Be ready for surprises, my tuk-tuk driver was a former movie star!…kind of like Crocodile Dundee!
What is a tuk-tuk? a three-wheeler open air that serves as a taxi. The three-wheeler many times is used as a transport little vehicle. The name “tuk-tuk” came about by the sound the transport makes….it is kind of a three-wheeled motorcycle. It is a very convenient way to travel, the tuk-tuks have space to sneak around all areas of the road.
Tony
In Colombo, Sri Lanka, you can hail for a tuk-tuk and or use a couple of phone apps to ask for one. Tuk-tuks are a major means of transportation in Sri Lanka. Besides being more affordable, they can go faster than cars in particular during rush hour. Tuk-tuks must drive on the left side of the road and they have a speed limit, although many tuk-tuks I took would have a hard time getting to the 40KM per hour speed limit.
I met Tony by chance while getting a tuk-tuk in Colombo. I had a very pleasant conversation and he was beyond professional in his demeanor. I asked him then if I could get a tour of a particular place in Colombo and he went way beyond his means.
When I was looking at his beautifully decorated tuk-tuk, I saw an interesting picture on the back of his vehicle. I then asked about the picture and he said: “it is me and the other actress on that picture.” He went on to tell me that he had been living in Australia and he was a movie extra and an actor in many movies that involved, of all creatures on earth, crocodiles!!!
We spent hours together touring around and running errands, in the meantime we discussed the issue of religion. Colombo had been through a few weeks prior on Easter Sunday 2019, one the most horrific terrorist attacks in history; the bombing of three Catholic Churches and three hotels. The Islamic terrorist attack was followed by other bombings in other locations in the country.
We both agreed that people are people and that the folks who had done these atrocious attacks were not really Moslems, they had no religion. He added that his religion condemned this type of behavior. The attacks caused a rise in discrimination against Moslems in the country.
Here is a bit more about TOny who even lit up an incense stick and placed it on his tuk-tuk. Tradition says that incense brings peace and a sense of calmness, a great recipe for prayer meditation and protection.
Don’t hesitate to call Tony if you are ever in Colombo! I am definitely calling him back on my way back to SL!
