I had the wonderful opportunity of taking a very nostalgic walk from The Fort to The Pettah, reminiscing the days we spent there in the 50s, 60s, & 70s.
Started at the Hilton and walked up Hospital Street turning into Chatham Street behind Ceylinco. It was nice to see the new food arcade where the Dutch Hospital once stood. Jaffna Hotel, who served the most yummy crab curry and rice was gone. A lot has changed with construction still going on in many places.
Turned up towards the clock tower and took the right towards Chartered Bank. Its a Presidential Secretariat now. Upper Chatham Street is cordoned off for traffic and commuters.
No more Nanking Hotel, Marikar Bawas, and many other stores we used to haunt.
Turned down Bailie Street and took the walk along Cargill's Arcade. So sad to see the place in such a desolate state compared to what a bustling bazaar it used to be then.
Apothecaries building is under renovation.
Trudged along the new Chartered Bank HO, where Grindlays once used to be, and walked down to The Pettah along Leyden Bastion Road.
Ghafoor building is undergoing renovations. On inquiry from the Thamby shopkeepers around they said its been sold to the Navy.
No more Caves. No Mymoon. No Bristol building. Found out later that Mymoon is now located on the basement of the new building in Bristol Street.
Was pleasantly surprised to see Hunters and Wimaladharma Bros still at the same spot at the entrance to Main Street.
Walked down all the way to 3rd X Street and took a peek at all three side roads. It seems the textile retailers have taken over the businesses from the Hardware merchants of yore.
Next, walked across to Olcott Mawatha all the way to the main bus terminus, crossed the street and went over to the Fort Railway Station.
Many were the times that Sameer Appa took us back home, after the monthly pension run, by train to Wella, to pass by Lily Avenue and then back to 298 at Bamba.
The urge to take the train was too much to resist. So, I walked up to the ticket counter and looked at the time table. There were two trains scheduled down south. One to Matara and the other to Aluthgama.
Bought a ticket to Dehiwela, Rs 15/-, and went up the stairs to platform #5.
The Matara train came first. It was packed like Sardine, mainly with tourists travelling to Galle. Managed to creep in and had to stand.
It was an awesome train ride. And then it dawned on me that it was an express train as it did not stop at Slave Island, Kollu, Bamba, Wella or Dehiwela. Phew!
First stop was Mount. I hurriedly got out and hooked out of the station before being booked for over running my ticketed destination.
All in all it was a fantastic ride through the windmills of my mind.
Must try and do this again with a group, hopefully.
Maybe we can eat lunch in a hole in Pettah too, like Gaalee Nana's down Reclamation Rd if it has still survived?
Royal Sweetmeat Mart was closed.
Colombo, Jan 9, 2019
