Two days at sea. When we could, we watched the Warriors game on television. We have become quite the Warriors' fans--definitely have been influenced by John and Alison's family! We're still Jazz fans, too, however! We, also, played cards on Deck 5--just George and me, even if no one else was able to. We still had fun just playing together!
I was hoping for an I-phone class like Joyce and I had attended on our Antarctica Cruise, but the man who teaches them had a medical emergency, and sadly we weren't able to take that class during the entire cruise. We really enjoyed learning more about our phones, but it, also, provided free internet, which we would have loved to have! At $48 for 24 hours, it is pretty pricey, so this would have been nice to have! The internet on this ship was unbelievable, however! It was as fast as at home and you could even get it in your room! Surprising how much you miss it when you don't have access to it!
We have had so many time changes already on this trip, it is unbelievable. We have enjoyed the last two night shows--one was a violinist and another a Frank Sinatra-type singer--both were from Australia, and we found out they are married.
They were both
fantastic! That night, we got internet to see if our home had sold in
Florida. We woke up at 2:30 a.m. and found an e-mail from our realtor
stating that everything went well and our house on Canyon Falls Drive in
Florida was now sold. We felt so blessed to have everything go so well
with the closing. However, we now officially have no ties with Florida
at all, except for the wonderful friends that we left behind.
Got off the boat after breakfast. Everyone in our group was there except one couple. We looked for them all over the dock area--it is so difficult when you can't call people on their cell phones! We finally met up with them a half hour later. They had misunderstood and gone to the wrong area.
We drove past the statue of Britain's longest-reigning monarch which dates from 1897, the year of her Diamond Jubilee.
It was placed in gardens adjoining the residence of the governor-general of what was then the British colony of Ceylon. Since 1948, Ceylon has gained their independence and is now known as Sri Lanka.
After seeing the downtown area of Sri Lanka, we
visited the Sri Lanka National Museum which houses many exhibits telling the story of ancient Sri Lanka; some of the interesting items are shown below:
We next were able to see the beach and walk along it for a little ways. It is known as the Galle Face Green. It is the largest open space in Colombo.
This is a popular destination for children, vendors, teenagers, kite flyers, and anyone wanting to enjoy their favorite pastimes next to the sea under the open sky.
We got cleaned up, and went to dinner. The beauty of a cruise is that you always have a great breakfast, usually eat just granola bars, etc., for lunch unless we have a real trusted place like we ate at today, then at night, we have a fantastic meal on the ship, and then get in the same bed each night without having to move all our belongings each time. We were pretty tired, so after dinner, we went back to our room and fell asleep--missing the Elton Jack show, but we had seen him on the Antarctic Cruise before, so we didn't feel quite so badly.
I was hoping for an I-phone class like Joyce and I had attended on our Antarctica Cruise, but the man who teaches them had a medical emergency, and sadly we weren't able to take that class during the entire cruise. We really enjoyed learning more about our phones, but it, also, provided free internet, which we would have loved to have! At $48 for 24 hours, it is pretty pricey, so this would have been nice to have! The internet on this ship was unbelievable, however! It was as fast as at home and you could even get it in your room! Surprising how much you miss it when you don't have access to it!
We went to
some more classes in the Constellation Lounge--some are really interesting,
some are a little deep. But one thing we learned today in the lecture
about time was that every 15 degrees on the world globe is another hour
of time change. 
We have had so many time changes already on this trip, it is unbelievable. We have enjoyed the last two night shows--one was a violinist and another a Frank Sinatra-type singer--both were from Australia, and we found out they are married.
Got off the boat after breakfast. Everyone in our group was there except one couple. We looked for them all over the dock area--it is so difficult when you can't call people on their cell phones! We finally met up with them a half hour later. They had misunderstood and gone to the wrong area.
Leaving the Port at Colombo. This is a huge shipping port which serves as an important terminal in Asia due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean.
Our
guide was a kind man, but his accent was so profound, that we could
hardly understand him.
From the harbor, one can see the Colombo Fort Sambodhi Chaithya Buddhist Temple. 
On top of a huge yellow arch is a giant dazzling white Buddhist bell shaped Dagoba also known as a stupa.
One of the arches straddles the Chaithya Road where it forms a bend just
before the entrance to the Sri Lankan Navy base. It was built this high
near to Colombo Port so that it could be seen and act as a landmark to
all ocean going ships. The temple grounds are known as the Sambodhi
Chaitya.
Tuk-tuks are everywhere in Sri Lanka--either as taxis or for rent to drive yourself. They dodge in and out of traffic and are actually very dangerous to ride in!
One of several forts originally built by the Portuguese to defend the port, then the Dutch restructured it. Around 1870 the walls of the Fort were demolished by workers with
hammers and pickaxes. The defenses were no longer needed and just stood
in the way of industrial development. Economic development in the Fort
area led to further urban restructuring in which most of the original
Dutch buildings were demolished and replaced by 19th century style
department stores and offices, causing Colombo Fort to adopt its present
British colonial outlook.
This area is very interesting: Chinese investors have invested $1.4 billion to develop a financial center of skyscrapers, luxury
hotels, shopping malls, and a marina. One-third of the land is being dredged up out of the ocean. It should be a very interesting development.
