Fabulous Hotel set in a garden setting of fruit trees and paddy fields. Woken up by monkeys fighting on the roof and more brilliant sunshine. More ancient monuments and Buddhist Stupas lots of walking and climbing, some of it bare foot! Enough said- apparently I was grumpy. I pointed out to Ruth that I am only grumpy when I am in pain or on a diet. I am not on a diet. Since being pulled over yesterday our driver seems to be slightly less enthusiastic with his rig...

An early start and long drive inland has taken us to the region of Sigiriya where we visited two different Forts going back 1600 years and both on the top of rocky mountains, well several hundred meter climbs. Arriving blue faced at the top and having shaken off the helping hands of our Sherpers, (Yes literally, it felt like being in a care home. ) we were rewarded with spectacular views a sense of achievement and a good excuse to have a beer. Not too sure about ...

After a lazy day around the pool yesterday were I stayed under an umbrella and still managed to burn we met up with other members of the group and went to a fish restaurant for dinner. Kingsly our guide immediately purchased a bottle of coconut whisky, shared it out between us and left us to explore the menu for our selves. The huge prawns we had were so tasty and discovering the whiskey bottle empty we started on the local beer. By 9 o'clock local time we had dr...

Having crossed London in a couple of hours we registered our bags and surprise, surprise we had lots of time in Heathrow Duty Free. Ruth of course had her bag searched yet again at security. Must be her shifty looks! The flight was on time and though a bit cramped we had good food and plenty of films to watch. The Russians behind us led the clapping as the Captain got us back to earth and the landing formalities including baggage retrieval were the smoothest I ha...