I used to call here in the 70’s, on a small cargo ship, loading cases of tea before we’d move on to the next port or anchorage and do the same. It has obviously changed nowadays; new breakwaters further out to sea, (although the ‘old’ entrance is still there, the one we used to use). Container berths make up the majority and a huge new basin, being dredged and built during our earlier calls on the Amsterdam, is now complete and in use.
We had a glorious sunrise as we made our way towards the pilot station.
Moving between the anchored ships, waiting their turn for a berth, we joined the buoyed channel and made our entrance, berthing at the Cruise terminal.
Overview
The ‘old’ entrance
The entrance ahead
Nearly through the entrance, container berths everywhere
‘Parked’ and the view ahead. The odd-looking building to the right is a Stupa, or temple.
The stalls are waiting for an influx, the owners laying their tables with wares.
The view astern, container cranes await for their ‘customers’, container ships which will berth soon after us.
A jaunt ashore for some photos of the sights, the city a short taxi ride away.
The Roman catholic church, circa 1700’s
The Dutch reform church, circa 1650
One of 20 gravestones still visible, this young man drowned in an accident
Yellow fever took many, graves were marked with ages in their 20’s and many young children. This one attracted my attention, for he was a ‘gunpowder maker’
Governors and commanders during the 17th and 18th century
The ‘Red mosque’
A coconut seller
A shawl seller
Want a suitcase? Plenty of choices here.
Karen and Linda about to hi-jack a tuk-tuk?
Chicken-in-a-basket? A cobra awaits
Or a python
Although a Sunday, most of the stalls were open
Ubiquitous tuk-tuk’s, (taxis)
A Hindu temple
And the street in which it lies.
Beautiful colours and materials
We departed Colombo at 6 p.m. and are now on our way towards, Kochi, or Cochin as it was formerly known. Another port from my 70’s days and on this ship, a far cry from the lovely vessel I command now. 
