Colombo

The sleepy train station at Mt Lavinia

The busy market at Fort, the Colombo hub. 

Mt Lavinia is a lush tangle of lanes and houses thirty minutes south of Fort, the busy center of Colombo. Transport to Fort is either via frenetic buses on Galle Road or the wonderful train along the coast. Opt for the train at a measly 15 rupees a person. About ten cents.

The train station opens right into Fort's busy market district. The exotic mix of spices, fruits and vegetables makes for great walk-about.