Sri Lanka Day 14 (Hikkaduwa & Galle): When will I learn? -Part 1
Left hotel at 5.30am, scary because it was damn dark. Took a mini bus with aircon and seat to Colomobo Fort Railway Station. No breakfast for us today as it was just too early.
Started the day pretty badly because I didn't bring my camera. I brought my camera charger but not the camera. Got to make do with this lousy phone camera then.
I was really happy with the first class train seat! Requested for a change of seat so that each of us could have our own cubicle. Why squeeze right? The bus conductor allowed so yay! I moved to another cubicle and got the whole space by myself.
It can be locked with the curtains and there is full air-conditioning.
And even charging point!
The view along the coastal route was quite amazing! I expected myself to watch videos throughout the ride but I ended up looking out of the window most of the time.
Selfie time started in my nice cubicle.
First class seats with no first class toilet. The toilet freaking gross but nevermind, I went to look out of the door after that and omg, quite scary because they just don't close the doors here. People just jump out as and when they like.
Alighted at Hikkaduwa and looked for snorkeling instructor.
Quite amused that we ended choosing a small shop as the rest largely offered diving instead. It turned out to be a bad decision I think. I have no evidence but after going back and trying to tally my expenses with the money I am left with, I lost about LKR 1600 and I expect highly it was stolen by the instructor there because that was the only time we left our belongings behind. Everyone who is coming to Hikkaduwa should avoid this shop because I am sure that there would be other better alternatives.
We were asked to change into the swimsuit in the small shop with glass windows and everything. To me, it was super uncomfortable because obviously, people from outside could see. So after being rather firm about it that: NO WAY AM I GOING TO CHANGE HERE, the instructor brought us to a proper toilet opposite to change.
This was my first snorkeling experience and because of that, I would say that I do not have any basis for comparison to judge if it was a good one. However, according to my friend, it was horrible given the strong waves, the murky water, the boats expelling polluted air into the water... I would say I was lucky enough to not go to the boat area to breathe in the polluted air and I survived even though I had difficulty breathing twice when out in the sea.
Hikkaduwa Beach is quite beautiful.
I touched many corals and saw many schools of fish though and I was grateful for that. It costs about $22.50 per person but given that I had my money stolen there… oh wells.
After snorkeling, you see the whole sea flooded with locals and hahahah it was quite a sight.
They were very smart and experienced in stealing money such that you won’t realise you have lost money unless you are as anal as me who will do the tallying of the expenses and cash balance after that. One of the instructors went back earlier to put back the equipment while the other brought us to see the turtles. I suspect that that was the opportunity he created for himself to steal the money.
Large turtle, which refused to the food I fed him and then in the end took a super big bite and my fingers went into its mouth too. Ouch.
Same finger, different cut.
When we went back, we did check our wallet and since there was still money there, we thought that everything was fine. So smart right!
Went to the nearby hotel which was so beautiful. Sadly, we had no money to stay here. It has an open concept so we can just enter the premise through the beach.
Then took the bus to Galle and this is the bus stop when there is even a bus stop.
Alighted at Galle and caught the view of the Fort from where we alighted!
Along the way, we passed by the cricket stadium.
We went the clock tower first because it was on the way and took so so many pictures there. Some locals came to beg for money.
HAHAHHA. The horror starts when we checked into hotel. Eh not bad. The corridor was nice!
But nope, that was not where I was going to say. See the end of the corridor? That was where we were headng to.
It was like a maid’s room at the backyard but oh wells, I believed it was worse than a maid’s room and like what my cousin said, it was worse than his tent built in Australia during NS training.
Worst part was there seemed to have a camera in the room and we had to cover with a cloth and also, the door couldn’t lock. Waiting eagerly for the cue and suggestion to change room but nope, that didn’t happen.
Left the hotel to explore the Fort area.
A little bit on the Galle Fort. It was built first in 1588 by thePortuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument, which even after more than 423 years maintains a polished appearance, due to extensive reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka
Street photos in the Fort
Pardon my hair because I couldn't bathe after snorkeling.
Caught some school kids from Southlands College playing the band to welcome a guy. Should be some big shot I think!
Finally lunch time at Crepe-ology
My Brand New Day Crepe. AWESOME FOOD (FINALLY)
(to be continued)
