Back to the coach for the short transfer to Independence Square where we were to mount – more climb into our Tuk-Tuks for a thrilling, if rather short tour of Colombo. Independence Square is dominated by an intricately carved and decorated colonnade over 100 metres in length set on a raised platform surrounded by flights of steps and overlooking a fountain garden that includes a huge statue of a meditating Buddha.
It was then into the Tuk-Tuks a name that derives from the sound of the two-stroke engines that power these nippy forms of transport. Tuk-Tuks, as I’m sure most of you know, are three wheeled ‘auto rickshaws’ to give them their full title, with a single seat in front for the driver and a rear seat for two.
Since there were 40 in our party it required the hiring of 21 (One for the Guide and our escort from he ship) Tuk-Tuks and we formed an impressive convoy of gaily decorated and customised vehicles as we set off into the rush hour traffic that largely seemed to consist of big 4x4 Land Cruisers and the like, all intent of pushing Tuk-Tuks off the road if they could.
It was rather like driving in a Go-Kart but with slightly less acceleration and cornering experience but for shear thrill of weaving in and out of the traffic and through the narrowest of spaces was a pretty jaw-dropping experience. It clearly takes a lot of concentration and lightening reflexes to avoid collisions and definitely a sixth sense about the intentions of any other drivers around you, let alone eyes in the back of your head – had to be since the rear view mirrors in out Tuk-Tuk were permanently swivelling on their mountings and of no value at all!!
I wasn’t really sure who was having the most fun – us or the drivers as they tussled with the traffic and scores of other Tuk-Tuk drivers to maintain their position in the convoy and give us the best opportunity of photos – fat chance with the Tuk-Tuk nipping in-and-out, swerving at the last moment to avoid instant annihilation! There was also a lot of friendly banter with co-drivers in the convoy and wry smiles at us as each driver carved across our bows with the whisper of a curse from our own driver who then took his revenge at the next opportunity!!
Many of the Tuk-Tuks had customised decoration, some serious with religious themes aimed at protecting the driver and occupants but others with a rather whimsical and tongue-in-cheek decoration like the two shown in the photos; one of which is decorated with ‘skulls and crossbones” and the other with the motto “All is Well” – a phrase with which the Captain always concludes his Mid-day report from the Bridge.
A bonus of taking the Tuk-Tuk ride in the late afternoon was that we caught the sunset along the beach on the way to a hotel for a reviving cup of tea.
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