Geo: 25.27, 55.33TIME CHECK: 0515hrs - Awake and packed. I glance out of hotel window. A dim half light is gathering slowly as a lone pool attendant goes about his chores in readiness for the new days intake of tourists. We are ready and down in the reception by 0630........the ever faithful Lala is waiting for us. Within 20 minutes we are bidding our farewells at the Airport and quickly pass through airside......Flight EK061 (777 ER 300) to Dubai: Flight Time 4 hours. Time to sit back a sum up the events of the last 10 days listening to Led Zep and sipping on a Tanqueray. The flight is full of pushy Middle Eastern upwardly mobile types.............metallic toenail polished and bear footed, bedecked with designer gold sunglasses, they busy themselves ramming outsized Dior bags into other ... read more

Geo: 6.02661, 80.2176Catch up: We left the "Evil Coconut Hotel" the day before yesterday and enjoyed a short scenic drive along the coast via the Turtle Hatchery to Galle only some 45 km away.Galle is an established port city strategically located at the extreme South East of Sri Lanka. Originally founded by the Portuguese in the 1600's it was an important trading port en route to the East Indies. Impressive fortifications and ramparts were constructed.....further developed by the Dutch and finally occupied in ernest by the The British from 1815 after the fall of Kandy. Behind the fortified sea wall lies an intact historic Colonial style town of some 90 acres, complete with Dutch Cathedral, colonial mansions, a court house, historic post office and many many other impressive buildings. It came into it's own in 2004 ... read more

Geo: 6.38321, 80.0112Head for the Beach! I thought I would never utter those words! In the last 20 years, I think we have collectively only spent about 6 hours by a Hotel Pool or Sea. The most in one hit was 2 hours in Rarotonga when after entertaining the whole resort by falling of a Kayak boredom set in and off we went in search of local "stuff"!!However, 5 days of "GLIMP" weather has caused the us to pull the "ripcord " on this area and head South and down the Island in search of sun. There is little point in waiting to see if things are going to improve weather-wise. We are still coughing and spluttering and it has taken 3 days for Cathy's jeans to semi-dry despite ironing them for 1/2 hour in our ... read more

Geo: 7.39317, 80.72390630hrs: "Flaps back" and I am greeted by sunshine! At last the weather gods are smiling and a view stretching at least 30 miles across the huge valley to the ranges opposite is visible. In the far far distance I can once again see the large lake shimmering in the early morning light.The shades of green are ever changing as the clouds and mist slowly rise from the valley below and gently drift skywards drawn by the ever strengthening suns rays. The night noises have now been replaced by cheerful callings of crickets, birds and the odd cockerel strutting it's stuff in the village far below us. To our right, is a small waterfall in full flood after the recent heavy rains and in the distance, I make out the tiny white shapes of ... read more

Geo: 6.91845, 79.8489Time Check: 0642 Local: Up and poking about organising coffee. Status: Both coughing and spluttering! What appeared at first to be a mild cold seems to have mutated into Bird Flu. Were OK but "popping" cold capsules and pretending that we are shaking it off! Recap: Yesterday (Tuesday) we arrived early into Columbo and after a 2 hour snooze we head out and get stuck into local life. Unlike India, we are at once struck by a clean, gentle and friendly City. Columbo is undergoing a transition. Old Sri Lanka is rapidly being replaced by upscale hotel developments such as The Shangri La and expensive seafront condos! Since the civil war ended in 2009 the Country is undergoing a transformation. It still has a 1970's feel with remnants of the British Raj era woven ... read more