“Journeys are the midwives of thought. Few places are more conducive to internal conversations than a moving plane, ship or train. There is an almost quaint correlation between what is in front of our eyes and the thoughts we are able to have in our heads: large thoughts at times requiring large views, new thoughts new places. Introspective reflections which are liable to stall are helped along by the flow of the landscape”
Alain de Botton
London | Heathrow
For those who have not met me. Let me describe to you what I look like. 5 foot 10, 11 on a good day. Thin - athletic in the right light. Thick black eyebrows. A large nose with large nostrils (i can, with ease, fit my entire thumb into one nostril). Strong face bones, including those above my eyebrows. Designer stubble, but more Reebok than Versace.
India | New Delhi
"Don't worry, I'm not selling anything. Just want to help. Which your country? How long you stay? You want rickshaw, local price?"
Sri Lanka | Colombo
Our first hotel was called Sunrise Boutique, but on arrival we were offered a room in their sister hotel, which was closer to town, and at the time of writing was nameless. We were greeted by Darryl (with two r's), friendly faced and helpful. You'd trust him with your wallet, that sort of guy. But I only say this in hindsight - when we first met he offered us some watermelon juice, which I thought he may have been drugged, so he could steal our passports and rape us.
Sri Lanka | Unawatuna
The train was 15 minutes late arriving - nobody seemed to care. On the platform, two British men were talking to each other. The words muffled behind the noise of the station, but their gestures suggested that they were old friends. Without realising it seemed that they were drifting closer towards to us. They probably heard us also speaking in English. Throughout my body, and all over my skin, I sensed that the boundaries of my privacy were about to be invaded, except it wasn't an invasion, through accidental gazes and faux smiles I had hit 'send to all' on an invitation to a party that I was hosting, that I really didn't want to attend.
Sri Lanka | Galle
We continued to walk down the ancient streets, and were stopped by an elderly Muslim man who looked like a caricature or a friendly sage or preacher. He spoke good English, although slow and broken at times, and wore a face of constant relief. He was calm to be around. He explained how he was converting his home into a fast food shop, and that his day job was 'Professor in Gemmology'.