From Vietnam, Kelsey flew to meet up with her dad in Koh Lipe, Thailand. Having already been there, Kyle opted to fly straight to Sri Lanka.

Colombo is the bustling capital city of Sri Lanka, with a population of over 5 million people. It has a rich history spanning over 2,000 years, having been ruled by various kingdoms, colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, and eventually gained independence in 1948.

There is an intangible quality about Colombo that I can't quite pinpoint. On paper, the city seems to check all the boxes: warm climate, rich historical architecture, verdant streets, a lively cultural scene, and a stunning seaside setting. Nevertheless, I hesitate to recommend it to others. Perhaps it was because I visited during the preparation for Sri Lanka's independence day celebrations, which occurred only months after mass protests, but the atmosphere felt militarized, with army patrols and AK-armed guards on every street corner. Additionally, it was difficult to traverse the city, and even in areas where running was permitted, I was promptly stopped by security personnel and informed that running was prohibited at the time. Consequently, I spent the majority of my time in coffee shops, focusing on getting some work done.

Reading

• Kyle: Leadership by Henry Kissinger
• Kelsey: The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu