I got as far as Thursday last time and mentioned that we have a lot of schools visiting to learn about ocean conservation and turtles. Schools don’t just send a class but the whole school turns up with a selection of hangers on – teachers, parents and siblings and some schools even bring their own monk. Well Friday was children overload with three visits in total and over 500 children ranging from pre-school to secondary. It’s like herding cats, very loud, and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to tell them to not prod the turtles – and it’s often not the kids. B has learnt how to say it in the local language which does get a few strange looks – he’s probably got it wrong and telling them he has a blue arm or something worse! Lisa – this is definitely reason 500
There was even a first today which was seeing a peacock running past on the beach. Didn’t realise they could run and – for people of a certain age – it looked like road runner, as I could only see the head and neck with the head feathers sticking up.
End of the week was definitely beer time and the only one close to here was the Sheraton Hotel about a half hour walk away so in the middle of a power cut we decided to give it a try. Had a couple of cocktails with the staff trying to upsell the benefits of staying and eating there then decided about 2300 to come home only to find that the local taxis all go to bed early on a Friday, especially as it was raining (hard). Found a nice man in a tuk tuk who took pity on us wet Brits and offered a lift, but only to his house part way and then back on the road where we managed to flag down another one and got back. Lesson is not to leave so late next time and hopefully we can get home safe (and dry). Obviously not having a Friday night drink is not an option we’ve considered
Weekend off and, which won’t be a surprise to many of you, is that B had found a rugby competition in Colombo so off we go in a taxi for 2 hours (£21) to the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series wearing our newly acquired Sri Lanka rugby shirts having paid an extortionate £10 for both of us for 2 days entry. Amazingly good standard of rugby from men and women from countries that I didn’t even know played rugby and I was glad that I wasn’t the person dressed up as a hotdog in 30+ degrees
What was strange was the large drone that took off half way through carrying an extremely large cornetto around the pitch – unfortunately they weren’t giving them away. Can’t see that taking off at Twickenham
Wandering around Colombo that evening we managed to stumble across a political march – strange that we seem to do this on many of our trips – but luckily it was a peaceful one supporting the current president – or so we were told. Led by monks, it must have been about 20,000 people strong and seemed to go on for ever
All went well and we decided to get the train home on Sunday as it was quicker and cheaper than a taxi, so studied the timetable and found a direct train to get. Got to the station to be told that there were no trains to Kosgoda stopping there and we had to go to a different station – showing the timetable just got a shrug. Changed stations, got a ticket and was told to get the next train. We settled in to watch the coastal sunset scenery go by as well as the station we wanted to get off at so ended up 2 stations down the line waiting for one back up. To be honest it was just like being on a Thameslink train and wondering where it’ll end up but without the delay repay option – but then with a ticket costing 79p each I don’t think we could really complain that much
Now the decision is where do we go next weekend – and it definitely won’t involve rugby – speak soon
B&J
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