just watching a movie, I was quite tired.
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