Monday 20th Arugam Bay & Kumana Safari

The hotel is right on the beach where fishermen launch their boats so there it is intersting to watch them lauch and go out for the evenings catch.

Free day today no driving, so went off on a safari to Kumana National Park, saw lots of birds & quite a few animals including crockodiles, deer, wild boar, Leopard, Sri Lankan sloth bear, Elephants & Water Buffalo.

One of the things that are not provided for in the tour is petrol,  after nearly running out on my first day, I filled up with 7 ltrs for 2900 rupiah which is about A$2 per ltr. I’m also following what many locals do & fill up large drink bottles with petrol and keep it under the seat. Back on the road again tomorrow.

Sunday 19th Pasikuda to Arugam Bay, 150 km

So today I am heading south along the east coast to Bay Vista Hotel, Arugam Bay renowned for its breathtaking beaches and world-class surf breaks, but sthe urfing is not for me.

A mo\uch more relaxed drive today, just taking my time & stopping wherever I want. Came across a styreet procession following what looked like a religious  man running, and it wasn’t Forres Gump. Cows & goats continuosly walking across the road traffic avoiding themthe best they can. I also came across a beautifull christian church, very modern in design. 

Some of the roundabouts have these religious like structures built in the middle. The roads we are travelling  are lined with rice paddies, and lakes where fishermen are netting smaller fish for themselv es or to sell.  Signs waning of elephants along the road, and I di spot one wading through a lake although I’m not sur what it was eating.

Finaly  get th the hotel right on the beach and you wouldn’t know that it was hit by the sunami a few years ago, as I am now sitting on the same beach witing this.

Accommodation for the next 2 nights, the bay vista hotel, Arugam bay. 

And one of the tuktuks lost a wheel. 😥

Saturday 18 th

If you thought that driving a tuktuk was a bit of a cop out and an easy life, think again. It's far more demanding than riding a motorcycle. Today was the first day of the tour setting of at 8 am, and getting to the destination about 3:30 pm. Part of the tour is completing some challenges along the way, I decided that just driving was challenge enough. I got lost and seemed to be driving in circles on some very Bushy tracks for about 30 mins before getting back on the right road. Then nearly running out of fuel, luckily another person from the group showed me the reserve and gave me a bottle of fuel. Saw my first elephant but disappointingly it was rummaging through the garbage dump. So off for a swim and a beer to cool off.

Friday pm

Briefing and tuktuk training this morning all went well, driving is fairly straightforward but manoeuvring is not so, as the rear tends to cut the corner and you have to allow for that.

Had a swim and now relaxing by the pool with a cold beer. Back massage booked for this afternoon then group dinner tonight, it's good to just sit back for a while as it will be full on tomorrow.

Friday 17th

I'm having breakfast in the luxurious Aila resort, not the sort of places I usually stay at. The temp is not too high yet the humidity is and I'm sweating just sitting here and relaxing after my dramas yesterday.

Thursday 16th travel to Sigiriya

 This morning I visited the Petah market, the Dutch museum and the maritime museum, I thought they would be interesting, but I was disappointed in all of them, It filled in the morning before I caught the train to Habarana.

Well as you have probably gathered my day didn't start too well. It didn't get any better as I missed the stop at Habarana and had to go to the next stop and wait for the next train back 90 mins later. 

As I writing this I'm on the train and hoping to get to my hotel by 11pm.

I got to the station and the hotel had arranged a tuktuk to pick me up and a meal when I get there. Hotel check-in, shower, meal & a beer by 11:20.

All's well that ends well 🙂😵‍💫🙂 no photos tonight though.

Day tour to Galle

 The hotel is old and not flash, but everything is functional and the food and service is good, a lot better than you would expect for a cheap hotel. Breakfast was spicy omelet and a spicy fish roll unusual but tasty.

After a couple of days touring in both a tuktuk and car I realise that driving a tuktuk is not going to be a simple matter. Like India the roads are madness with vehicles moving in all directions,  but I'm up for the challenge.

Today's tour to Galle was good. Excellent driver, spoke good english and did the things that we wanted to do. There was the almost mandatory temple visit. But after that we traveled down the coast visiting various attractions turtle sanctuary, a herb farm where when asked if I had any pain he took some balm (sandalwood and 22 other ingredients) off the shelf and massaged my sore back. Moonstone mine, beachside restaurant.

We then visit a memorial for the victims of the boxing day tsunami, I didn't realise that it had hit the West coast as well, very sad. there are many houses along the road that are just left from the tsunami as there is no one left to claim them.

Further south we visit the beach where the Stilt fishermen fish, and stay here for the sunset, then one more stop at a scenic lookout and then hit the highway for Colombo, where my driver also offered to take me to a Sri Lankan takeaway to get some dinner as it was past 9pm before we got back.