Barefoot

Holy moly! Nearly didn't get here, courtesy of our crazy tuk tuk driver. Making spaces in traffic that did not exist. Nudging trucks and buses with death-wish abandon.

Eva was ready to jump for her life. We had to wait another three minutes before the others arrived on their tuk tuks.

Barefoot is a groovy store given over to fabrics and home nick nacks. So we are now in the cafe area, knocking back some beer, lime, lemongrass and soda and a sangria. Lunch has been ordered.

After fish and chips we got into some serious shopping. Tea bags, soaps and photo albums.

The Grand Oriental Hotel

A sad building, once the disembarking point for passengers arriving by ship. Up on the fourth floor you can still dine and take in the view; which is of the container port.

Guests include Chekov in 1890, beginning  Gussev here. Whatever that was.

Amazing view of the port.

Wandered around the precinct. Found the Old Dutch Hospital which was similar to Galle. Converted to eateries. Ministry of the Crab not open for lunch. Boo hoo.

Lunuganga: Bawa house and garden at Bentota

We spent a totally enthralling day touring the buildings and gardens of Lunuganga, before sitting down on the verandah to enjoy a typical Sri Lankan curry meal.

As you would no doubt be aware, Geoffrey Bawa is/was Sri Lanka's most influential architect. He designed A wing of rooms at the Jetwing Lagoon hotel, where we stayed upon arrival. He was also responsible for designing the Hotel Kamdalama which we stayed at when we traveled to Dambulla.

This time, we visited his residence, situated on a former rubber plantation. The main residence has commanding views over the river from the rear verandah. He removed several metres off the top of an adjacent hill to obtain a water view from the front of the house. While there is a small public lane bisecting the property, it has been deepened and with the use of thick vegetation and a covered passageway, he was able to maintain privacy of the property.

Bloody smart bugger, if you ask me.

Tropical thunderstorms

International visitors who frequent tropical climes know to expect rapid changes in the weather.

So I was surprised to be caught in the sudden downpour that rolled in this morning during my walk.

I'd been caught up in capturing images of the sea and the interesting marine life.

Going home, 2nd class

Having neglected to purchase our return tickets upon arrival,  we are forced to slum it with the locals.

In this instance, the locals seem to be a tribe of noisy young Japanese folk. I thought it was the yanks who were supposed to be loud (They are!). Japanese folk are supposed to be quiet and reserved (until they've had a skinful of saki). Obviously these young uns have no respect for stereotypical characteristics.

But it appears that they were smart enough to book seats in first class.

Galle: jewel of the south

Finally got into the fort, foregoing a detour to some trinket shop, owned by some distant relative of the tuk tuk driver or his pimp.

Apparently the ramparts protected most of the buildings and people from the 2004 tsunami that wreaked so much havoc.

We wandered along part of the wall and then through the settlement;  ending up at the refurbished Dutch Hospital, which is all craft shops and eateries.  Our port o' call was the Taphouse by RnR, where we were able to sate, nay drown, our thirsts.

The RnR lime chicken and pasta navarathna were yummy. Nine veges cooked in combination with spices and blended with coconut milk.

Tuk tuk touring

With barely enough time to scratch ourselves we disembark at Galle Station and climb aboard tuk tuks for a tour as "the fort is closed until 1:30, sir".

After touring through the suburbs with our dextrious driver pointing out places of 'interest', we head to the beach where a couple of blokes are sitting on sticks making out that they're fishing. And just as the downpour became torrential.

Got in a coffee break overlooking a beach on our way back to Galle.