18/4/2011

Up at 6:30, cleaned, packed and off to the airport in my last Indian tuctuc ride. Was warned by the hotel receptionist that they were charging people 100 to the airport even though it would normally only be about 10-20 for the distance covered. But I was having none of it and my guy got 40 (which was still way too much) despite greedily asking for 100!

Jack shortly arrived after me at the airport and had to depart with his love Miss Complin, bawling his eyes out! Haha. Just kidding, instead we exchanged a few stories and photos and agreed that it was time to get out of this country!

The Sri Lankan Airways flight was short but sweet with meals and drinks included in the 1-hour-20-minute flight! In the airport we were greeted by a sign saying: "Penalty for bringing drugs into the country is death." Bit extreme! So I quickly shifted the cocaine I had into the old woman's bag next to me....haha (obviously kidding just in case this website tries to convict me or something!)

Bags came out pronto and there was Jack's Mum holding a big sign with Jack and Tom on for banter! She was so happy to see her boy blue, and Wilf was standing by taking plenty of snaps. We were back in tuctucs again, this time the green and black, or blue or red or pretty much anything in comparison to those in India which were predominantly yellow and black.

First bit of animal life I saw was a big mongoose on the train tracks and the weather to begin was beautiful at 29 degrees which was fairly mild to us after Africa and India.

Immediately there was something about Sri Lanka with its greenery, clear-smelling air, not too many people and cleaner environment in comparison to its Indian neighbours. Our tuctuc took us to a tiny train station where the tracks were fairly old with weeds and the surrounding plant-life growing amongst it. It was a severe contrast to that of India, with the bustling congestion of people. There were barely two or three people hopping on the train with us, and on there, there was plenty of room to sit and it wasn't too crammed. The only difference maybe was several beggars, Tracy (Jack's Mum) had a story for us in some "gross, horrible man with a tumour" screaming at a child, spraying him with saliva as well as begging. We were more fortunate and just came across a blind man whistling some tunes with his harmonica and a young-ish lad with a horrific case of elephantitis. His leg was literally like a tree trunk. Poor kid.

Our train was very slow however, but it was certainly more scenic through the Sri Lankan country and along the jaw-dropping coastline and all the palm and banana trees. The people were generally all very smily too, and not staring as much as they would in India. We arrived in Colombo which wasn't very aesthetically pleasing, with a few big buildings, lots of shops and stools, similar to those of India, but nowhere near as hectic.

Tracy agreed a fee for the four of us to go on a guided tour around the country with our own minibus and guides at a tourist office and we ate some local munch in a YMCA! It wasn't great food, but it wasn't bad! Had a curry-like dish with chicken and some unchewable beef complimented by some rice and vegetables. A tad spicy though for most of us! Another thing in this part of the world is they all eat with their hands. To me and you, it looks absolutely revolting and unhygienic, but to them it's the norm.

We were shortly on another train to Aluthgama and then a tuctuc to The Belfry Guest House in Beruwela. I was playing up our driver about cricket and asking him if I could play for his team if I came back to the town in two weeks! Again, the train we were on was fantastic with open doors, allowing you to take in the views of the orange, sandy beaches, palm trees, lagoons and crashing waves.

The Belfry was a top-notch resort, and much appreciated that Tracy and Wilf had booked us in there for the night. The first time we had two pillows on a bed since we left the UK (other than Thea's and Marylou's in SA). It was bliss. It's things like that, that make you realise how lucky you are at home and how much more you appreciate things. A nice hot shower and a dip in the pool made for a great evening, and air-con!

Thunderstorms arrived and we sat in the dining room enjoying a delicious fresh steak of searfish with chips with a sweet mixed salad and topped up by ice-cream for dessert!

Tracy gave me a bag of bits I had requested from home, my Mum had put my requirements in and my little sister added a letter accompanied with a nite about mini eggs chocolates to share with Jack! That was a good prank! I was devastated though as I was searching everywhere for those sweets!