When I visited Sri Lanka last November 2014, compliments of Cinnamon Hotels, I took a walk along a place called Galle Face.
This is a picturesque walk along a huge grassy area next to the oceanfront in downtown Colombo. You can see it in the distance in the photo below.
I found it as I was on a random walk with one of the locals. I fell in love with the place as its quite picturesque and seems to be a favorite place for the locals.
Little did I know what else its famous for. Read on…
Galle Face from the Sky Lounge at The Kingsbury in Colombo, Sri Lanka
One thing you immediately notice is that there are a lot of couples sitting on the benches with umbrellas even though it was not raining or had any intention to do so. So I started walking along and talking with them as I do when I travel. They are very timid and it took all I had to start a conversation. Some were more friendly than others. The girls rarely spoke to me.
I thought they were sheltering from the sun, but later their secret was revealed when I shared my experience with some local Sri Lankans. They were quite shocked that I’d spoken to them; amused really.
You see, in Sri Lanka, young couples are not allowed to live together until they marry; so what would any young love birds do? You guess it, they go to Galle Face with an umbrella and kiss behind it. No different from forbidden love in any place on earth. You can’t keep true love apart.
Love in Sri Lanka – A couple walks in Colombo
This does not only happen in Galle Face, I saw a couple in Galle, a seaside town; Negombo, another seaside town; walking on the streets of Colombo and even next to the trains in Kandy.
Love in Sri Lanka – Couple Leaving in Galle, Sri Lanka
Love in Sri Lanka: It’s A Little Different – Hanging on Negombo Beach at Jetwing Blue
Love in Sri Lanka: It’s A Little Different – Hanging on Negombo Beach
Love in Sri Lanka – Train to Colombo From Kandy
Happy St. Valentine’s Day to the young lovers in Sri Lanka and to you all as well.
Comments 12
Ah so you were just naturally curious to see what is happening behind those umbrellas on a sunny day, definitely a very inexpensive option that happens all over SE Asia 🙂
Author
Thank you.
I’m like a kid in a candy store when I travel @Noel.
I see you remember our walk well :-).
Kerwin.
http://www.Passrider.com
http://www.Facebook.com/Passrider
Ah so you were just naturally curious to see what is happening behind those umbrellas on a sunny day, definitely a very inexpensive option that happens all over SE Asia 🙂
Thank you.
I’m like a kid in a candy store when I travel @Noel.
I see you remember our walk well :-).
Kerwin.
http://www.Passrider.com
http://www.Facebook.com/Passrider
The Asian culture is in some respects similar to the African culture..most people stay with their parents till they get married..( that is if the parents are based in the capital and people are working there). If parents are based in the village then that’s a different story, though in my country in recent times things have changed so much, there’s a rising middle class in Kenya with a lot of money in their accounts to splash around so pretty much people live as unmarried partners, a concept that has become so popular that our government has legalized it, if people stay together for longer than six months they are by law considered married and if they separate, there are rights to be enjoyed by each party such as property, alimony if here are kids etc. As well polygamy is legalized (so a man can take many wives), though polyandry is not..the concept of married men having mistresses has become quite normal in Kenya possibly due to the rise in socio-economic status. A little crazy!
Author
Caroline,
Thank you for the perspective; I’ve learned a lot here indeed.
In Jamaica, there is common-law marriage as well, but I don’t know the length of time they have to be together.
Kerwin
http://www.Passrider.com
http://www.Facebook.com/Passrider
The Asian culture is in some respects similar to the African culture..most people stay with their parents till they get married..( that is if the parents are based in the capital and people are working there). If parents are based in the village then that’s a different story, though in my country in recent times things have changed so much, there’s a rising middle class in Kenya with a lot of money in their accounts to splash around so pretty much people live as unmarried partners, a concept that has become so popular that our government has legalized it, if people stay together for longer than six months they are by law considered married and if they separate, there are rights to be enjoyed by each party such as property, alimony if here are kids etc. As well polygamy is legalized (so a man can take many wives), though polyandry is not..the concept of married men having mistresses has become quite normal in Kenya possibly due to the rise in socio-economic status. A little crazy!
Caroline,
Thank you for the perspective; I’ve learned a lot here indeed.
In Jamaica, there is common-law marriage as well, but I don’t know the length of time they have to be together.
Kerwin
http://www.Passrider.com
http://www.Facebook.com/Passrider
Thanks for posting these wonderful pictures. They sure took me way back to my past. Also thanks Caroline for your comments.
Author
You are welcome @Jayantha.
Kerwin.
http://www.Passrider.com
http://www.Facebook.com/Passrider
Thanks for posting these wonderful pictures. They sure took me way back to my past. Also thanks Caroline for your comments.
You are welcome @Jayantha.
Kerwin.
http://www.Passrider.com
http://www.Facebook.com/Passrider