Unawatuna bound: Sri Lankan journey begins

It is barely 9:00AM and we are already sweating profusely. The second class compartment is spacious and comfortable, but the small fans attached to the ceiling do not seem to make any difference in the hot and humid atmosphere. However, the views outside the window provide plenty of distraction to the small discomforts of hot weather. The train is trudging lazily along the beautiful coastline, passing tiny villages on the way. We catch a glimpse of daily morning routines, children walking to school and dogs sprawled on the streets. There are fisherman and their colorful boats and a few bathers splashing in the shallow waters of the morning tide. We are on the way to Unawatunna, a tiny beach town located close to a much bigger city of Galle. We briefly check our phones: according to google maps, we have made it three quarters of the way so far. This is reassuring as we are hesitant to use the bathrooms on this local train, even though our bladders feel like they are about to burst. Nonetheless, this journey is all in good faith and we are happy. We are in Sri Lanka after all. 

We seem to be the only foreigners on the entire train. I cannot figure out whether this is due to the recent terrorist attacks or whether most travelers choose other means of transportation on this route. The train ride is costing us a whole $1.50 for the almost four hours it takes to get to Unawatuna from Colombo. Earlier this morning, while standing on the platform waiting for the train to arrive, a deaf man approached us unexpectedly and gesticulating strongly lead us to Class II wagon on the already very overcrowded train. He gestured to follow him and practically shoved us into the compartment, as people frantically jumped onto the still moving train. Once inside, the deaf man then placed a white paper and pen in my lap and asked me to sign it, giving him a tip of course. It’s not really like we had a choice at this point, but on the other hand we probably would have not known where to go. We gave him a 1000 rupee bill. 

I revel in delight as I pass the quickly changing landscapes before me. This is photographer’s paradise and I cannot be more thrilled. I just wish the train would slow down enough so I’d have a chance to document it all. Before we set out on this trip, I had many doubts. Even though Sri Lanka was topping the lists as the best destination to travel to in the current and coming years, the recent terrorist attacks have scared off many travelers and emptied all the popular tourist destinations. It took me a while to decide that I still wanted to come here in this uncertain time. But as soon as I committed to the destination, I knew I had made the right decision. And being on this train did not make me feel otherwise. The journey had just begun. Sri Lanka was slowly beginning to show me what she is all about. I have waited a long time to get here and now that I was in, I would immerse myself completely, letting my instinct dictate the path.