This is it! The start of my blog, and I don’t think I need to explain why I named it “itallstartedinrome” reason being its something too straightforward, unless you had no idea I was going to rome ^^
To be frank, I’m not really in rome yet, as I start this blog, I’m lazing comfortably in one of sri lanka’s 5 star hotel called Galadari Hotel. But naming my blog “itallstartedinsrilanka” just doesn’t cut it right, and besides I’m pretty sure many of my friends would like to know my journey in rome, or more so if I managed to stick to my pitiful 1000 euro budget(for the whole month), and so I’ll be trying my very best to record my daily budget in this blog =D
Day 0 – It actually started in Sri Lanka(transit to rome)
It was early 5am when my brother in law, sister and mum departed from home to send me off to kl central station where I was to take the klia express to…well...klia. I have a very caring mum and sis. And so from home to kl central, I underwent interrogating questions the likes of “Toothbrush taken? Towel? Nailclipper?” Though it didn’t look like we would have turned back if I had forgotten to take my nailclippers. I did bring them along anyways.
Bought the rm35 klia express ticket, said goodbyes, waited for the train and 28 minutes later I was all alone in klia.
6+am on the train. Surprising I myself am not asleep.
My luggages. Yes, that's a fedora you see in my bag.
I was to take the Sri Lankan airlines to rome(the cheapest flight my university could budget for me) whereby I would stop at Colombo for a 15 hours transit. Yes 15 agonising hours! Being on a flight heading to sri lanka, this was how the queue looked like.
All indians la. What to expect.
Even got religious bunch also.
Rich people
Coffee bean was brim packed, and needing my daily dose of caffeine, I resorted to the most viable option; my faithful hand carried nescafe. Had to finish it before boarding the plane anyway. Dropped by mph to finish up my last RMs on an interesting book which synopsis I was attracted to when reading a magazine. May decide to throw it to amy wang as a birthday present provided I keep it in mint condition.
Faithful sidekicks
Indian people all the way into the gate with a Russell Peters looking dude
Approximately 2 hrs and 45 mins on a very rocky-rollercoaster-equivalent-heart jumping ride later, we landed on Colombo’s Bandaranaike airport. The first thing u see when u land on klia are palm oil trees. In singapore and hong kong u see buildings. This is what u see when u land in colombo.
Are those coconut trees?
It is here I have to personally thank Adeline for the useful info she provided to me. Had no idea that on a long transit, the airlines would provide u with a room in a hotel. Thus I checked with the airlines, and they arranged a van to pick everyone up. Which in this case was more ppl than the van could fit(16 ppl in a van), followed by a 2 hour long ride to the hotel. But a really good hotel! Best part to it was lunch and dinner is included, buffet style =D
Looks like still can fit 2 or 3 more
I made friends with an exceedingly friendly and jovial guy heading to India, who like me, was also on transit from malaysia. It wasn’t his first time going through such experience, and he was happy enough to show me around and about. We checked in to our respective rooms then went down for lunch.
Galadari hotel staffs
2 double sized beds which I only later napped on
Had a 1 hour bathtub shower in this toilet due to excess time
Many options to get you drunk
I settled with the option that came free
Have a feeling Mr Rejit(my new friend) was glad to have company for a change and I had no complaints, the whole scenario looked like a local showing a foreigner around. After lunch, Mr Rejit met up with one of his clients from sri lanka, before which he told me to check out the beach. I went around to explore the hotel and around it.
Great view from above, overlooking the beach
And some of Sri Lanka's important buildings such as this government building
From a different angle, overlooking smaller buildings
I finally thought of checking out the beach, where after I took 2 steps out of the hotel, I encountered tuk tuk drivers running up to me offering cheap rides to massage parlours and sightseeing places.
Sri Lanka's 3 wheeled Tuk tuks
They persistently followed me around. I profusedly decline and took a few more steps only to have more coming with new offers. Ended up wandering around inside the hotel before returning to my cozy room for a nap.
They had a nice fountain
Nice ambience where meals were served
Many shops~ This is one I found interesting. Tea party!
Front office with good service
And a nice pool on the first floor
The crows up here not afraid of people
I went down early for dinner since Mr Rejit wasn’t back and hotel called me to inform that my ride back to the airport will arrive at 8. Halfway through dinner, mr ranjit popped in and waited for me to finish before going up to the room to wash up. After I packed my stuff, he waited with me for the aiport van to arrive. In all our conversations, I found out he was married with a 3 year old daughter and planned to have more kids. Straight dude in case you guys were thinking otherwise. I had to be sure myself =)
Not someone you'll find everywhere
40 minutes drive from Galadari hotel to Bandaranaike airport. Whole journey spent chatting with a german dude on India tour where he provided some self experience and advice on travelling in italy. Airport check in queue was insane. Took an hour to reach the counter only to find out transit passengers didn’t need to queue. Spent the rest of the hours reading “fallen” before boarding the plane at 1am(Sri Lanka time)
Oh a kelisa in Sri Lanka
That sums up my first day out of malaysia. Euroes still untouched(obviously!). Very lengthy first blog. Following days would probably be shorter. Stay tuned!
