Sri Lanka – Hikkaduwa, Galle & Unawatuna day trip

This is Ajith Bandara. I see what they say on the internet is true – he really does want one thing and that is to make you happy! He treats your time like it was treasure, so precious. I manage to see more with him in one day than I probably would with any other guide. Contact him here.

 

The market is on every Sunday from 7:30 am onwards. We got there around 9:15 am and it was just starting to get crowded. They had all sorts of bits and pieces; fruits, veggies, fish (fresh and dry – stinky either way), tobacco, clothes, slippers, coconut shell spoons… worth a quick visit to absorb the local colour.

 

 

In the Galle fort, we see signs that say ‘Flea Market’. Some signs you have to follow – literally!

This is one of the biggest upsides of solo holidays: there is *never* a debate about what should be done. It is not a democracy but a total dictatorship with you as the king (or princess in my case 😉 ) What you say is  law! Amen to that! Ergo, we end up in a small flea market seemingly put together by the expat community in Galle. The best discovery that day was this book that was recommended by the lady there who also happened to be the publisher: Chucking the Dragon by Mark Wilde. When in Rome I always do two things: try to buy local popular literature to get a better understanding of the culture and try to get an album of the best rock band of the country. The second one requires me stopping a kid with long hair and an old AC/DC / Nirvana t-shirt on the street to ask him for recommendations. I haven’t seen any so far.

This is the pissiest tasting OJ I have ever had. How can one possibly go wrong with good old OJ recipe (cut, squeeze)? By watering it down!!! Thankfully the tuna is tasty and filling.

Exploring Unawatuna.

 

Can you see it?

Can you see it? Hehe ok kidding.

There are sleeping dogs *everywhere* – this little cutie was actually inside the shop, on the clothes, and he wasn’t even in trouble for it!! Just like Nepal, there are very few cats to be seen anywhere.

Surfers’ paradise here. Can watch them for hours and hours.

A little memory of the day. Ajith tells me he will take me to another stop but wants to make it a surprise. I love surprises! He says he prays the rain does not start again as this could ruin the surprise… I cross my fingers.

So the finger thing doesn’t work. The rain is crashing down with no mercy on my surprise. And this is what we were to see. No, not just sticks in the water – this is where the Sri Lankan fishermen who have inspired many a painting fishing on their stilts are usually fishing. They are dodgy though apparently – they say they charge 500 Rupees per person for a photo – but then apparently 4 of them climb on the stilts and you have to end up paying 2,000 Rupees. Yep, fishermen are fishy – both the tuktuk driver Ajith and my poor little heart are nodding in agreement.

 

Ajith takes  detour and we are in a small little road heading into what seems to be the jungle. Ajith tells me not to worry – very considerate. I tell him not to worry – I trust him.

This is where we end up. The rain seems to have gotten a lot off its chest and is now just spitting out bits and pieces of randomness.

 

We are in Ajith’s neighborhood and we drop by to say hello to his mother who has prepared tea and cookies for us.

Sweetest pets!

I am finally back at the hotel – the rain is back with a particularly violent rage. I can watch this for hours… so I do!

Angelika & Selim

Meet Angelika and Selim! I have known Selim since I was a little kid from my summers in Turkey and he is the friend that is in Hikaduwa  – what a lovely coincidence! I haven’t seen him for years and it is really, really good to catch up.

And here is their amazing love story in numbers:

• 7 or 9 (they are not sure but they know it is not 10) = as in the number of days between when they met and when they got married.

• 10 = as in that was 10 years ago.

Some relationships never grow old – the way they giggle, the way they mess with each other, the way they are always squeeze-squeezing each other – you would think they just met! Happy couples have such a nice sparkle about them – very heart-warming to be in their company, like watching a romantic comedy! They work hard throughout half the year then spend the rest of the year travelling the world. This is *very* similar to the type of life I would love to lead (minus the work hard part hehe)!