Two days in Negombo, the colours are so vibrant and the smells, well it’s an authentic experience for sure ! I’ve done a couple of trips, one a TikTok tour of the city and yesterday a boat trip along canals and the lagoon.

Two Roman Catholic cathedrals, a Hindu temple, a Buddhist temple; none of them with a hint of restraint or austerity more a glorious riot of colour, people, noise. The Roman Catholic cathedrals all run services outside which in this climate is so sensible, so there’s always an aroma of incense and chanting.

A wet fish market and the area where the fish gets dried, well my new white shirt has been blessed with fish blood as a very large tuna was hacked to pieces right in from fine with a rather large cleaver ! The smell actually wasn’t that bad, strong but not nasty. The bathrooms and bins however, pretty horrifically nasty, it was amazing how well I could hold my breath when needed.

Fruit markets, fishing boat harbour, the Dutch canals leading to the lagoon, all bright and buzzing with life and full of colour, noise, smells. A quieter day yesterday, on a lagoon and canal trip away from the city to see the lagoon which supports around 3000 people.

So many birds and little fish and fishermen. Being on the boat for a couple of hours was maybe the peaceful time I needed.

Today is a pool and beach and book day, before the tour starts tomorrow. Everyone has arrived, headed off for massages and tuktuk tours, then we’ll reconvene for a beer / cocktail at sunset.

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