Sri Lanka's seaside train is a separation between fairy tale and reality

Finally got to experience Sri Lanka's "Spirited Away" style seaside train, stepping into Hayao Miyazaki's anime world while witnessing the harshness and helplessness of reality.

🚂 Route selection, the best scenic sections
Top route: Galle → Colombo
The whole journey takes about 3 hours, but the most beautiful seaside section is in the last 15-20 minutes (near Colombo)!
If you're short on time, you can do like us and only take the Mount Lavinia → Kollupitiya section, about 30 minutes on the slow train, 20 minutes on the fast train. Tickets are cheap and you can see the sea view.

‼️ Why say fairy tale and reality are separated?
For a long time, you'll see rundown residential areas and garbage heaps along the way. Such a beautiful place has extremely contrasting scenes.
There might be children in the carriage asking you for money. Also outside the window in the residential areas.
We met a girl in a coastal slum, her room was empty, she reached out asking for money, repeating "money money," chasing the train. She didn’t get any money but kept waving goodbye with a pure smile (maybe someone gave her money before).

🧭 Direction is very important:
· Towards Colombo, choose the left seat 🏖️: the sea view is right beside you!
· The opposite direction, choose the right side. Don’t get it wrong, or you’ll just watch others take photos longingly!

🎫 Ticket guide
Buy tickets on site: there are many train departures, basically buy anytime. Third class is enough for the experience (no fixed seats, first come first served), open the windows and doors to feel the sea breeze~

📸 Photo tips
1. Best timing:
🔸 Evening light is soft, the sea sparkles, but I still prefer the blue sea, depends on personal taste
🔸 The section near Colombo Kollupitiya, where the train is closest to the sea (only a few meters), is the golden moment for photos
2. Safe posture:
🔸 The door side is the best spot, you can stand or sit, capturing the train meeting the sea level.
🔸 Hold the handrail tightly, the train brakes occasionally, and branches and buildings are very close to the train, be sure to stay safe!
🔸 Don’t lean out too much, you can take great photos from inside by the window.
3. Outside photo spots:
🔸 Recommend the hotel we stayed at, Amari Colombo, restaurant floor (5th), lobby floor (6th), and 26th floor overlook the train and sea, amazing views
🔸 Street photography at the station, capture people walking on the tracks and in front of the platform
🔸 Several road intersections near the station offer sea-level views of the train, very beautiful (unfortunately I missed it, the light was gone)
🔸 The train is a local commuter transport, with rush hours in the morning and evening, carriages can get very crowded.