Sri Lanka: 27.08.18

I have been here in Hikkaduwa for 4 days. It’s a really beautiful place.

The hotel I’m staying at is very small with only 10 rooms, and it is especially quiet at the moment as it’s the Low Season, everywhere is quiet and some place, bars/restaurants are closed. This hotel seems to be popular with young couples and what appear to be honeymooners! It isn’t also staffed entirely by men, all of whom are kind and considerate.

The beach is stunning, but due to the season and the wind it isn’t great for swimming in, which I don’t mind at all, I’m happy to swim in the pool but I do love listening to the sound of the crashing waves. 

While I have been here I visited the Tsunami Museum and Memorial. It was incredibly moving. Hikkaduwa was the site of one of the worlds worst rail disasters. The Galle to Colombo train was in Hikkaduwa when the first wave struck, it was derailed but standing, many of the passengers and lots of villergers then hid behind the train, approx 1,700 people, they were all killed when the second and more devastating wave hit. The Japanese people donated a Memorial Statue of Buddha. The Statue stands 18 meters high, the same height as the second wave and it stands just in front of the railway line. Over 30,000 loss their lives to the Tsunami in Sri Lanka. It is a testimony to their enduring spirit and courage that they have rebuilt and moved forward with faith and love.

On the drive down here from Negombo we drove through large areas of plantations and greenery. It was so lovely to suddenly spot kites flying and to see groups of children in the fields flying their kites and playing. Flying a kite is such a simple but wonderful thing to do.

The Plantations that we passed were Rubber trees and Palm Oil Trees. The Rubber trees are not native to Sri Lanka, they were bought here by the Chinese, likewise the Tea plantations the Tea bought here by the British to replace the coffee bought here by the Dutch! Now one of the countries biggest exports is clothing and fashion items made in large garment factories in Colombo and exported to the West.

From my hotel I can see all the traditional fishing boats returning to port at around 5/5.30 and I wanted to see them up close so yesterday evening I visited the port. I got a Tuk Tuk from the hotel. once I arrived an older man asked if I wanted to buy some fish, when I said no I just wanted to look round he appointed himself as my official guide! Off we went down from the street in to the port, when I looked round my Tuk Tuk driver was right behind us, which was a relief! (He lives opposite the hotel and his family had all waved goodbye when we left 😍) I was stopping to take photos and as the sun was setting my guide decided I needed better light, so off we go through all the boats and detritus floating about heading towards the huge rock breakwater. He thinks I would be best standing on top of the rocks!! Clearly  mistaking me for an Alpine Ibex!! Still, never one to disappoint, I climbed the rocks and took my pictures then slowly climbed back down with the help of Ali the driver! It was a fascinating place, the boats are so narrow and ingeniously designed. It is a hard living for the fishermen. Apparently lots of huge fishing ships from India and Japan are coming into their waters and taking vast numbers of fish, making their already difficult lives even harder.

I met a beautiful English guy here called Lyndon, he has lived here for many many years with his family and is a Yoga teacher and Zen master. We sat and chatted for a couple of hours, I’m just sorry I didn’t get to take part in one of his yoga sessions.

I am leaving Hikkaduwa tomorrow and heading a hour down the coast to Unawatuna, but I’m going inland to stay at an Eco Lodge. I will keep you posted!

Be calm, be strong, be happy. 💖💖

Author: hereandthereclaire

Hi, my name is Claire and I am 60 years young, welcome to my blog. I am new to the whole travel and blog writing world, so no judging! I recently made some big life changes, leaving my job in education and moving myself and my younger children to Newquay in Cornwall, I then started a business with some fantastic friends #coffeeonthecornernewquay. And now I am about to embark on my first big travel adventure...I would love to share this with you. Since starting this blog in 2018 I have made more changes, and now in 2024 I will be traveling full time for the next year! Please join me in sharing my Big Adventure! ❤️ View all posts by hereandthereclaire