Down South

After a 5.30 am start we very unwisely caught a packed commuter train to the city of Colombo with our luggage, and were lucky to emerge in one piece. Never again, shudder...
The train down South was very elderly but 2nd class was a bit more roomy. Mysweet found himself sitting next to a retired rail engineer who said that he remembered taking delivery of these trains thirty years ago from Romania, and they looked like it. The journey down South was long beautiful and thought provoking as we passed shanty town after shanty town with the tell tale official blue sign which saidTsunami damage zone. These areas are all the more startling since compared to India, for example, the streets and houses here are very well looked after and have an air, if not always exactly affluent, then at least comfortable.
We are staying in Beach View guesthouse, which is as far from the luxury hotel experience as I am prepared to go. It is in the centre of the old Dutch Fort in Galles, and is nice and clean and slightly reminiscent of Blackpool landladies and net curtains. We staggered out into the new town breathing in streets heavy with spices and the wave of sound broke over our heads. I think I am going to enjoy this....