Carolehowson

As it seems always the sea was still very rough for our last couple of days but I spent quite a lot of time playing in the surf and getting knocked over by the strong waves. I thought we might lose Caroline at one point when she went a bit too far out. At lunch we had a funny insident when Caroline fell between two bench seats and disappeared under the table. No drink was involved, promise. We just had a couple of lazy days in the pool and on the beach apart from packing our bags for tomorrow. Our last evening was a Sri Lankan Evening but the music was terrible so we chose a table on the other side of the restaurant so it wasn’t so bad. Feeling sad to be going home but ... read more

Although overcast for some of the day it didn’t rain so we were happy. The driver that Upul had arranged took us to the enchanting town of Galle, about one and a half hours along the dangerous coast road. I would like to have gone by train and I think it would have been safer. Probably because it was a cloudy morning and everything looked shabby and neglected I felt really sad for the people of Southern Sri Lanka who are still trying to put their country in order after the tsunami. Such an enormous task. We stopped at a memorial for the local people that died that terrible day and we saw many derelict houses along the way. The resilience of people never fails to amaze me. I loved Galle. It is full of old ... read more

Not very sunny weather but hot and humid. The long sandy beach is lovely and we walked around the bay to the mangroves and rocky outcrops. Beyond were more rocks and sandy coves . It’s such a pretty coast line. Only paddled but must go in a little way before we leave here. The red flag is out and they say this coast line has dangerous seas. We swam in the pool and had drinks from the pool bar. After lunch we took the launch across the river and went into town which has a typically Asian high street with tuk tuks flying about. Then the heavens opened and we stood in a shop door way to shelter. We were so luck that today was market day and when the rain stopped we enjoyed walking through ... read more

We were lucky to be able to set off on our safari at 7.30 this morning. People that had tried to leave at 5.30 couldn’t because there was an elephant in the entrance of the hotel eating his favourite trees. We set off in the sunshine and it wasn’t long before we saw wild boar, crocodiles, deer and some beautiful birds. We also saw mongoose, land monitors, Sri Lankan Sambar deer, malbar hornbill, eagle, blue tailed bee eaters, tufted grey langur monkeys , white necked storks, kingfisher, peacocks (one with its beautiful fan tail open) and Jungle Fowl their national bird which is like a very smart cockerel. We also saw some loan elephants. Male elephants are always on their own unless they are mating of cause. But what we really wanted to see was leopard. ... read more

We left our hotel at 9.0 in convoy as the curfew is in place until 4.0 this afternoon. Upul had to get us a special pass at the police station. The roads were spookily empty with very few cars and all the shops were closed. At bridges and cross roads, temples and petrol stations (some of them closed) there were soldiers. We were stopped once to show our papers. The curfew ended 15 mikes out of Kandy. Six people have been killed and three temples destroyed. When people get married in Sri Lanka they chose the date according to the stars so in spite of the situation we saw a wedding. Only close family and friends are invited but when the couple return from their honeymoon they hold a big party. It was a fantastic drive ... read more