Blogs from Unawatuna, Southern Province, Sri Lanka, Asia

After leaving Ella we headed for our first taste of the beaches that Sri Lanka has to offer! We headed for Arugam Bay which is on the East coast rather than heading south where everyone had told us it had been raining solidly! Gillian and Ross, a couple we met on the platform at Kandy from Glasgow, had made their way down the previous evening and assured us the sun was shining so we jumped in a taxi from Ella with another couple Charlotte and Dave, from Cardiff who were staying in the same hotel as us. When we woke up the following morning we weren't disappointed to see the sun shining and the waves were only a stones throw away from our front door! After a lazy day on the beach the six of us ... read more

So for a change, actually pre booked accomodation, turned out to be quite lucky as loads of the places were full! Spent 3 nights in Mirissa, not doing much, swimming in the much calmer sea, snorkelling, eating bbq fish on the beach and enjoying a cold one at the end of a 'hard day'. Took a day trip whale watching, picked up at 6 am and taken to the office next to the port. Paid 6000lkr which was alot dearer than some of the other options but was supposed to be more green (Raja and the whales). Nice fruit and omelette snack for breaky and nothing very eventful happened for the next 4 hours. Few people being sick and the odd flying fish. Soon losing any optimism. Boat turned around to head back west and could ... read more

So enjoyed a couple of days in Marissa, probably the most tourist orientated place so far. Massive bay, sandy beach stretching all the way, with bars and restaurants lining the sand. Distinctive south east Asia beach feel about it. Absolutely massive waves crashing onto the beach at all times of the day! Not to be trifled with. Tried diving through one only to be spun around washing machine style. Soon figured out the technique but pretty sketchy either way! Wandered around the other bays and went to an amazing look out next to a temple. Bit lazy with the picture taking at the mo though. Next time! Decided to get a move on though and get a very quick bus to Weligama, couple of k's down the road. Managed to jump off at the dive centre, ... read more

So after being ill for 2 weeks I am finally starting to feel a bit better! Even though I was ill I had quite an exciting week. On Wednesday night we went out for a chinese meal because our co-ordinator who has lived with us for the last 6 weeks was leaving. It wasn't quite like chinese food at home but it was really good. We also bought her a cake but unfortuantly it had a wierd curry flavouring to it - not nice! Then on Thursday night we had a psychology conference. It was held in a hotel function room and we all got dressed up in our sarees. It was so nice to see everyone dressed up and not covered in dust and dirt like we usually are! Quite a few people spoke at ... read more

Since I've been in Sri Lanka I've been blown away by how amazing and delicious the food is. It's fresh, tasty and with huge variety. The best thing is the basic "rice and curry", however that is massively underselling what's on offer. Rice and curry means rice (obviously), a curry, be it fish, chicken or very occasionally beef, then usually there are at least three different vegetable dishes, plus dhal, coconut sambal and poppadums. The vegetables are usually curries, but sometimes a type of sweet and sour dish. I've had carrots, beetroot, green beans, potato, pumpkin, eggplant, sweet potato...... I've also had fruit curries, which might sound strange but taste sensational - jackfruit curry or mango curry, yum! Nearly always dinner is served with rice, although sometimes it's string hoppers, which is like a little nest ... read more