Thankfully the weather cleared up on Saturday and I was able to go for a lovely long walk around the fort.
The fort was originally built in the 1520s by the Portuguese In 1640 the Dutch East India Company captured the fort and built more fortifications and also developed the fort area with hospitals, factories, warehouses etc. In 1796 the Dutch handed it over to the British who set it up as a major administrative centre. (Colonialism at its finest! 🙁)
When the Suez Canal opened in 1869 it led to Galle became renowned internationally and it began to develop as a major tourist destination. In the 1960s the port activity moved over to Colombo Port.
It’s a very interesting place to visit, the houses and streets are full of interesting architecture and beautiful houses with inner courtyards.
My walk around the Fort resulted in spotting a Peacock in flight, it was escaping from a little dog! I also,saw another fabulous green turtle in the sea. The turtle was swimming just by the fort wall and was pointed out to me by a nice Sri Lankan gentleman, he pointed it out and gestured for me to step forward to the edge, which was then a shear drop, I declined! I gradually worked my way to near the edge just as he came up behind me and spoke to me and nearly scared me to death!!
When I had made my way almost to the end of the fort walls, I was approached by another man, who,asked where I was from and started telling me his daughter was at school and showing me what was supposed Tao be her lunch bag, which appeared to have nothing in except a leaflet about he dangers of Denge Fever in Sri Lanka from mosquito bites. He then told me I could buy ayuvadic red oil from a local market that would stop this, much cheaper than the shops. I assumed the market was by the entrance to the fort, which is where I was walking anyway, he continued to walk with me and to be honest I didn’t get a good vibe, when I got to the place I was heading I asked where this market was and he pointed vaguely off somewhere, at which point I said, thank you but no, I’m going the other way. He wasn’t very happy, but I felt safer and comfortable with my decision. I think sometimes we have to go with our gut feeling, even if it means appearing rude of offending someone.
I really enjoyed my final day in Galle Fort. The weather changed again in the late afternoon and we had more rain, but an umbrella sorts that problem out!
I left Galle early on Sunday morning to head to my next destination, Mirissa, a small place down the coast, this coast is very popular with surfers.
I got a ‘PickMe’ which was a reasonable price and arrived at my new hotel around mid morning.
The hotel seems ok, a little run down and tired looking. The room was big and clean. I asked for a fridge for the room, as Tracey said she was bringing some bubbles! 🍾🍾!
Once I’d dropped my bags I set off to have a look around, as with Hikkaduwa places are set off from one main road. I found a couple of nice places looking over the beach and enjoyed a pot of tea watching the ocean.
Then back to the hotel for a swim, the pool is nice and not many mosquitoes!! 👍 There are a fabulous troupe of Macaque Monkeys that came past and kept me entertained. ❤️❤️
Mirissa is really nice, the beaches look great, it seems less busy than Hikkaduwa and I guess if you love surfing it’s perfect! A couple of places along the coast, Weligama and Midigama were very popular with the younger surfers.
Tracey was due to arrive early Tuesday morning, around 7am, having landed in Colombo and been picked up by Buddi, the chap who had collected me.
I set my alarm for 6am, to be ready for the much anticipated and exciting arrival and reunion! 🎉😍
I didn’t sleep well and was then woken at 5.45 by a call from Tracey saying she was here! 😍
The reunion was therefore fabulous but somewhat bleary eyed on both our parts! Tracey went straight to bed as she hadn’t really slept on the flight. I slept then had breakfast and woke Tracey at 11am, when out proper, awake reunion occurred!
It’s so fabulous to see Tracey, whom I haven’t seen since April 2024, but it also feels so odd to be together in Sri Lanka!
We spent a couple of days just mooching, resting and catching up, which is wonderful.
We also spent a lovely half day back in Galle Fort, wandering, looking at art and exploring the shops, then chilled in a beautiful hotel with a beer! Joy. 🤩
Then on the Thursday we had booked a Whale watching trip. This meant another early start as pick up was at 5.45 am. We made it, with time to spare! We were picked up in a Tuk Tuk and taken to the harbour. Where we joined the others on the trip. We went with a company called Rajah & the Whales, who are very ethical and are also a small family run company.
We boarded our boat and set off by 6.15. The harbour was still busy with fishing boats coming back in and lots of whale watching boats heading out.
I was very hopeful that we would see a whale, a Blue Whale, Sperm Whale, Fin Whale I really don’t mind which, just a whale!
My previous whale watching trips have not been successful. One in Australia in Cairns wasn’t great as I took a sea sickness tablet and it made me feel completely out of it! So apparently we saw a whale but I don’t remember 😟 Then when I was in New Zealand in Kaikora the 2 days I was there the weather was so bad we couldn’t even go out!
So I’ve got everything crossed for today.
We met a lovely lady called Christine, who was traveling with friends, Rebecca & Adrian, who were from Falmouth. She has done a huge amount to traveling to places that are certainly on my bucket list, like an Antarctic Cruise! 💙🩵 She was fabulous company on the boat.
We were out at sea for around 6 hours, we saw a large pod of spinner dolphins, which was fantastic, we also saw some turtles and got up close and personal with a huge container 🚢 What we didn’t see were any Whales 🐳. I guess it’s never guaranteed, I was a little disappointed but at the same time we had a fabulous day out so all good in the end. I would definitely recommend Rajah & the Whales if you’re In Mirissa.
We headed back to the hotel, had a lovely swim and were once again entertained by the Monkeys.
Then an aperitif of Bubbles and crisps on the balcony before a meal in a fab little place called ‘La Mer’ we both had the delicious cauliflower curry, yummy. 😋
This was then the end of our time in Mirissa, on Friday we are heading down to Yala National Park, staying in a place called Tissamaharama.
We are doing a Safari!
It’s now Sunday and we are leaving Yala, but it’s going to need its own post. Watch this space.
That’s is for now. It’s been so brilliant being together with Tracey.
Have a great week.
Books Read.
The Bookseller. Tim Sullivan. The latest in the DS Cross series. I enjoyed this. I like the series.
I am still trying to finish my next book, it’s taking a while, too much nattering to Tracey!! 😂❤️
Hereandthereclaire.com 