01:30am Dubai time, 22:30 bodyclock time, connecting flight 02:40
Dubai airport is MASSIVE and super busy at this early hour. Security was like being in Lidl. Rushed through the tills with bells ringing and beepers beeping, no one actually giving a hoot about the security lights flashing, grab your bags and get out of the way. There’s efficient and then there’s super efficient. But it was also faceless and robotic.
No welcome to Dubai pleasantries, just go.
It’s 25C here in the early hours and although we’re in an air conditioned terminal, it’s still sticky.
Terminal 3 has everything. You could like here (there are at least two hotels airside) and every western fast food chain, cafe and restaurant you could think of.
It’s a weird transient place, full of people midway through their journeys. Everyone here is on different time zones, which is really weird. Some dozing in the lounge, some having breakfast and many eating. It’s currently Ramadan so nighttime is eating time for some. Even on our flight over from London, there were two dinner sittings, one after what would be dusk at London time (although it was daylight outside). Very confusing.
As a flight goes, Emirates is well up there. Comfy economy seat, good food and drink, and exceptional service and the loos didn’t smell! Little things like cologne and hand cream in the loos.
90 minute turn around for us then off to Colombo for an early landing.
Arrived in Colombo at 08:20 local time and everything stepped onto Sri Lankan time. Crazy queues at immigration, an age for luggage to arrive but our driver from ‘Less Taxi’ was there waiting at the airport. A quick hell raising trip straight to TukTuk Rental for 10am.
Yes, tuktukrental.com is a thing!
Then the fun started. So bear in mind that our body clocks are saying it’s 4:30am and we’ve had limited sleep and we’re (Mrs Dude’s) straight into a hands on TukTuk lesson. After a very welcoming initial meeting and some very strong coffee, we were issued our Sri Lankan driving licences and were shown how to do basic repairs on our very own Kermit the Frog. Our very patient instructor showed us the ropes and even gave us a spare clutch cable (what does he know that we don’t).
Mrs Dude was pooping herself before the lesson but afterwards, she was shifting like a pro.
We were warned about how the police work and will target tourists for speeding. That there are two types of police. The honest ones who take your licence, issue a fine and you need to go to the post office, pay the fine and then find the officer to get your licence back, and the others who just want a cash bribe. We were told to say no and ask for the post office penalty.
A few hours later Mrs Dude, Kermit and I are let loose on the A3 through Negombo. Max speed limit 40kph, dual carriageway with trucks, buses and livestock.
And bam. A rather plump Officer steps into the road and asks me to pull over. With a big smile on my face and looking very apologetic, he told me off not for speeding but for overtaking too long in the inside lane, aka lane hogging as I was more than 10 metres from the moped I overtook. I guess they haven’t heard of the 2 second rule here.
Anyway, he said the fine was 2000slr (£5). I asked if I can have the ticket and go to the post office but a little sweet talking later, the officer was 2000slr richer and we were on our merry way!
Just checked into Hotel Cloud 9, with aircon (thank goodness) and a pool, but we need to crash for a bit before meeting a friend for dinner.
If you’re wondering how much luggage you can get into a Tuktuk. It’s one big rucksack, 2 roll on cases, a smaller rucksack, handbag, passenger and there’s still space for more. All bike locked together for visible security.
Travel Dude 