Family feels good!

Finally, the 31st of January arrived. The day that was giving me good nerves for more than a week already.

Together with Eva, I took the AC bus to Colombo. When we were told the first bus broke down, we were hoping this was not any kind of bad karma. From Colombo onwards, our ways separated. She was heading to Negombo, to meet her family over there, and I took the bus to Bandaranaike airport -where I had about two hours to get even more nervous-.

Then, that -let’s call it- magical moment happened and my brother and his girlfriend walked into a wonderful and warm Sri Lanka. Oh wait, first they walked into my wonderful arms! I’ll never forget that moment; family feels good -I can tell-!!!

After some little trouble with our credit cards, we were able to take the car with us -a hybride one, with which accelerating was difficult, even though sometimes necessary(!)- and the roadtrip started! My brother had to adapt in no time to all the motorized and not-motorized vehicles or people that were literally everywhere! But, I’m proud to say he did an excellent job during the following nine days, driving like a real Sri Lankan -which means: not only on the left side of the road-! That is my bro!

Nine days of three close friends, roadtripping in Sri Lanka:

• We drove about 1000 kilometers; starting from Negombo, over Unawatuna, Galle, Morawaka, Adam’s Peak (Dalhousie), Kandy, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Pinnawela and ending up in Bentota (before heading back to the airport in Negombo).

• One day we did nine hours to make it over a distance of 190 kilometers.

• We climbed the 2234 meters or 6600 steps of Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada), in four hours, to see the breathtaking sunrise at the top!

• We drove real roads and semi-real “roads”, through patty fields, tea estates and cities.

• We felt like the King and Queens of the jungle on top of the Sigiriya.

• We were tried to be scammed by several local “guides”.

• Twice we were stopped by policemen, of which two of them indirectly asked for money. We do not support corruption!

• We saw big and fancy hotels, but supported the local economy, staying with small family guest houses. What made us -in pictures- ending up on Booking.com!

• We tried every kind of food, Western and local; and I found out Maxime and Sofie mostly liked a traditional Sri Lankan meal: rice and curries, wrapped in a paper package.

• We enjoyed the view over Kandy, next to a huge Buddha, who dominates the city.

• We strolled among a paradise beach in Bentota, and unexpectedly watched a beautiful sunset.

• We did surprise the majority of all the Sri Lankans we passed by, being three white people, driving themselves in Sri Lanka!

• My brother and Sofie made me cheer up even a little more, being able to give me the regards of some of my friends in Belgium! A massive thank you!

• I felt cold with the temperature of 10°C at the top of Adam’s Peak and they felt hot with the temperature of 37°C in Bentota.

• We shared the feeling of National Independence Day, by riding under the Sri Lankan flag on the fourth of February -and all the days after-.

• Sofie -literally- washed her feet with holy water. -Yes, they were as clean as can be.-

• Maxime and Sofie discovered -after bargaining of course- the local taxi’s and felt the coziness of these tuktuks.

• We stood on the biggest quartz rock in Asia, surrounded by jungle; feeling like Tarzan and Jane²!

• We’ve spent a night with one of my lovely roommates, Eva, and her family (in Sigiriya). And finally I met her sweet mom Carine, her kind brother Michiel, her well-organized grandfather Papie and suuuuper cute grandmother Mamie! 

• [We brachten de avond door bij één van mijn lieftallige duopartners, Eva, en haar familie (in Sigiriya). En eindelijk ontmoette ik haar lieve mama Carine, haar vriendelijke broer Michiel, haar goed georganiseerde grootvader Papie en haar suuuuuper schattige grootmoeder Mamie!]

• We saw the elephants of the Pinnawela Orphanage bathing in the Maha Oya. Acting like Dora the explorer and walking down the river, we had an excellent view for free. It saved us 2000 Rps per person, an excellent idea.

An awesome trip, filled with love, joy and laughing! Thank you, my dear brother and my dear Fie, for coming all this way! The goodbye was heartbreaking and full of tears; but my other roommate did quite a good job of comforting me; and thinking about the great time we’ve spent together, I know I’m a happy and lucky young lady!

-For the record: Maxime and Sofie safely arrived in Schiphol, The Netherlands. But they are about to get back on the airplane: rain and 5°C.-

Lovely sister of mine, I hope you had an awesome skiing trip! To my dear parents, I’m looking forward to your coming; see you in 30 days!