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550 days ago
I'd ordered breakfast in my room for 09:00-09:15 and it arrived bang on time. I went for the fish curry today and I have to say is was very enjoyable. I spent most of the day pottering about on the computer, writing up some notes from the last couple of meetings at work and watching the TV. There are around two dozen TV channels to pick from at the Trans Asia. I managed to catch the highlights of the Champions League Cup Final, the highlights of the Australia Vs West Indies and then live coverage of the England Vs New Zealand test match at old Trafford. The Trans Asia now has wireless internet access available and so I purchased a 24 hour ticket for US$12. To get the internet access sorted just ring the business center and they will send someone up to your room with the appropriate login ID and password. I managed to get a Skype connection to my wife Helen, who is back in the UK. This should save the company some money on telephone calls as I call her every ...
551 days ago
Another 12 months on and I'm back out in Sri Lanka for a short (2 weeks long) business trip. I set out with some trepidation as I had been booked to stay at the Trans Asia hotel, in Colombo, only a short distance from the recent suicide blast outside the Hilton hotel. I left on Tuesday afternoon (May 20th), from Birmingham International airport. The hire car drop off was directly adjacent to the airport and I was able to walk the distance to the terminal quite easily. I came out via Dubai, as opposed the a direct flight to Colombo in an attempt to split the long journey up and allow me to stretch my legs. Dubai airport is currently undergoing a lot of building work and the bus from the airplane to the terminal building was quite long, probably around 15 minutes. Dubai airport was extremely busy and I can see why they are looking at extending it as it was pretty overcrowded compared with my first visit around 4 years ago. Both flights were poorly attended and I'd guess ...
921 days ago
My alarm went off at 02:00 and I was able to get a cup of tea and watch the news before my wakeup call arrived bang on time at 02:30. It took just 10 minutes to check out and arrange a taxi to the airport; the taxi service being free for residents. The staff behind the desk at the Taj tried to convince me I was going to the airport too early. However, I insisted on leaving at 02:40 and was at the airport for 02:50. The airport was open but quiet. I was able to walk straight up to the check in desk and check in my luggage. I filled in my embarkation form and the queues were only a couple of people deep where you hand your embarkation form in. I headed straight up to the Palm Strip restaurant and bought a carton of orange. It cost just over 200/ - they do take SL Rupees. Be aware that some shops in the airport do not.
921 days ago
I have to say the breakfast this morning, which arrived promptly at 06:45, was a bit grim. My choice of beef curry proved to be uninspired as the beef was as tough as old boots. I contented myself with eating the milk rice with sauce from the curry poured over it. However, the King Coconut and tea were excellent. I went downstairs around 07:15 as I needed to checkout as tonight I was booked into the Taj Airport Gardens, a hotel much closer to the airport. It took around 10 minutes to complete the formalities. Martyn picked me up at 07:30 at the TransAsia. The journey into work today revealed a lorry had turned over on its side and crashed into a house at the side of the road. Whether anyone was hurt we couldn't make out as we drove passed. In the morning I briefed the local IT team on the new server and .NET 2005 plans and then Saman took me to the new factory we have just purchased. It is also located at Katunayake, a short drive from our two other Katunayake ...
921 days ago
Breakfast arrived in my room promptly at 07:00. Slight mistake in bananas arriving instead of banana milkshake but I had ordered tea as well so I wasn't too bothered. The chicken curry and string hoppers were excllent and I polished them all off. Martyn picked me up from the hotel. We had arranged for 07:30 but Martyn was already in the lobby when I got down at 07:20. The canteen had curried pork, which I think is one of the best meals they do. I managed to have a quick chat on the phone to my old boss in Sri Lanka, Jawaid, who has since left the company. Martyn dropped me back at the hotel and as England were playing the West Indies I decided to pop down to the Cricket Club Cafe to watch the match. AS yesterday I grabbed a Bajaj outside the Trans Asia and agreed a fee of 250/- to get there. The CCC had not changed at all and one of the waiters still remembered me from my time as a "regular" here. I grabbed one of the round barrel tables in the main bar, ...
