Thursday 6th – Wednesday 12th February 2025

It was very strange going to sleep knowing Tracey was on her way home and equally strange waking up in the morning without her here! 

I have another full day and a night in Kandy before going to Colombo.

These last 5 or so days have been tricky to organise. I didn’t really want to go back to where I’d already been, Ella, for example, which is gorgeous! Or head too far down the coast just to come back for my flight. 

Unfortunately due to the dates for all of my visas starting in Australia where I left on the last possible day! 😬 Then my dates for Sri Lanka, which I’d already messed up and had to change my outgoing flight! And my dates for India, where I didn’t want to spend too long on my own before my Tour starts, all means that I am kind of marking time for the last few days in Sri Lanka. 

With all this in mind I have opted to stay in Kandy one more night then spend 4 nights in Colombo at a nice hotel, chilling before India. 

I decided to do a short tour of Kandy in a Tuk Tuk, it took rather less time than I’d anticipated! This in part was because Tracey & I had visited a few places already. 

We went up to the Kandy Viewpoint, which was exactly that, then made our way across Kandy to a large Buddhist Temple and Monk School. 

This was a beautiful building with lovely views across Kandy. My driver then took me to a Herbal Garden, which had I been thinking clearly I would have realised exactly what this was. I visited one in Hikkaduwa, it’s essentially an Ayurvedic business that also has a herb garden. 

It is really interesting hearing what all the different plants are used for but the main purpose is to sell their products, which are not cheap, I’m sure they are amazing, I just don’t have space in my case for anymore stuff! From here the driver wanted to take me to a Gemstone factory, but I declined. He dropped me back into the centre of town and I had a little mooch around, stopped for cold drink then walked back around the lake to the hotel. 

My new room has a lovely calm, quiet private patio area so I sat there and read my book! I also had to sort out my nails, I had managed to tear a nail very low down, which I’ve been trying to allow to grow up before cutting but it keeps catching and I’m scared it’s going to rip off!! Ouch! 😩 

I’m traveling to Colombo by train, it’s so cheap and I’d loved the Train journey from Ella. 

The hotel staff said that traffic would be bad, so organised a Tuk Tuk to collect me at 15.15 for a 16.20 train, I felt this was a little early but hey Ho. Needless to say the traffic was fine, I arrived at the train Station by 15.25 to be told my train was delayed by 30 minutes! 🤦‍♀️ Normally a 90 minute wait would be a nightmare but I’ve kind of got used to waiting and sitting around, so it wasn’t too bad. 

The train arrived and I found my seat, I was sitting next to a lovely young Japanese guy he was trying to take photos out through the window, I explained that he could go the the end of the carriage and open the doors to get clear pics and video. He then spent the next hour doing exactly that and was so pleased and grateful. The journey was nice, not quite as spectacular as the Ella to Kandy one, but pleasant. 

I arrived in Colombo 30 minutes earlier than I’d thought, grabbed a Tuk Tuk and came to my hotel. 

I’m staying at the Marino Beach Hotel, it wasn’t cheap but it looked fab. 

It’s big, beige but clean and comfy. The rooftop pool is gorgeous and they offer a free City Tour and have a Beach Lounge further down the road, with a free shuttle. 🥰 

As it was late I just grabbed a beer and some food and headed to bed. 

I’m quite happy to be in a big hotel, being a little anonymous and just relaxing. 

The pool is amazing, a really good size for swimming, with lovely views and lots of Sun loungers! 

I’ve visited the Beach Lounge, nice. 👌 I have also been into the city, which was OK. 

I visited a large Shopping Mall, which was interesting. Quite a few of the high end shops selling Imported goods  only had a few items in. 

I’ll talk about the reasons for this a little later. 

I took a Tuk Tuk back to the hotel and the driver was trying to sell me a city tour, which I explained I was doing with the hotel, he then tried to convince me to go to a Gem shop, I explained that I’d already visited Gem shops and factories, but thank you. This conversation happened twice. He still drove me to an area of the city which is full of Gem stores and tried quite aggressively to convince me to go. I told him loudly & assertively to take me back to my hotel immediately or I would get out and he wouldn’t get paid. This did the trick. Whilst I understand that the drivers make commission on people that they take to these places it is frustrating and concerning when you are traveling alone, especially as I was already paying him double the going rate! 

I took advantage of the free city tour, which was great. We visited The Colombo National Museum. Which was really interesting, and on the way I spotted 2 elephants being transported on the back of a truck! One of the exhibits had artefacts that had been returned to Sri Lanka by the Dutch, I wonder if The British Museum will ever do the same!? 

From the museum we visited the Independence Square. Built in 1948 to celebrate Sri Lanka’s independence from British Rule. I visited a few of these on my travels. 

We then headed to Gangaramaya Temple, the largest Buddhist Temple in Colombo. It was fabulous, as they were gearing up for a huge procession & Celebration, Nawam Maha Perahera. Which is why there were elephants being transported to take part in the parade and lots of people in beautiful costumes and traditional dress. 

The temple is a treasure trove, literally. Full of an eclectic mix of items gifted to the temple. Including some huge and very old Tusks. 🥺

The temple also houses the smallest gold Buddha, encased in a moonstone jar. It’s tiny! 

I managed to get a photo of the Colombo Lotus Tower, the tallest structure in South East Asia. It’s very pretty and even more so at night. 

Then a quick stop at Galle Face Green and back to the hotel. 

A very pleasant tour. 

I grabbed a cocktail and watched my final Sri Lankan sunset, very pretty.  And that’s almost the end of my time here in Sri Lanka. 

I last visited Sri Lanka in 2018 since then the country suffered a devastating terror attack in Colombo and nearby Negombo in April 2019 which killed 269 people. A change of Government in 2019 which many believe were corrupt and inept and COVID! 

The country began a swift decline towards economic crisis which peaked in 2022, when Sri Lanka defaulted on their sovereign debt. This resulted in blackouts, fuel and food shortages. A terrible time for the Sri Lankans. 

Things are now starting to stabilise, a new President was elected in 2024, the left wing politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake. 

I feel these things have resulted in an increased level of pricing particularly for tourists, which I understand completely, because when I’m moaning that the Tuk tuk should only be 1000 rupees not 2000 that’s still only a difference between £2.70 or £5.40, which I obviously wouldn’t quibble about if I was at home. 

Sri Lankans are still struggling out of the economic and political mess they found themselves in, but manage in the main, to be helpful, kind and friendly. Has it changed over the years, most certainly, some areas like Hikkaduwa have changed a great deal, with the massive influx of Russian Tourists & money. However It is a beautiful country with wonderful people that is definitely worth a visit.

Thank you Sri Lanka for a wonderful visit. 

I’m off to the airport soon on my way to India! 🇮🇳 I’m excited and a little nervous. I think it will be different to anywhere I’ve been before. 

I will let you know how it goes! 
Have a great week.

🩷💚🩵💙❤️

Books read.

The Village. Caroline Mitchell. It was OK. 

Her Last Walk Home. Patricia Gibney. No 7 in the Lottie Parker series. Not my favourite one.