Good afternoon from Colombo Sri Lanka

Hello everyone world wide and welcome this this travellers blog written on the road as we reach Sri Lanka today. We are at the ozo hotel situated on the sea from heading south out of the city towards Halle direction. We arrived after a so so flight with emirates it was never going to measure up to the flight from Manchester to Dubai although martins from gatwick wasn't anything to write home about. The aircraft was a Boeing 777 which was rubbish compared with the air bus which had lots more space and great seats the 777 were like a form of medieval torture. I met up with Martin at the exec lounge at Dubai and then again at the airport at Colombo which is now connected to the city by a brand new toll road with on a Sunday anyway no traffic at all we nearly had it to ourselves. I was through immigration in a few ticks very little fuss and our driver cum guide was thee to meet us. I really don't know what he makes of us but I think he already realises we are a lot more experienced than him and we have both visited the country before he was born. His family live in the toad north three hours along the track and we've let him take our main bags on ahead he'll stay with his family tonight and well meet him tomorrow up near Jaffna. It seems that in reality the train still hasn't reached the city it's about 10 miles out where it stops. He was quickly into the thick of it today as we ambled around the main bus stations and we wre amazed atvyheceffext privatised station or competition has had with hundreds of bus companies including owner drivers competing against a very down at heel government bus service. Considering it was a Sunday it was just right as there were thousands of buses but not much other traffic. My. Knee and martins ankle are both holding out so far at li much time we went to fort station and purchased our rail tickets for tomorrow. We are going on the 2.45 pm super all 1st class express to Jaffna it suits the planned schedule although a non air con would have been more atmospheric. We managed to suss out the best place for me to film the lorries or trucks which ever you prefer there is a road which I'd seen on google earth map and the light should be fine and most of the dock t traffic seems to head that way. I saw my first uk classic truck parked up from the minibus which well be getting to know better as the week goes on, well co ver Jaffna on Tuesday morning before we head to trincomallee . No hassles filing really just the occasional begged by t its nothing like India go r that and people are only at most mildly curious most are busy getting on with there work. The roads are much better although there are shanty towns most live in proper housing although no doubt well see the rural reality from our air con train tomorrow. I had a sit by the pool late afternoon and supped a beer enjoying the breeze its been sunny so far but sto rm should hit later and then hopefully clear again. Not sure what Martin will do in the morning there are no t many tickets discarded but they are all different and represent the various companies of which as stated there are very many