Stu Ti Sri Lanka ( my small notes of Sri Lanka )

So i have this tickets to Maldives and fortunately it's a connecting flight from Colombo the Capital of Srilanka. I was really excited and confused in the same time. I was confused because the lack of information about Sri Lanka. It's not a common destinations for Indonesian traveler i think.

My Flight to Jakarta from Maldives was landed at Colombo International Airport in Sri Lanka at 14.45 PM and due to the information i have gathered, i need to have a transit visa. I applied the visa online so effortlessly  and i got two days transit visa which i thought is enough because i need to catch up for my flight back to Jakarta the next day, early in the morning.

Let's just say that I might not have enough chance to see Colombo, but yes i think i have made my opinion based on those little thing I've seen. Colombo is the only city where you can't take a picture with Buddha as your back ground. If you wish to take a picture with Him, make sure that you are facing Him. the locals says that you will get bad luck if you don't do so.

I have been visiting some city with Buddhist ambiance influencing the locals daily life, let's just say Macau, Hongkong and Bangkok. One thing in common between these three city is how clean they are. I don't see people throwing garbage irresponsibly all over the city. It's so amazing. It's beyond my imaginations. I was thinking that it will more like India where people throw garbage wherever they want. one thing that makes Colombo different is that here in Sri lanka Buddha can blend very nicely with the Hindus God. This picture will show you a perfect example of the harmony. 

In this picture you may see Ganesha, the God of Knowledge in Hindu's literature can be placed next to Quan Im goddess statue. Well i guess it is true that whatever your religion is, as long as you believe it and walk on it, differences are not a  big issue. 

Colombo is also known as the capital city of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka it self means a beautiful Island. Full of precious gems  and yes it's true. I went to the independence monuments and then i get stunned by how beautiful the place is. The monument stood tall and amazing. As you walk in you will find lot of Singha or Lion statue surrounding the complex. Why lion? apparently lion is Sri Lanka national symbols as Garuda in Indonesia. Then i had my self a walk a little  bit to the east where there is this old but very well maintained gold-ish building is located. The building is so European. Very nice and fancy. I thought  it was a museum, but i was wrong, it was a shopping arcade completed with pub and bar. It's a very unique way to keep the past in present..."you just have to change it and make it as a mall, then the people will always come" that's simple.

I just wish that i have more time to explore this beautiful country. Wish to be back here one day in the future.