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27th & 28th January, 2014.
We will be back to Colombo at the end of this trip so time to move on. Breakfast at the Shalimar, paid the bill and then went for a wander around Town. Had lunch (Marsala Dosa) at a local eatery, changed (more) money at the Commercial Bank, found a Music Shop but no stock of the particular instrument my Brother Allen is looking for.
We caught the 3.55 p.m. Express-ish to Anuradhapura. As we had lashed out on seats in the private 40 capacity Expo Rail carriage we were looking forward to this trip.
Big mistake as it turns out - the Carriage was fine but I think there is something amiss with the actual railway tracks. Four hours of being jerked from side to side and back to front and the carriages slamming into the next join in the tracks.
In the beginning it was a worry [how much does it take for carriage wheels to jump the track?], then it became quite funny [watching numerous recently served meals slide off the trays and hit the floor} and in the end a bit painful. We were more than happy to stumble off the thing in the end. I don't know how the non Expo Rail passengers got on - some probably leapt from the windows to avoid the whole drama.
Before we got off the Train one of the very nice Stewards handed us a form to fill out to rate the trip and ask if we would use them again. On the basis that all trains use the same poorly aligned tracks we said 'yes' we loved the service but the ride was "a bit bumpy".
Out like a light at the Milano Rest House (a free pick-up was provided at the Railway Station, which we hadn't expected)
Up early this morning (the 28th) for Breakfast at the Guest House then off by Tuk Tuk for 5 hours of wandering the ancient sites in what was the Capital of the Country for about 1.500 years. Very interesting and so glad we made the Trek up here, notwithstanding the rough train ride.
Not sure but probably off tomorrow (by Bus) to either Dambulla or Kandy. I have to buy a hat now too - already sunburnt dammit.
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Ken The picture here shows the Breakfast area across the Courtyard from our (2nd room) at Shalimar.