2016 Dec 16
by Nikita Gomez
Some of us have been privileged enough to not only end up living in the beautiful commercial capital of Sri Lanka but also to grow up in it, meaning that we got to spend the best years of our lives surrounded by beautifully lit skyscrapers, the best roads (in most cases) , polluted air and the never ending yet Snapchat worthy traffic blocks ( I know I’m not the only one uses Snapchat to complain about the traffic blocks) we are forced to face every day of our life no matter what time of the day it may be. Growing up in Colombo is nevertheless a luxury we need to cherish however there are certain dilemmas or questions only you would face as a result of it.
$$$$$$
People assume you are rich just because of your residential area. Yes, granted most people who live mainly in the heart of Colombo do belong to the Upper Class, but that doesn’t mean everyone who lives in Colombo is and that is a common misconception. This also leads people to assume that you are too hi-fi for certain things such as eating thosai or koththu from kades on the roadside which is in fact false. I mean seriously?? How can you be picky when it comes to good street food?? Scratch that. . . How can you be picky when it’s FOOD?? (As long as it’s hygienic though)
Paddy Fields and Waterfalls are godayata magic
Colombo is pretty in its own way but bathing in a waterfall or walking through a paddy field (just like in the movies) are incomparable to anything in the city. We commercialized brats don’t get to do it often or have never done it. And when we do experience it, godayata magic doesn’t come close to describe the amazement we feel.
Singlish
It is no surprise that English is spoken more than our mother tongue here in Colombo. So much so that even when we do speak Sinhala we tend to incorporate English words thus bringing to you . . . wait for it . . . Singlish!!! For an example “gettuwa pahu karala navaththanna” becomes “gate eka pass karala navaththanna” which often prompts our tuk drivers to give us a side look. Even when we do speak good Sinhala it comes as a shock rather than a given. People are often surprised that we can string together a sentence let alone speak without our English accent. (I find this both insulting and a great opportunity to prove people wrong.)
The language in general
This also brings me to the fact that ‘Colombo Sinhala’ differs from the rest. A simple thing like “kumbi” is called “hinno” elsewhere. The same is seen in “Kimbula banis” which becomes “seeni kurulla” (making me wonder as to how they see a bird when it’s supposed to be a crocodile).
Street food is a delicacy
The typical paan and parippu or paan and pol sambol which is eaten almost daily by others all around the country are seen more as a backup plan when dinner goes wrong or as an option when you are too tired to cook. Koththu, Aappa, wade etc are often substituted by western dishes such as noodles, pasta, stew etc.
Aney that’s too far
Growing up in Colombo means you can easily access anything and everything no matter what the time is. Need a dress for an event? No worries! Odel is right around the corner. Got a sudden craving for burgers?? Take your pick from the closely located McDonald’s, Burger King or Sandwich factory.
Wherever you live in Colombo, chances are you can access anything you need instantly and have the added bonus of choosing from several options. So when we actually need to go somewhere which is even a little out of the way we complain. (Yes you do) for example going to Pettah or Fort is a JOURNEY for some of us rather than a simple drive (granted, if you are going by Public Transport it can feel like a journey) which brings me to my next topic;
Turn left, no no right !!
As we are used to our little Colombo bubble we are often great at directions within this perimeter. The problem arises when we need to go out of Colombo and travel on roads which don’t have sign boards as opposed to the Colombo road (although we choose to ignore certain signs like the ‘no U turn here’ sign or the Traffic Lights though they are clearly visible ). Certain roads can be rough and winding which can be tricky even for the best drivers.
Been there, Done that
Living in Colombo means that everyday there are always new structures in the works such as the newly constructed Race Course or the Arcade Independence to name a few. As we see them every day and are lucky enough to hangout at these places often, over time it becomes mundane. While most people who come from a far to experience it, we are easily bored with such places. For example take Independence Square where most of us go to enjoy walks and jogs ( or just use it as a good place to show off our sporty looking clothes ) forget the fact that it is one of the best places in Sri Lanka to travel to ( I guess it’s like the French people who see the Eiffel tower everyday). The same can be said about the scenic Galle Face Green (where most of us go once in a while to watch the sunset and eat delicious Koththu) and the Gangaramaya Temple (which is beautifully lit during vesak) to name a few.
Food comes first
Colombo being a tourist attraction means that not only is our scenery stunning but so is our food. Almost all the new restaurants always have their first branch in Colombo which means that we get to experience the food first. From Chinese to Thai to Indian to seafood to junk food (especially the junk food) and don’t forget the master chef worthy desserts!! You name it, we’ve eaten it. If you are a foodie like me, you wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
I guess this doesn’t only apply to food but also to the latest tech, clothes, shoes etc.
These are just a few signs that differentiate us Colombo people from the rest. Yes we may come across as spoilt brats who have everything but let’s face it, we do have certain advantages and opportunities no one else has and one should be proud to identify themselves as being bred in Colombo !
