‘Sea Train’ in Sri Lanka: Inspired by ‘Spirited Away’
Friends who have watched ‘Spirited Away’ should find the ‘Sea Train’ scene in the movie deeply impressive, its surreal and beautiful scenery attracting a lot of attention. The prototype of the ‘Sea Train’ is actually located in Sri Lanka. So, what is the real ‘Sea Train’ like? Is it as beautiful as in the movie?
This real-life ‘Spirited Away’ ‘Sea Train’ is located in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, and has become a popular experience for many tourists visiting this country. There are two ways to experience the ‘Sea Train’ – as a passenger to experience it firsthand, and to observe it from the ground perspective along the route.
The best time to view the ‘Sea Train’ is at sunset. Let’s first look at the ground-level perspective of the ‘Sea Train’. Around 4:30 PM local time, the sunshine is much gentler. I arrived at the beach, with residential areas on one side and railway tracks and the sea on the other. The long railway line stretches into the distance, looking very long. In fact, the time you spend sitting on the train to feel it is only 10 minutes.
The train has approximately 15-minute intervals, with one or two trains coming every time. When there are no trains, you can freely create poses on the tracks, and some sections have warning lights that flash when a train is approaching, reminding people on the tracks to dodge.
Although this railway is called ‘Sea Train’, the train is actually about 5 meters away from the sea, and there is a ramp to ensure a safe distance from the sea and allow the train to operate normally, even during high tides.
Not long after, I heard the whistle of the distant train station. The retro-red train sped towards me. As I had already turned on continuous shooting mode, I wouldn’t miss every moment of it, from far to near, from the whistle to the passing by, which took only about 10 seconds.
It’s worth waiting for another train, and we can continuously experience this wonderful feeling by patiently waiting. Of course, the most impressive thing is their behavior of hanging on the train. Almost every door is crowded with several Sri Lankan locals, and many of them lean out half their bodies, in a neat line. It’s really a unique human landscape. I originally thought I could only see this landscape in India, but Sri Lanka also has this habit. I also want to remind everyone that this behavior is very dangerous, as the train is quite fast, so you must pay attention to safety.
What is the feeling of riding on the train? I also took the opportunity to experience it myself. Before the train enters the sea area, you can see it pass through village after village, with houses and roads in front of the doors. There are pedestrians appearing on the road from time to time. Compared to the sea perspective, this feeling of passing through residential areas is also very special.
Ten minutes before the end of the train journey, which is the biggest highlight of this two-hour railway journey – the train speeding across the sea and the setting sun. The warm sea breeze blows, making you feel particularly relaxed. Inside the train, I also captured a scene – a child lying by the window watching the sunset, and outside the window is the sea, as if really traveling on the sea.
Unexpectedly, you may also gain some touching moments. A father and daughter are sitting on a rock by the sea, watching the sunset sink into the sea. For them, it may be an ordinary scene in daily life, but for me, here is like a remote corner of the world, and this companionship is particularly warm. Will the little girl often remember the happy times with her father when she grows up?
I envy the residents of this island, the scenery is right outside their homes, happiness is within reach. The Sri Lankan ‘Sea Train’ also draws a perfect ending with warm scenes. When you come to Sri Lanka, don’t miss this special ‘Sea Train’.
