Day 8

Today we had a full day trip booked and it was a pick up at 8am.

What a ridiculous time to get up on holiday.


I actually set my alarm for 6am to go be me ample time for breakfast but we still missed it.


As advertised we left at 8 and drove about 2 hours south to the Maduganga River.


There we took a boat trip around the mangroves.










We eventually ended up at “cinnamon island”, where we learned all about ….yeah you guessed it - the drink was surprisingly nice.




It was absolutely boiling hot so in the pictures for today, if I look a sweaty mess it was because I was a sweaty mess.


This massive lizard thing was loving it though.





Yeah all right, David Attenborough isn’t quaking in his boots…


From there we travelled another hour or so down to the fort town of Galle.


I’ve always wanted to see the cricket ground there.








Getting to the vantage point we had to pass a guy with a monkey, this was the second monkey Joss failed to see.


We had enough time for a bit of lunch and some light shopping before getting back to the coach too early - so we sat on the grass in the shade.


When the bus did finally open we were grateful for the air con.


Then the Sri Lankan tour guide came up to me and said “I have something for you” and handed me a phone.


I tapped the phone and there was a picture of me on the screen. 


What kind of psycho would have their own picture as a screen saver?


So we both slowly turned to Joss, who was flushing furiously.


Apparently she’d left it where we sat and he just happened to spot it and then recognise me with a beard - how lucky was that???


It was such a long journey back with all the traffic but right at the last minute the whole mood lightened as the coach had to stop as an elephant was crossing the road.


“Wasn’t that amazing “ I said .


“What was?” Joss replied.


So far that’s 2 monkeys and an elephant she’s missed….


We rushed back to the room on arrival and showered so we could get to the restaurant opposite for our 8 o’clock booking.


Joss had mixed grill noodles and I had a mutton biryani with an onion flatbread.





Both were delicious.


Joss asked for them to keep it mild and they did.


I failed to do so and by the end my whole mouth was “tingling”.


In fairness neither of us finished it because the portions were just enormous - all for £11.40 …


Joss felt so bad we’d left so much she added an extra tip so they wouldn’t think bad of us - I’d never have thought of that - she’s much more kind than me.


We then uber’d a tuk tuk to go to an Irish bar on our final night out in Colombo.


Of course we had a lion tower - why wouldn’t you?





We FaceTimed Hattie in the pub and she was remarkably chipper - she’s done so well to look after everything and finish the Lego - truly a multi-tasker.


After that we booked another tuk tuk for 250 rupees but as we waited a random tuk tuk driver said he’d do it for 900 - no, thank you very much.


And here we are back in the hotel - ready for the deciding ODI tomorrow.

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