Negombo is a major city (about 140,000 people) near Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. The Bandaranaike international airport, where we landed, is here. So we've spent the first week of our trip here.
Negombo has 3 distinct sections: the tourist area with its long sandy beach, touristy shops and restaurants, the busy city/commercial part, and the Negombo Lagoon. A large salt water body that's separated from the ocean by a long narrow piece of land, that has very poor sections and some pretty swanky areas.
We stayed in the tourist area for 3 nights. It was a great place to start our trip. It was easy and had lots to offer.
But since then, we've been staying in the lagoon area. In a house
that's owned by Tom, a British man who's offered us his hospitality
because he lives in a big house by himself, and wants our company. Toby
met the man via an online Sri Lanka expat chat group. I was a little
uncomfortable accepting Tom's hospitality at first. Why would someone
invite virtual strangers into their home? For free!? But here we are.
Clearly welcome. For our charming selves :)While staying here, we've walked the neighbourhood, visited little churches, gone shopping, and explored the peninsula. It's been a nice quiet time.
Pictures
1- A fishing canoe in the entrance to Negombo Lagoon.
2- We wanted to buy and eat a pineaple, but had no knife to cut it. The very nice clerk in the store was reluctant to cut if for us. But a man delivering cases of water to the store, offered to cut it. Super kind!3 - The secondary/residential streets in the Negombo Lagoon area are very narrow!
4- We bought a pineapple from a street vendor. So good!!!
5- These are two very simple fishing boats. Their paddles are bamboo stalks cut in half.
Sooooo cool! Have fun!
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