Keeping our hotel rooms (because we planned to be back in the evening), we departed Paya Lebar early in the morning. During the climb-out, we gt some great views of Malaysia. Our route took us across the Indian Ocean to Sri Lanka. I never thought I would get to see this place - it definitely isn't a holiday resort... People in Colombo are very edgy and there were lots of guns. One of the handlers showed us where the Tamil rebels had hit the airport within a few yards of where we were parked. I got taken (again, at gunpoint) to the weather office. Meanwhile, Brant coordinated the fueling. Needless to say, I was glad to get out of town... Our flight back to Singapore (reverse route from the morning) was uneventful. After landing, we went back to the Holiday Inn (Park View Singapore). For dinner, we wanted to have a real authentic experience, so we asked the concierge where we should eat. He recommended a place called "Lei Garden Seafood Restaurant." We had to walk a few blocks over to a tall building - it looked like an office complex. We followed his instructions exactly, including an elevator ride and following a maze of hallways. Just when we thought we had been duped, we saw a man standing at the end of the hall - wearing a tuxedo. When he saw us coming, he ran inside and reappeared with another man. We were led into the room - everyone was Asian and wearing suits and dresses (compared to our shorts and t-shirts). They were good sports, though, and we were soon seated at a huge table in the back. There was only one menu - with eight different courses. Everyone agreed and the food - Peking Duck, crab, chicken, and more (along with Tiger Beer) - started flowing... We stayed late (2300L) but the cost ended up being only about $75 (US) each. The whole experience was unforgettable!
