Colombo Days: Fish Market Strolls & Classic English Breakfast 🐟

1. My first morning in Sri Lanka began with a quick wash-up, still (empty-stomached) but eager to soak in the soft, humid kiss of the tropical morning air. Arriving late the night before, I hadn’t explored the villa’s courtyard properly—so I lingered for a moment, savoring the quiet. Soon, our driver arrived; our plan: hit the fish market first, then return for breakfast. We chatted easily on the way—his English was sharp, likely from working with Gerry. He shared that his son was studying computer science in Italy, and he’d poured everything into his education. “Will he stay abroad?” I asked. “No,” he said firmly, “he’ll come back. Work in Colombo.” ❤️ 2. Turns out, Negombo has two fish markets. One sits by the sea, where freshly caught fish are loaded onto trucks or laid out to dry under the sun. The other, near the harbor, is where most catches are sold to locals. The seaside market wraps up early—our car circled the entrance briefly before moving on. All the photos I took? They’re from the larger, busier harbor market. 🐟 3. The market hit me first with its pungent fishy aroma. Tangled wires hung haphazardly overhead, while flocks of large white birds hopped and soared, eyeing scraps. Small stalls lined the entrance, each featuring a uniquely South Asian sight: a heavy knife fixed to a table or the ground, used by pushing the food *onto* the blade. It was crowded, with a few other Asian tourists mingling. I marveled at the sharks, stingrays, and tuna bigger than me—though locals mostly bought smaller, everyday fish. I’ll share a video of it later; some moments feel too vivid for words. 🦈 4. Outside the market, tuktuks buzzed, and glass-fronted carts sold bread. Though Gerry had prepped breakfast, I couldn’t resist a snack: a (stuffed) bread roll, salty with what tasted like local pickles, plus a mandatory samosa. The vendor spoke no English—I had no clue the price—but our driver handled the haggling smoothly. Simple, delicious, and a perfect little taste of local life. 🥯 5. Back at the villa, I rinsed my feet with the South Asian-style bidet spray (a must after market floors!) and wandered the courtyard, waiting for breakfast. Gerry’s love for Michael Jackson was obvious—he’d even named his big black dog after the icon. 🐶 6. Breakfast was a glorious spread: authentic English fare with crispy toast, fried eggs, sausages, and *incredible* waffles 🧇, plus a vibrant fruit platter. But let me gush: the papaya (called “babaya” here) and its juice? Life-changing. I’d never tasted such sweetness. Over the meal, Gerry shared stories: growing up as one of 9 kids, selling goods on the street at 9, dodging police by tossing merchandise between brothers. He laughed recalling a Chinese guest who’d bought a whole tuna at the market and asked him to cook it—he’d panicked! By the end, his kind elderly staff member snapped a photo of us. She was wonderful—more on that in later entries. 🍳 #RestaurantRecommendations #Colombo #FishMarket #Masala #EnglishBreakfast