27/4/2011 Nice breakfast before disagreements about paying the guide Roshan as it seemed to be a wise move to pay the 'balance' at the end when we were satisfied and experienced what was promised. Always good as we've learnt if you've got something to negotiate with just in case something goes wrong. We got driven to a train station to board our scenice ride through the mountains and valleys to Nanu-Oya. It was a great ride seeing lots of forest, tea plantation...

26/4/2011 Woke up to a beautiful day with panoramic mountain views following a deep sleep all night and not being woken up by the schoolgirl singing on the tannoy in the early hours of the morning. Kicked off with eggs on toast and a cup of tea (I'm definitely sold now), only to realise the waiter had 6 fingers! Wrong Turn-esq! He wasn't weird or anything, he just simply had an extra finger protruding out of his little one and it had a nail on it! I noticed whe...

25/4/2011 Up at 4.45am for our safari through Yala National Park. Enjoyed yet another cup of tea, maybe it means I'm now a little bit of an adult? It was a pretty sunrise whilst we drove for half an hour into the park. On the way in, we were taken via a lake where plenty of birds inhabited and the scenery was fascinating with the cranes wading and the sun creeping up in the background, not to forget the water buffaloes slobbing in the water and the 'muggers...

24/4/2011On the move again, so packed up and then chilled in the hammock in the beautiful sun. Typical that the weather picked up when we were about to leave! Had another great breakfast and then met our guide/driver for the next 8-9 days, called Roshan and Anura. We had a minibus for me, Jack, Tracy, Wilf, the guide and driver which included 11 seats for us and air con! The guide kindly bought us a king coconut each for us to drink at a roadside fruit and veg st...

23/4/11 A comfortable sleep but devastated to wake up and see how poor the weather was. Eggs on toast hit the spot for breakfast and then I went for a lonely walk up the beach in my plastic mac, sat on a chair, lookiing out to sea. Still a gorgeous view despite the weather. I spent some time thinking, listening to the rain beating down and watching the terns dive into the water for fish. I also walked alongside a fabulous lagoon just metres from the sea, separ...