Colombo to Kandy - 121km (3 hours and 20 minutes)

Well, as I sit and type this in a modest guest room in Kandy, I am experiencing a range of emotions.

I am proud of myself for successfully getting to the railway station on time, buying a ticket and then navigating a very busy platform and train to get to Kandy.

I am pleased with my decision to travel second class, not for financial reasons, but so I could sit in a real carriage, with real Sri Lankans. One where you can open the windows fully and passengers hang out of the doors (rather than choosing an air conditioned first class carriage filled with foreign travellers.) My ticket was just 190 rupees for anyone who is interested - that's less than £1.00.

In the last few hours I have seen majestic landscape and rural life passing by from my train window.
I have chatted to Sri Lankans from Kandy and exchanged smiles and laughter with adults and children on the train.

I have met an honest tuk-tuk driver (I think) and another who tried it on with an unfair price and when I wouldn't budge on my lower offer, became angry.
I have had someone attempt to pick my rucksack.
And I am now in a cooler, mountainous central region of Sri Lanka away from the humidity, heat and noise of Colombo - phew!

I only discovered someone had tried to pick my rucksack as I climbed into my tuk-tuk at the station and I saw that the bottom compartment of my main bag was unzipped (by about 30cm.) The luggage straps, which were packed at the top, were half in and half out. I do not think that anything has been taken, but I have learned the following lessons:-
1. don't have the back of the rucksack exposed - I had seen two foreign backpackers get on to the same train as me in the morning with their rucksacks and noticed that when they got off, nearly 4 hours later, they had put waterproof coverings over their bags. I initially thought this was due to the rain we had travelled through, but I now wonder if it was to make sure that no zips or pockets were accessible to nimble fingers whilst they were walking through the train station.
2. don't get distracted in congested places. I was slow moving through the railway exit gate through a crowd of people and when I was arguing with the tuk-tuk driver about the price he wanted to charge, there were a number of people jostling around me.
3. I brought 2 large baggage straps with me to put around the rucksack during flights (to make it more recognisable at terminal carousels, to secure it and to keep the rucksack shoulder straps and handles bound up and out of the way. I should have used them today travelling on the train.

I know that my rucksack could only have been tampered with in the short walk from the platform to the main entrance and it has left me feeling annoyed and a little disappointed. Therefore, I shall be more careful and more vigilant in the future and am grateful I have learned this lesson in the safe and honest environment of Sri Lanka.

My room is not great - just the one main light, no drinking glasses or tea making facilities (it's a good job I brought a travel kettle with me!) and no toilet roll, but it does have a double bed with a large canopy mozzie net, a desk, a mirror and a table top fan. More importantly, it appears to be very clean.

I'm going to get my bearings in the town (a 2 km walk down hill) and see if I can find somewhere for a cup of tea - I'm gasping!

Bye for now.

Paul

X