I write on the 22nd, making our way towards the harbour of Victoria, on the island of Mahe, Seychelles. We pass through one of the channels (the 1½° channel, so named because of its latitude), of the Maldive Island chain later this evening and then head west-south-west towards Mahe.
I had arrived in Colombo an hour earlier than scheduled, having been told that if I were to do so, I would have the prime berth, the Passenger Jetty in favour of another cruise ship that was also due that day. Once ‘parked’, we were greeted with local dancers and much music. Unfortunately, my arrival video cut-out before we actually reached the berth, however I’m sure you’ll get the idea 🙂
Colombo Harbour, with our track
Google earth, the arrow marks our berth
Our approach
Approaching the breakwaters of the ‘old’ harbour
Past the Container berths, towards or berth
From the Bridge, one could view a panorama of the city, the new port and the old.
This used to be the Passenger terminal, now used to house port authority personnel
At the new (reclaimed) port, a dredger is ‘rainbowing’. Blowing masses of sand to build the foundations
The Red Fort in the city
A new communications tower
I seldom go ashore here, however today we made the effort to go to Galle, on the south coast of Sri Lanka. Here lies a Unesco World Heritage site, the fort of Galle; originally built by the Portuguese when they came in search of spices, particularly cinnamon. The Dutch then came along, ousted the Portuguese after bitter fighting and they extensively fortified the bastion, still known as the “Dutch Fort”. It was a 2-hour drive, initially through Colombo’s crowded streets, where the traffic lights are all on ‘amber’ and the bravest wins at junctions, it’s a madhouse!
The garbage is collected on trailers, towed by a tractor.
On a back-street, tuk-tuks vie with each other for space, “who dares, wins” (No, it’s not a one-way street, there just happens to be nothing coming the other way)!
Once clear of the city, a 2-lane motorway took us the 100 kms south to Galle. We passed rubber-tree, Palm oil and Cinnamon plantations….
Cinnamon trees, (or is it ‘bushes’)?
The Dutch Fort, Google Earth
Under the entrance arch
Leading through the Main gate
The fort has the sea on 3 sides now, however, judging by the fortifications, ramparts and cannon emplacements, it probably had sea around it, or almost. It has narrow streets, red-tile houses and is (obviously) a popular tourist destination.
The ‘Flagrock’ Bastion
Looking east, towards the Flagrock bastion, this taken atop another bastion near the lighthouse
Taken from the Flagrock towards the lighthouse Bastion
The cannon emplacement at a Bastion
Waters surrounding the fort are crystal-clear, coral growing in this one
A snake-charmer awaiting his 400 rupee fee before he gets the cobra out
taken from the fortified seawall, looking towards the town
A peacock perched on a verandah
An entrepreneur awaits the tourists
The fortifications for the Dutch fort itself, at the north end of the promontory. Looking towards the north-west corner
Model soldiers stand guard near the old barracks
From atop the battlements, a jolly game of cricket takes place far below. (I know, not all of you know the rules…they’re complicated) 🙂
A wonderful curry for lunch and a wander through the streets.
The restaurant where we ate had a beautiful courtyard and bedrooms either side of it.
A Buddhist monk, sheltering from the sun by his umbrella
A close view of a tuk-tuk
I learned to drive in one of these, a Morris Minor, circa 1960!
After a wonderful day, albeit rushed because of the long journey there and back, we returned to the “Amsterdam” in time for a welcome shower and then our departure. Astern out of the berth, a 180° swing off the container berth and out of the harbour. We then had to negotiate anchored ships before we could set a course for the 1½° channel.
