Day fourteen in Sri Lanka. Another day in paradise.

We are back in Colombo.  I am making this post before the end of today as we are to attend an engagement party later tonight.

We left our hotel, but again some drama had to take place.  We were meant to get a large taxi to take us as we have a bit of luggage.  I can condense it so that it is not as bulky, but my wife told me this would not be needed.

But the receptionist who this has been discussed with yesterday did not tell the whole truth.  Yes large taxi’s are available but they either have to be booked, or taken up in the early morning as otherwise, they leave on excursions.  Which is what happened.  We were lucky enough to get a taxi that was able to fit in the cases, but we had to carry items on our laps and with three in the back, it was a tight fit.  And our taxi driver did not know where we were to go, so we had to direct him.

We got back in time for a trip to a temple.  Two years ago, we obtained blessings for my son for the eleven plus.  While he did not pass, I hope that the path he is to follow is a good one and that he can become the person he is meant to be.  And we returned there to give thanks.

But we are now back at Hotel Janaki.  My wife at this moment is getting her hair done and as my son who has no clean trousers, his grandmother has taken him out shopping for some.

Day thirteen in Sri Lanka. Lucky for some.

The good news is that my wife is feeling better with her back.  The bad news is that my son is unwell with what looks like a viral sore throat.

Her cousin has left and we have had to change rooms.  There was a slight issue in that we have two children and only bed space for one.  A ‘discussion’ ensued and we now have the right number of beds.

Tonight is our last night here and once we could, we spent the time in the pool, or in the case of my daughter and I, in the sea.

Day twelve in Sri Lanka. Back pain.

Today started off well.

Before breakfast, I had a quick swim in the pool outside our room and afterwards we all got together around the pool.  My wife enjoyed swimming in the pool and my two children enjoyed looking after their little cousins.

After lunch, we went to the local town to get a few things, and my son got a Vans backpack.  Afterwards we played pool (I won through luck) and my son appeared to enjoy it.  Later, my daughter and I went to the beach and had fun in the sea.

Sadly though, my wife has had an attack of back pain which we hope will improve tomorrow.

Day eleven in Sri Lanka. On the road.

We are now in Bentota.  It was a bit of a journey to get here from Kandy, the trip taking us through traffic jam after traffic jam.  One thing is apparent, which is that the driving here has got worse compared to two years ago.  Back then, my wife and I would have been happy to drive as we were surprised then to see how everyone obeyed the traffic laws.  Now they appear to be more advisory again.  And neither of us would be happy to drive here now.

I am hoping to relax by the pool and go for walks along the beach over the next few days.

Day ten in Sri Lanka. Shopping.

Today was not just about shopping.  After breakfast with the family of my wife’s cousin, we met up in the hotel playground.  My son was eager to play and look after their two sons.  While my daughter wanted to swim, she also helped to play and look after them.

Their mother went for a walk while her husband and I talked while making sure my kids looked after his properly.  We talked about a range of issues, including our children and of course, I got the chance to say how amazing both mine are.  My son loves being an older brother to the two younger boys and my daughter enjoyed mocking after and playing with them.

Later we went into Kandy to eat in the food court and then some of us had a go on the virtual reality machines.  My kids loved the one they went on and later, after eating some ice cream, I went on the other.  And it was terrifying.  When it comes to rides, the thing that scares me most is the g-force as you accelerate to the ground.  And this machine terrified me.  My daughter had a laugh watching me on it as well as apparently, I screamed.  Which I am sure that I did not do.  Afterwards it was a shop for some clothes and then later we split up.

My daughter wanted to swim in the pool, but her chest has been an issue as she has a cold.  While the air was warm when we got back, it was not hot enough for her to swim while I’ll, so instead I packed for the next leg of our journey.  My wife and son continued to shop and had both good and bad experiences doing so.

Day nine in Sri Lanka. A sunny Christmas.

Christmas in the sun is an experience the family enjoy.  And we did.  Breakfast came with a glass of bubbly for my wife and I then afterwards, while my wife caught up on sleep, the children and I went to swim in the pool.

It was amazing to get into a pool and dry off using the heat of the sun.  It was not just me that noticed this, both kids did, and later, thanks to the relaxation that we had, my daughter said that this was the best day so far of the holiday.  I am not sure I agree, but a day where we could just do nothing was certainly appreciated.

As it started to drizzle, we returned to our room and read and relaxed there while waiting for a cousin of my wife to join us.  When he did, it was great to see his wife and children and when they had to go into Kandy for some items, my children and I joined them.

It took some time to get into the centre of Kandy and get back for dinner but we did and enjoyed a meal together.  And this allowed us to catch up on how his two sons are doing as well as chat to his lovely wife.

Tomorrow may invoke some shopping or walking about, but essentially we have the option to do nothing as well.

And the last picture is of some art on the wall of our room while the first is the view from our balcony.

Day eight in Sri Lanka. Attack of the monkey!

Today required an early morning start as we were to return to the Safari Park.  When we had done this two years ago, we were further out from the park and required a longer drive to it.  Here it was much shorter, and while in Yala, there was a huge queue of vehicles to enter, the wait here was far quicker.

We entered the park soon after dawn and saw peacocks and hens in trees, which was surprising as I had assumed that they could not fly.  We also saw some buffalo, some more deer and the jungle fowl, the national bird of Sri Lanka.  And then our driver was told about a leopard sighting.  Sadly there was no leopard, and we stopped by one of the parks many lakes for lunch.  My wife did not feel too confident getting out of our vehicle, not being as sure footed as our children who love to climb at every opportunity.  So she and my son stayed on board and as I went to attend a call of nature, they started on lunch.

As this was the place in the park where tourists could get down and walk about, there were numerous monkeys about, waiting to be fed.  My wife warned the children not to feed the monkeys as she knew that this would just attract more.  But one decided to attack my son.  As it charged him, murder in its eyes, he threw the only weapon he had at it.  A banana.  The monkey stoped in its tracks, obviously fearful of the wrath of my son, and instead took the banana.  But his meant, that for some strange reason, that the other monkeys felt that they would be fed as well!

I returned to find them under siege.  Fortunately the monkeys listened to me telling them off.  Well most did.  One youngster kept jumping onto the roof and even got into the interior on one occasion.  But while I had no chance of catching it, it did not was to tangle with me and instead fled each time it tried to steal food.  Two mothers also considered jumping onto the vehicle but thought better of it after I told them off.

Later, once the food was put away, my daughter and I went down to the lake and I tried to climb a tree, but did not do that much.  While my daughter called me a coward for not going further, I did more than she did!

The journey back to our tent was serene as we went past more beautiful sights, but then we were lucky to see a leopard walking along the dirt track we were using.  Quickly, there was a queue of vehicles trying to get pictures and the leopard was kind enough to stop and pose for us.  This was closer than we had been before and we had a much better view.  And while we also saw a warthog, which we had not seen on the island before this was the reason that we had come.

Afterwards, we returned to our tent and set off for Kandy where are to rest for a few nights.  The hotel here is amazing and the room fantastic.  They were kind enough to upgrade us, just as had happened when we went to the camp.

Dinner was a Christmas buffet, with non-Christmas items also available.  My daughter, being tired, retired early with my wife who escorted her, while my son, who wanted to know the outcome of the raffle, and I stayed.  First there was a prize raffle for the best table.  But by the time this was carried out, many people had retired to bed, for the tables had been abducted by aliens (I preferred this explanation).  But the prize raffle was drawn later and we were excited when the first two numbers matched our room, only for the last one to be two numbers down the corridor from where we are staying!

Any, time for bed and the last sleep before Christmas!