Ah, Sri Lanka! Pleasure seeing you again after 20 years, hehe 😉
My brother and I jetted off to Sri Lanka last month, primarily to attend a friend’s wedding, but we also aimed to relish the sights and sounds of the country, particularly Yarl (Jaffna), on our own terms. Right from the get-go, our excitement knew no bounds—it was an adventure we eagerly anticipated from day one! 😁
We chose to travel with Emirates, as that´s what we mostly prefer, and I wanted to give my brother a surprise by upgrading to Business Class on our flight back to Denmark 😌
But first, we had to travel to Colombo, right? 😉
The flight from CPH to Dubai was a bustling one, packed with 400 passengers but only 10 attendants on board. It was evident how tirelessly the attendants hustled to cater to everyone’s needs. Despite the challenging situation, I found their service commendable and was fully content. However, it saddened me to witness some passengers complaining needlessly, which felt incredibly unfair and disheartening 😵💫🥺
JIt got me contemplating the increasing self-centeredness prevailing in today’s society.
My brother shared the same sentiments and empathized with the attendants, recognizing their hard work. In a heartwarming gesture, he took the time to commend and uplift their spirits. It’s moments like these that remind me of his inherent kindness, and I truly admire him for it 🥹
During our Emirates transit in Dubai, our midnight landing left us with a brief two-hour layover before our next flight. Despite having dinner on the previous flight, hunger struck at that moment. Luckily, we stumbled upon a delightful North Indian Restaurant situated across gates C14-C16 in concourse C. The food was delectable, but alas, I forgot to jot down the restaurant’s name! 😅
As we are vegetarians, we chose each a meal and shared them. I chose a mixed veg curry, while my brother got a dhal. But honestly, I liked his dhal more than my mixed veg 😅😬
We were gearing up to board our next flight bound for Colombo when a BIG surprise awaited us! 😱
We were pleasantly stunned when Emirates surprised us with a free upgrade to Business Class! The sheer generosity left us in awe; we couldn’t fathom the reason behind it, but we were immensely grateful for how wonderfully Emirates treated us. It was an unexpected delight and an incredible way to kick off our journey. Have a glimpse! 😍🥰♥️
You get a welcome drink; you can either choose champagne, beetroot juice or orange juice, and we decided to go for a champagne. Cheers!
Let me tell you, flying in Business Class is an entirely different experience. The comfort, the top-notch service, and the absolutely delicious food—it’s on another level! Immensely grateful to Emirates yet again for the exceptional experience 🙏🏽🥹♥️🥰
Upon landing in Colombo in the morning, our dear uncle, Kumar mama, graciously picked us up. We headed straight to my cousin A’s place, where my uncle and aunt were also staying. It was an absolute delight reuniting with them after two decades! So much had changed—my cousin had tied the knot and they now have an adorable child. Unfortunately, her brother had relocated to another country, so we missed meeting him. Sweet cousin A came to my aid, assisting me in picking up a saree for an upcoming wedding we were attending in Yarl. The saree hunt was successful at Vasthralaya, by the way, all done online via video-calls!
Following a delightful and heartwarming lunch prepared with love by my sweetest Maami, my brother and I headed to Hotel Radisson in Bambalapitiya for a quick nap. We had plans to journey to Yarl in the evening, and our uncle was accompanying us, as he had some work to attend to in Yarl as well. Little did we know, the upcoming drive was going to be a lengthy and challenging one.
The friend who was getting married, had arranged a private minivan to ferry 12 travelers from Colombo to Yarl. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the most harrowing journey of our lives. The driver was reckless, careening through a relentless 9-hour drive without proper restroom stops. Despite my aunt preparing dinner for us, the driver refused to allow us to eat until my uncle intervened, demanding our right to dinner. To our dismay, the reckless driving even resulted in the tragic accident of a dog. I was seething with anger and frustration. I would strongly advise against opting for such private minivans. It’s a far better choice to consider a private bus or hire a dedicated driver solely for your travel needs!
Amidst the chaos of that disastrous drive, there was one silver lining – a brief stop at Murikandy Pillaiyar Kovil near Kilinochchi. It’s believed that seeking blessings at this temple before embarking on your journey ensures a safe passage. The temple itself was quite intriguing and added a unique twist to the otherwise eventful trip.
Finally we came to the hotel in Yarl, and we could finally breathe. Ahhhh.
