Trip to Sri Lanka 2010

Travel to Colombo
2 March 2010

Luckily there are still a lot of people on the street in Kuala Lumpur near the Sentral transportation hub so I didn't feel too fearful of walking with my suitcase from the YMCA to the 3:30 AM bus. Lots of food vendors were still at their stalls along the streets. After a two-hour wait at the airport, there was a 3 1/2 hour flight to Colombo that arrived at 7:05 AM. That gave me time to pick up my bag, change some money, and find a place to call Sr. Jacintha who was going to pick me up.

Departure gate at KL airport The Kuala Lumpur airport is probably the worst marked one I have been in. There are few signs, and different areas are arranged in strange patterns so that moving from the bus station to check-in to customs to passport control to the gates is not easy and intuitive. Even websites from the airport bus companies give detailed instructions how to find things, noting the lack of clear and accurate signs.

Airport post office in Colombo When I arrived in Colombo--which has a completely new airport I had never seen before--I picked up my bag and changed US dollars into Sri Lankan rupees and then followed directions to the airport post office window, one of a series along the curb where people are picked up. The post office arranges calls easily, and I was able to contact Sr. Jacintha to let her know where I was waiting.

Entrance to St. Joseph's School At the school in Ragama, one sign identifies the St. Joseph School for the Deaf, and another announces the school's year-long 75th jubilee celebration.

Sr. Maleny Sr. Maleny was one of the three Perpetual Help Sisters who was at the school for the deaf fifteen years ago when I last visited there.

Sr. Jacintha and Sr. Charmaine Sr. Jacintha and Sr. Charmaine are the other two sisers I knew before. It was wonderful to be back with them again.

Repairing railroad crossing gate In the afternoon I walked into the central area of Ragama to marvel at how the town has changed since my last visit. The one landmark that seemed the same is the railroad station where several workmen were repairing a crossing gate.

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	The Kuala Lumpur airport is probably the worst marked one I have been in. There are few signs, and different areas are arranged in strange patterns so that moving from the bus station to check-in to customs to passport control to the gates is not easy and intuitive. Even websites from the airport bus companies give detailed instructions how to find things, noting the lack of clear and accurate signs.
	When I arrived in Colombo--which has a completely new airport I had never seen before--I picked up my bag and changed US dollars into Sri Lankan rupees and then followed directions to the airport post office window, one of a series along the curb where people are picked up. The post office arranges calls easily, and I was able to contact Sr. Jacintha to let her know where I was waiting.
	At the school in Ragama, one sign identifies the St. Joseph School for the Deaf, and another announces the school's year-long 75th jubilee celebration.
	Sr. Maleny was one of the three Perpetual Help Sisters who was at the school for the deaf fifteen years ago when I last visited there.
	Sr. Jacintha and Sr. Charmaine are the other two sisers I knew before. It was wonderful to be back with them again.
	In the afternoon I walked into the central area of Ragama to marvel at how the town has changed since my last visit. The one landmark that seemed the same is the railroad station where several workmen were repairing a crossing gate.