Well today is the last day in Sri Lanka, and I could stay here for much longer. Even with the horribly hot and humid weather, the beauty of the country, friendliness of the people and amazing food would keep me here. I am well aware I am seeing a curated, tourist-centric version of the country and likely very filtered, but still I could stay.
The last few days were spent in Galle, a Portuguese fort take over by the Dutch then the British and now a World Heritage site albeit very touristy with many shops and western cafes. Highly enjoyable and some very good cocktails consumed but not one of my favourite places.
The drive back to Negumbo included a waterway boat trip, visiting little islands, a cinnamon plantation and a place where fish nibble the dead skin off your feet 👣 very tickly ! This tour was a lovely interlude, with yet another friendly knowledgeable guide so keen to practice their English.
Lunch that day was one of the best rice and curry meals yet, at an expressway service station, for around $3 Australian. Spicy, tasty, generous rice and veg curry with a little chicken on top.
Today has been a quiet day, walking into Negumbo to visit a few places then catching a tuktuk back to the hotel before I go for a swim and shower before the long journey home.
- Listening to the choir practise for the Easter service at St Sebastian’s Roman Catholic Church
- Best samosa ( or something similar to a samosa) from a street stall. Dahl and a half egg in a crispy fried samosa
- A tiny savoury doughnut with ( I think) eggplant and mild chilli in it, from the same roadside stall
- A tiny excellent quiche, while trying to get change for said tuktuk home
- Remembering just how pungent the smell of the fish market is
- On finally getting change, being taken back to the hotel by a driver who had pretty decent English and showed me some sights on the way back
Next time , maybe it’s the less touted north and east of the country.
My Longest Journey 