Music website of Christopher Tinker

I have been robbed. Well, it was bound to happen on a tour like this. The man took my sum of money to exchange it for me, and never reappeared – I gave him half an hour and gave up. I liked him, he had spent an hour and a half with me. I had asked for money to be exchanged. He knew a ‘good place’.

Now, before I continue this saga, I must remind myself that Sri Lankan rupees were available nowhere, not Ipswich NatWest, not even Singapore Airport – just nowhere. So, I said to this man, where can I exchange sterling? No problem, he said, and offered Rp265 to the pound, a good rate. I accepted, but also promised myself that if he wanted to take the money out of my sight,, I would say no.

And then I fell for his trick. He sat me down, and promised to be back soon with the rupees. I waited, I remembered our tour, our handshakes, him taking photos of me, the welcome he gave me. The minutes passed, I gave him 30 minutes, and then realized I was the victim of a very unfair deal. He now has the money.

Dare I say it, well earned in a way – he got me. A triumph for him. But I am not a nasty westerner, like some. I hope he awakens in the night really sad about what he did to me. But, it won’t keep me awake, for sure, and next time I am in church I shall remember his wonderful tour, and I shall pray that he connsiders his dishonesty.

Be assured though, that the sum he took was vastly less than I would have paid in England’s capital for the tour he gave me of Colombo, so it’s quits. It doesn’t bother me. I am paid to be here. A small sacrifice. But I have learned!

Earlier, I took the train from Wellawatte to Fort, and then hired a man to take me to Main Street. Now Main Street is hardly like Oxford Street. It is simply humming with tiny stores (not big stores), and I was assured pickpockets were around every next corner.

I was walking along when the robber accosted me and said that for 2000 rupees (about £10) he would show me Colombo, and he did. I shall download pics on this website. Buddhist Temple, Victoria Gardens with a special guide who showed me many fine trees, including a cinnamon tree (I was also given leaf and bark with a terrific aroma), and he made huge bats fly out of the trees for me. The tour continued well, special photoshot of pelicans in their natural environment, feeding an elephant.

I couldn’t have wished for a better view of Colombo from this new style of rickshaw, motorized. I loved it, and losing the money meant nothing compared with the pleasure I had – but I feel sorry for the man, born the same year as me, four offspring, we had shaken hands, smiled at each other - how could he ? Well he did, and it’s his problem, as my wonderful wife would say. But I must be less trusting of people. I have always been too trusting. A fault. Another area for my development.

I take a train back from Colombo to the hotel district I am in, and it is like a cattle train, hot as hell and built in the 30s I should think. But this is what I want, something different, I am not complaining! I have espied an Indian restaurant near my hotel at which I may dine at later – and hope it is as good as the ones I know in Wolverhampton. And shall I dream of robbers? - I hope not...