First impressions of Sri Lanka

Hi everyone,
so this is my first blog from Sri Lanka. My first impressions are really good. There are a couple of differences from India that are obvious from the off. First is the lack of rubbish all overr the place. It is so clean here. Also the fact that all vehicles, cars and lorries, have both wing mirrors. Such a strange sight coming from India. The thrid thing that struck me is that all the people on the motorbikes wore helmets. I mean everyone, even the children. I have a feeling that this country is going to be enjoyable. A really embarassing thing happened to me in the ariport when we arrived. We were heading to the baggage reclaim and I heard music playing and started doing a little dance (as you do). Only then did I realise that everyone in the entire hall was standing to attention. They were playing the Sri Lankan national anthem. I nearly died. I then started giggling and couldn't stop. Colin was the same as me and couldn't dare look at me or he would have burst out laughing. I sure know how to make an entrance. When we arrived in Colombo city the amount of security was unreal. I wasn't expecting it at all. On our way into the city our bus was pulled over by the police and everyone was ordered out and their ID checked. We didn't know what was going on but we were told to stya in the bus. Then this guard with an uzi climbed into the bus and asked to see our passports. He was really friendly. We were walking around the city and every 100 metres or so there was a police checkpoint. We were not allowed to photo the parliament building or anything but again they were all seriously friendly. We got chatting to this retired Navy officer who seemed a bit crazy but a nice guy. We went for a beer with him and he was offering to send tea home to the folks back home. We gracioously declined his offer. The place we stayed in was a YMCA. yes, yes, I can see you all laughing now but it was the cheapest place we could find in a short space of time. We giot exactly what we paid for. It was the worst place we have ever stayed in. i got eaten alive by mosquitos (no mosquito net) and the size of the cockroaches was wicked. THey must have been at least an inch and a half long. His death was quick and painless. Never again will we be staying in a YMCA. Roll on the rest of this country