May 9,

Today, we are in Dikwella, but we have put aside this day to go back to Colombo, the capitol city. We have to go to the Immigration Office to pay for our visa extensions. They were approved – like two days after we arrived and Jeff had completed the online application. But he never received the notification of payment for the visas. Hence, the need for this day – to go and pay. Jeff woke me at 0530. We head out to catch the first link a 0605 bus to Matara, a 30 minute non AC venture. The bus driver had music going, so if you weren't awake you are now. At the bus station in Matara we found the second link  bus to get us near the Immigration Office. This bus is AC and is about one hour and thirty minutes long ride. This driver is more sedately driving, probably because the roads are much nicer, straighter and four lane divided highway type. There is more cliffs and dramatic terrain than I expected. It was a pleasant ride. 

We arrived in Pattaramulla, a suburb of Colombo, which is the closest to our destination the bus goes. So we grabbed a tuk-tuk to take us the third link (and last coming) seven and a half miles. He dropped us off on a main street about a block away. We were right at an Indian Dosai restaurant – we'll come here to eat after taking care of business. It is now 0902.

We trekked over and had to meander and find which building and entrance to go to – receiving some direction from a guard, helped some. In the right building, we went to the big entry desk and asked where to go. The kind lady motioned over to the elevator and told us the fourth floor (she has probably had this question asked of her fifty times already, in just this half hour that they have been open. Anyway, on the “visa” floor markings are available, but nothing for payment area. We had to go through – pretty much – a mid way process. They verified our online approval and then took our passports to add the visa in it. Now, we were directed to the payment area. They took credit card, so we paid and got out of the maze of Government Bureaucracy! All told only 45 minutes!!!! Newly stickered visa in our passports, it was way quicker than either of us anticipated!

We went out and back to the Indian Dosai restaurant. We were hungry, getting two dosai's: one onion, one cheese. The onion one was red onion & spicy! The cheese one was creamy & cheesy with green onion! So the cheese dosai gave balance to the zing from the onion dosai. As we were waiting for our order, one of the workers brought us X4 Vadai's: (X2 Marsala Vadai, X2 Ulundu Vadai) which are deep fried savory donut-type-fritters(?)  It was a misunderstanding, but we accepted them, and ate them. Great breakfast! We also had a big cool water. Finished we paid and began the return haul back to Dikwella in reverse. Only thing worthy to mention – the non AC bus. It was packed as in people standing all in the isle. This makes for difficult exiting and new ones boarding, but they manage – “taint nothin' new”. But it is crazy, nonetheless!

We arrived back by 1430, deciding to go to the grocery store first. Then back to our 'home'. It was hot.  We were both sticky and stinky – just needed to relax and attempt to cool down for some siesta time. Jeff also needed to let his foot get air and prop it up, so says the nurse. 

We went back out around 1700 for dinner. Decided to go to a beach restaurant, The Freedom Place. We sat on a little table on the beach enjoying the surf-tide rolling in. We had a glorious sunset unfold as we ate grilled tuna with rice, french fries, and a slaw-type salad, while Jeff enjoyed some beer, and I had a pineapple rum drink. It made for a peaceful beautiful end to a crazy travel day!