Sri lanka - day one

We have arrived after a long flight through Dubai.  We walk out of the airport into a wall of moist heat.  Its only 5k I say.  That's not bad the crew responses.  We begin our walk heading the only direction we can which doesn't seem quite right but let's do it walk on folks.  Within no time tuk tuk after tuk tuk(a tuk tuk for those that don't know is a three wheeler with a box which holds 2 comfortably) stop us and tell us to get in.  I shake my head "no thanks, we are walking." Some time goes past and the girls are hot so a tuk tuk driver that has been stalking us for the last km or so finally pulls up.  We soon realize that our really close hostel is really close to the other airport.  40 km separate us and the group decides not to walk.  So we board the tuk tuk, all 4 us and gear. 

We reach our hostel, Colombo Lavinia Beach Hostel, and sign in.  4 beds, bug nets and a fan fills the room. An attached bathroom has all the fixings for a super clean ass, but don't flush the poopy tp. The shower has hot water that comes from an electric box that is accompanied by scorched marks.  The thought of electrocution while showering does make this boy strangely happy.  That night we went down to the beach to grab food and drink.  Crabs ran around our feet as we looked for grub. We found a great place and ate with our toes in the sand and the sound ocean crashing.  The beer is Lion which comes in a big bottle.  It is a lager at 4.8 % and doesn't taste too bad.  Sleep tonight sounds so good. 

Fes

The next  morning we awake and get breakfast from our great host Mohamed.  Bread, jam, cheese, butter, coffee and other goodies.  We then figure out the plan to reach the train station to get on the rails to Fes.  After a short walk and a few mistakes on the public bus system we find the train station and get ready for a ride.  As we ride through the heart of Morocco I wonder how life has sustained itself for as long as it has.  A dry barren land for a few hours opens up to a sparse grass field.  The buildings, a rainbow of sand colors, fill the sides of the rails once we reach the cities of Casablanca and Rabat.  Closing in on Fes we are looking in the LP and phone to find our hostel. Figuring out that the riad is within walking distance of the station we decided to make the trek. A few short moments later we are approached by a man and conversation begins. We quickly become aware that the hostel is not where think it was. The man makes a quick phone call to confirm he knows where the riad is. He then walks us out and snags 2 taxis and talks them down on price for us. Minutes later we arrival in the maze that is mid evil Fes. Our cabby tells us to get out in Arabic.  Now 4 white bread Americans stand in confusion on where to go from there. After a few moments of dumb stares the riad owner appears over a hill with 2 more lost Americans.  We say hello and make our way to dropping off the other gringos. Now our riad, much like everywhere else in Morocco is no less then 5-50 confusing turns on unmarked alleys. We reach our place to stay.  The room has photos of the owner family tacked on the walls.  A bed that dips in all the wrong places was where we were to sleep tonight. A quick peek on the rooftop terrace shows the Medina at night. This place looks confusing.  Sleep... Breakfast.  Bread, jam the usually and did I mention the mint tea. A sweet blend of mint and sugar comes at every meal, hotel and transaction. A high pour to create a little foam on top. This is how Morocco moves, mint tea.

We head out for the day.  As we hit up the tannery the smell of hides and pigeon poo becomes apparent.  

Just found this from last year we will add to it.

Morocco

Landing in Marrakesh we get out of the plane on the tarmac and see an old beautiful Arabic sign that says Marrakesh airport.  We trek through customs with ease and get a taxi.

We arrive in the medina and our host Mohamed met us.  He snakes us through alleyways and explains the numbers and signs to get us in and out. A maze of confuse after a long sleepless flight is all it seems. We come to a short old door with no markings.  This will be our home.  After a conversation with Mohamed we decide a nap is in order. When we awake its time for our first meal, cooked by Mohamed himself.   It is a pork tagine.  Cooked in a clay pot the meat and veggies mingle together to create a beautiful tender and tasty dish.  A few glasses of wine and dessert leaves us with only the Moroccan staple left for dinner, the mint tea.  A sugar water boiled then poured over fresh mint leaves.  It is quite good.  After dinner we make way to the square. Jamaa el Fna is the local market and meeting place.  Packed full of pushy locals trying to sell everything from lanterns to kebabs.

More to come.