It was placed in gardens adjoining the residence of the governor-general of what was then the British colony of Ceylon. Since 1948, Ceylon has gained their independence and is now known as Sri Lanka.
Each traditional pose has a significance related to an important event in the life – or past lives – of the Historical Buddha. This one is in Sarradhi pose--showing the perfect mental state of the Buddha who is believed to be the embodiment of supreme Wisdom and boundless compassion.
Recumbent Buddha - It represents historical Buddha during his last illness. He is lying on the right flank, his head resting on a cushion or relying on his right elbow, supporting his head with his hand.
This chart showed the Mudra, or various hand gestures used in Hindu or Buddhist prayers or in a classical Indian dance, plus the
Asana positions, which today are used in yoga.
The Royal Seat was was used by 6 kings up to Sri Vickrama Rajasinha, the last King of Sri Lanka, deposed by the British in 1815.
The explanation below says that these two jackets were worn by King Sri Vikrama Rajasimha and his queen. The blood drops that fell from her ear, when it was torn by being forcefully drawn out by a person that accompanied the British soldiers at the time of arresting the Royal couple, were supposed to have fallen on her jacket displayed here.
George taking a little rest in the area of artwork of historical events.
Traditional dress of Tamil men and women, especially used at weddings.
Decorated ceremonial fans offered to Buddhist Priests who achieve high ranks in the Buddhist community. The long handles and finials of the fan are usually crafted in ivory exquisitely decorated with inlaid art motifs and lacquer paintwork.
This museum was so educational, and we really enjoyed our time there.
On our way to our next stop, the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple, we stopped to see this elephant, which is confined in this area and is used for festivals and religious pageants. There was quite an outcry when he was chained inside the temple grounds, but he is now chained in an area outside, I'm sure in an effort to satisfy those that think this was animal cruelty.
On our way to our next stop, the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple, we stopped to see this elephant, which is confined in this area and is used for festivals and religious pageants. There was quite an outcry when he was chained inside the temple grounds, but he is now chained in an area outside, I'm sure in an effort to satisfy those that think this was animal cruelty.
This is the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple where we had to remove our shoes to enter.
Even before we arrived at the temple site, we could hear a chant/singing coming from the temple. When we went outside, we saw where it was coming from--we spied this little monk in red with a microphone in front of him and blocking out the noise around him.
When we went inside the gift area, we saw a monk inside an enclosure where people could have the red string associated with many faiths placed on their left wrist. We were told it symbolized "compassion for all." Some of us went inside, and all of a sudden the monk started talking to us and asking us where we were from. We were so surprised that he talked to us--and with such great English! He even told us that he had visited Mormon Temple Square in Utah!
We ate lunch at a beautiful 5-Star Restaurant--the Cinnamon Grand.
We
saw a man who who had a snake and a monkey. First, George held the little monkey.
Then, George was so brave to hold the snake--while I was the photographer. No snake holding for me!
The man showed us how much he trusted the snake by kissing him! Yuck--and dangerous--to me!
Then, George was so brave to hold the snake--while I was the photographer. No snake holding for me!
The man showed us how much he trusted the snake by kissing him! Yuck--and dangerous--to me!
After lunch, we drove to Independence Square where we saw this memorial hall, which is an open pavilion of sorts.
Built to commemorate the
independence of Sri Lanka from the British rule, it is a hall where
religious events and annual national holidays are marked.
The hall is guarded by a line of stone carved
lions, with flower pots called pun-kalas in the corners.
The lion is in the history of Sri Lankans and symbolizes many things including bravery!
The lion has been around for centuries, as is shown by the one we saw in the National Museum of Sri Lanka.
Inside its
pretty 10,000 square feet you'll find lovely arrangement of stone
pillars, beautifully carved with traditional Sri Lankan designs.
Statue of late Hon. D.S Senanakaya, the first Prime minister of Sri Lanka is located in front of this monument.
Pics taken as we toured around the town of Colombo.
We next were able to see the beach and walk along it for a little ways. It is known as the Galle Face Green. It is the largest open space in Colombo.
This is a popular destination for children, vendors, teenagers, kite flyers, and anyone wanting to enjoy their favorite pastimes next to the sea under the open sky.
Parking area looking down at the Galle Face Green.
While we were here, who did we see again, but the man and his little monkey?! This time he had a basket and showed us what he had inside--a python! Our guide told us the python fangs had been taken out when they have them in baskets like this--we never knew that! But they still could look
mean and scary! We asked him if the python would ever think of eating his little
monkey, but the man said that he wouldn't because they were friends!
After a very interesting day, we headed back to the ship.
We got cleaned up, and went to dinner. The beauty of a cruise is that you always have a great breakfast, usually eat just granola bars, etc., for lunch unless we have a real trusted place like we ate at today, then at night, we have a fantastic meal on the ship, and then get in the same bed each night without having to move all our belongings each time. We were pretty tired, so after dinner, we went back to our room and fell asleep--missing the Elton Jack show, but we had seen him on the Antarctic Cruise before, so we didn't feel quite so badly.
1 comment:
Sri Lanka looks beautiful and interesting. George is definitely a lover of animals! That snake encounter would definitely not have been comfortable for me! I'm loving your posts...keep them coming!
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