So after all that we arrived in Colombo only 20 minutes late. We realised during the flight that we have been spoiling ourselves of late. Turning left inside the door is definitely better than right. But the latter is cheaper!

Straight through immigration and though we waited a bit for the bags (why do they never come together?) we were still out on the road with our driver/guide (Lionel - very Sinhalese!). The hotel is only about 20 minutes from the airport at a very sedate and cautious pace. Well you have to have time to dodge the scooters and tuk tuks (although nothing like as manic as Vietnam! In fact it all felt rather genteel.

Our hotel - The Wallawwa - meaning large bungalow, is at the end of a slightly rough track off a country road but is lovely. Dating back some 200 years and set in 7 acres of lush tropical gardens has even been the summer home of a president.

We had a quick swim in the pool followed by a nap to catch up on some much needed sleep (see above!) and then had tea and cakes - very colonial!

Tonight we shall be eating in - there is nowhere else to go so we hope the food is good. Lionel tells us we need to set off at 07.00 in the morning (we laughed as we thought he was joking. But he wasn’t).

Tomorrow is to Anadhapura where we shall be staying for two nights.

ADO/LMA xx