Do you know this incredible Local Guide? 
This amazing guy drove 1 hour and 15 minutes from his hometown in Srilanka Ganemulla to Negombo just to meet me for a few hours.
None other than Ravindu Samarasinghe, one of my best friends from Connect.
I vividly remember the time during COVID when @JaneBurunina and I started the Accessibility Awareness meetup series in which the first meet-up wasAccessible Srilanka, after that we hosted many other Countries meetups. Friends from around the world showed immense love and support, including a pair from Sri Lanka, @ravindus and @kasunaaa . They always participated in our meetups, even if they were in Urdu/Hindi. That was our first introducti
Later, Ravindu and Kasun’s journey to becoming Guiding Stars is well-known.
In April, I got the chance to meet my online friends in Malaysia. Although we had never met in person, we spoke daily. This trip was fantastic, and the icing on the cake was a 12-hour transit stay in Sri Lanka by Srilankan Airline on my way back from Kuala Lumpur. Our group planned a city tour of Colombo, but due to immigration delays, we went directly to our hotel in Negombo.
We arrived in Sri Lanka at 4 pm and reached the hotel by 8 pm. While we were settling into our rooms, Ravindu arrived.
Seeing Ravindu brought tears of joy to my eyes. Meeting him was a blessing as we talk at least once a month. I was very eager to meet my Sri Lankan brother.
After a short stay at the hotel, our group leader asked Ravindu to take him to KFC to arrange food for 80 people, as there were no nearby options or money exchange facilities. Ravindu, being the kind person he is, agreed. He took Mohsin to a distant money exchange and then to KFC to arrange dinner for 80 people.
Afterward, I spent time with Ravindu. We went to KFC again, then bought pineapples from a mart, and finally visited a wonderful Toro restaurant/pub.
We talked about the current situations in Sri Lanka and Pakistan and discussed some issues related to Google Maps. Our conversation also included our Connect friends. We enjoyed food, drinks, and live music, with locals dancing happily. This lively place was a memorable highlight of my 10-day trip.
Around 12:30 am, I insisted Ravindu leave as he had another hour’s drive home otherwise Our conversation could have gone on the whole night.
Meeting a great friend and local guide like Ravindu was unforgettable. We said goodbye, promising to meet again, InshaAllah.
