Reflections from Home

Well, we have been home a week now but struggling with jet lag and work and haven't felt inspired to write.

Our last day in Sri Lanka was one of the most pleasant. Early in the morning we took a tuk tuk to the nearby fishing harbour while they were landing the last of the fish for the quayside market. It was a busy place, the water crowded with colourful boats and the quay thronged with stalls, people selling & buying the fish, fishermen mending nets & dogs scavenging the entrails which were lying around. I saw my first hammerhead shark. Unfortunately it had no body & was being eaten by a dog! We were the only Europeans there but everyone was very friendly and didn't seem to mind us wandering around watching them working.

Back at the hotel we had several hours by the pool, alternately relaxing and improving our swimming. When the temperatures eased a bit in the late afternoon we went off in the same tuk tuk to a nearby Buddhist temple which contained the largest seated Buddha in Sri Lanka. The Buddha was impressive as were the wonderful wall paintings of his life. On leaving we were amused by an elephant who was trying to take whole plates of fruit meant for the monks instead of the small bananas he was being offered.



Overall it was a wonderful holiday. It is a poor country, despite it's extensive natural resources, largely due to the war however the Sri Lankan people are immensely friendly and helpful. The countryside, temples and towns are well worth exploring.In the tourist areas we couldn't walk down the street without someone wanting to sell us something or hire us a tuk tuk but a firm no was all that was required to be left alone. The roads are bad and very slow so if I went again I would be inclined to do a tour to see more. Although it has long sandy beaches they have little shade and it wouldn't be my first choice for a beach holiday. I probably won't go back as there are so many other places to see but I'll always remember it fondly.

Elvie