The bus slows down to a leisurely pace as people jump on and off. Note: the bus slows down, does not stop! Horns honk constantly and loud Sri Lankan music plays over the speakers. It's a bumpy ride!
Of course, trains are also popular for long trips. Sri Lanka has one of the most beautiful stretches of track in the world. And, for those who can afford it, cars are also a viable form of transportation. Besides buses, however, the next best option seems to be the scooter or tuk-tuk. Because the climate of Sri Lanka is warm across the country, most Sri Lankans will purchase a scooter, or "scooty", as my students call it, instead of a car. Buses, scooters and tuk-tuks rule the road.
Tuk-tuks are three-wheeled vehicles with a capacity of three squished passengers, and they are truly unlike anything I had seen before travelling in South Asia. Tuk-tuks come in many colors, the most popular ones being red, green, blue, yellow, black and tan. They are covered in bumper stickers and motivational quotes, more often than not misquoted and/or mispelled. One of my favorites reads "Only one sun shine for all." I've seen many a tuk-tuk with photos of Pirates of the Caribbean or an American flag plus Lady Liberty emblazoned across the polythene seat covers and ceilings. The sides are open, and the steering wheel is more reminiscent of bike handles. Some drivers deck their tuk-tuks out with Christmas lights and speakers blasting all varieties of the same Sri Lankan music of which the buses are so fond. Tuk-tuks are more expensive than a bus, but they are also quicker. Tuk-tuks weave through traffic and between street dividers, leaving only centimeters of space on each side.
