Sunday 19th January – Friday 24th January 2025

I’m coming to the end of my time here in Hikkaduwa, I have enjoyed it but it’s time to move on. 

The weather has not been playing ball at all, with more unseasonable rain! ☔️ it’s not too bad if there are big thunderstorms and then it clears but we’ve had a few days of all day drizzle, which as my English friends can relate, is no fun! It also causes the Mossies to come out in force! ☹️☹️ The Mossi situation is particularly bad down around the pool which is a shame. 

I spent a morning visiting the Tsunami Museum, I visited in 2018 but I felt it was worth a revisit. 

Sri Lanka was one of the worst hit by the 2004 Tsunami. With a total loss of over  35,000 people. Hikkaduwa was the site of one of the worst train disasters in the world. 

A large passenger train had left Colombo with over 1,800 passengers. It was just reaching Hikkaduwa when it was hit by the first wave. The first wave flooded the carriages and trapped people inside. Those that could escape and many people from the surrounding homes climbed onto the carriages to escape the water. Sadly the second, bigger, (50ft) and more devastating wave hit 30 minutes later totally derailing and destroying the train and all of the people on it and around it. Only 150 people from the train survived. 

The museum holds one of the carriages and when you see how big and incredibly heavy it is, it gives some indication of how devastatingly powerful the Tsunami was. 

The museum tells the story of what happened and also shines a light on the many, many people who came to help the survivors, particularly an Australian Doctor called Alison Thompson. 

It was also really interesting to learn that whilst Yala National Park was one of the areas worst hit as well as the whole of the coastline, very few if any animals were killed. All of the Elephants and other animals in the area headed to higher ground in the 2 hours between the earthquake and the Tsunami. 

I enjoyed my solo, expensive, tour around the Mangroves! 

The tour sorted with a quick stop at the Tsunami Buddha statue, which I had visited the day before. Then onto a lovely spice garden & Ayurvedic  clinic. It was a lovely spot to walk around, and interesting to learn what they use all the different herbs and spices for. Also very weird seeing how Pineapples grow. Never really considered it before, but strange!😳😂 

The next stop was a Turtle Sanctuary, and to be honest I was a little unsure about it. However I spoke to a couple of young British volunteers who assured me that it was ethical. They had quite a few disabled and injured turtles, which was sad to see, they also release eggs from the females. 

We then made our way to the Madu River and my Mangrove Safari. 

I’m pleased to say that I got in and out of the boat several times with absolutely no injuries!! Miraculous! 😂

I managed to see a couple of large water monitors, a kingfisher and a very distant crocodile! 

I was also blessed by a very nice Buddist Monk, who also gave me a cotton wrist tie. 

The mangroves are huge and made up of lots of islands and waterways. Only 3 islands are habitable. 

It felt very calm and peaceful on the water and I could have stayed out there all day! 🩵💚💙

Hikkaduwa has been interesting, I’ve met some lovely people and I’m really loving the food, back to my favourite veggie rice, I’m also loving the Roti’s & the local Lion Beer! 🍺 

I’m looking forward to investigating Galle and visiting some new places. 

I arrived in Galle on Thursday morning in time for a lovely surprise catch up with the lovely Lisa & Matt. ❤️

Lisa and I worked together for many years when we were School Family Workers. 

It is so very odd meeting people you know in a completely random location! 

Lisa and Matt have been in Sri Lanka celebrating Lisa’s birthday and they have had a great time, they have already visited some of the places I’m heading to so they were able to give me some useful hints and tips! 

Such a fabulous couple of hours catching up! Thank you guys for making the time, it made my day/week. 😘😍❤️

My hotel here is a little place called “The Entrance Galle Fort” it’s a small family run place and my room is perfect, small, spotless, quiet and close to everything. 

Galle fort is a beautiful place to walk around, nice narrow streets, great Galleries, Cafés, shops and interesting architecture. I spent the rest of the day mooching around and just enjoying seeing everything. 

I found a wonderful Middle Eastern Restaurant for dinner called ‘Chambers’ the food was amazing 🤩 I also got chatting to a really nice women called Gemma, who is here scoping out hotels and areas for the travel company she works for. (Rickshaw Travel) We had an animated and interesting chat about all the wonderful places there are to visit in the world, where we’ve been, where we loved, Brexit & WTF is going on in the USA! 😳😄

It is these random, spontaneous, fun interactions that I love about traveling alone. 

As I’ve mentioned before the weather in Sri Lanka is not great and today it has chucked it down all morning and is set to continue all day. 😟

I’m not expecting any sympathy, as you guys in the UK are about to get battered by Storm Éowyn!! 💨⛈️ And there has already been a genuine Tornado in Newquay!! 🌪️🌪️ So, please batten down and stay safe. ❤️

I’m going to spend the day mooching between the rain and drinking a lot of ☕️ and possibly later swap the tea for a beer or 2! 

It’s only 4 more sleeps until Tracey arrives!! Exciting. 🎉😍❤️

Laura, I hope you had a fabulous Birthday.

Brenda, sending you a big hug. 

Lesley, holding you in my heart. 

Stay safe, stay warm.

🩵💙🩷🧡❤️

Books Read

The ten thousand doors of January. Alix E. Harrow. I loved this book, great storytelling, a little bit of magic just a fabulous read. 

Carrie Soto is Back. Taylor Jenkins Reid. Not my usual thing, but I really enjoyed it. 

The Four Winds. Kristin Hannah. Another beautiful, powerful book featuring strong female stories. If you haven’t read any of her books I would highly recommend them.