Halfway 'round the World

This Colombo, Sri Lanka workshop really tops it for travel--48 hrs door to door with a 15-hour layover in Bangkok.  At least the transit hotel near the BKK airport was lovely.  We arrived after midnight and I was happy to collapse into a comfortable bed, even though there was a peculiar window looking into the bathroom.

After the 28 hours of flying, we slept hard and late.  Had the breakfast buffet and then headed off to explore the place.  Orchids were everywhere. 

There was a lovely swimming pool area and on the other side of the hotel, a garden with water features.  Very soothing.

We went to the airport around 4:00 in the afternoon and had an absolutely dreadful flight in coach, complete with screaming kids, uncomfortable seats, and Kent Biringer got a glass of apple juice spilled on him.  But at long last, after four hours of flying and another hour in a taxi, we got to our hotel.  The view from our room on the 25th floor was vast.

More to come...

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Yes, it's been a little while since I've been traveling.  However, this month takes Karl and me half way around the world to Sri Lanka, off the very tip of India.  It's a ridiculously long set of flights to get here from Albuquerque, but with a little luck, we got business class upgrades. 

After an overnight in Bangkok, we arrived in Colombo and set up for our workshop.  That's been going on very happily now for the past 4 days and seems to be a big success for Kent and Geoff.  Our foreign visitors have been very cordial and our local hosts have been terrific. 

Although we've been in the hotel almost all the time, Kent, Karl and I managed to get out briefly and go shopping for some of Sri Lanka's famous sapphires.  Caro will be surprised.  I'll post photos when I get home and can download them from the little Canon digital camera. 

Tonight is our farewell dinner and then we've got to be up and moving by the time the taxi comes at 4:00 A.M.  Friday will be just a short hop to Bangkok where we'll have an afternoon and an evening before an early departure to Tokyo, Los Angeles, and home. 

Stay tuned for photos in a couple days.