Sri Lanka 2026

We set the alarm for 8am and this time it was Joss that was tired so set it again for 9am before we toddled down for breakfast. Joss wasn’t feeling too hungry but I made sure I stocked up for the day. Our check out was midday but we weren’t getting picked up until 13:30 so we sat in the lobby with all the others who were going home. The bus was prompt and once we got out of the hills of Kandy and onto the toll roads of China we were finally going at a decent pace - mostly because it seems no-one can afford the tolls and the expressway was empty. Driving through Sri Lanka there are 2 things to appreciate: 1 The stunning scenery just about everywhere you look. 2 The ability of drivers to get a bus through gaps meant only for a motorbike - it really is mad how they drive here - all pushing for their place on the road and NEVER backing down. We got to the airport about 4 hours before the flight only to find that our flight had been delayed by an hour, and there were no other Qatar flights ...

Last night I had “some” beer and only had a chicken leg to eat so of course I missed breakfast - in fact, I only just made lunch!!! We stayed in the hotel and went to the restaurant where Joss had a stuffed chicken meal whereas I felt I needed something stodgy so went for a 4 cheese pizza. I’m glad I picked pizza because I could use my hands as I couldn’t get to grips with the knife where the handle wasn’t aligned flat with the blade. And god knows what this knife is for?  In the afternoon we packed , unpacked and packed again to ensure that we were safe under the baggage weight limit. We left at 4:45 for the last T20 and it was very busy despite England having already won the series. We won the toss for the third time in a row and this time decided to bat. This looked like a woeful decision as we slumped to 128 - mainly due to Curran getting a 50. I drowned my sorrows as Sril Lanka got off to a fast start. My mood was made worse by locals pushing in front of me at the hot dog stan...

The alarm was set for 8:30 and we were at breakfast at just gone 9. We both had muesli then I went for cheese omelette, bacon, spiced potato and beans. Joss ridiculed my breakfast mercilessly and then got herself a cheese omelette, bacon, spiced potato and tomato. Do you notice any similarities???? We then tidied our room so that the cleaners could tidy our room and met up with Rob and Karen just before 11am. Our driver was waiting ready to take us to the millennium elephant foundation. On the way we stopped off to look at some stunning views. It was really interesting to see how Sri Lankans lived as we passed through towns - so colourful and vibrant. When we got there we were told that their card machine wasn’t working. We said that we didn’t have enough cash then and all of a sudden the card machine worked - it’s a miracle!!!! We paid for an hour’s session where first we fed the elephants. Then we walked with the elephants. Then we bathed the elephants. It was honestly the best side ...

We did it!!! We made breakfast - yippeeeeeee. Funny thing was I wasn’t all that hungry but I still put in a sterling effort. We decided to walk the 2 km into Kandy. We had to walk alongside the lake in the middle of the city and we saw some wildlife. Yes it was hot - yes I was a sweaty mess. It’s a religious day today as it’s a full moon so everyone was wearing white - I didn’t get the memo and was wearing black …. We went to the Temple of the Tooth Relic where hundreds had gathered but we didn’t go in as we were wearing shorts. We did go to the Buddhist Museum though and I’ve never seen so much bling in my life. Pity we weren’t allowed to take pictures. Then we hot-footed it to our favourite bar for lunch. As I mentioned before it’s a religious day so they are not allowed to serve alcohol. Here’s Joss enjoying not getting alcohol. Joss ordered a chicken pasta which looked and tasted lovely. I ordered the pork chop - except it wasn’t a pork chop - it was 2 pork chops #winning and they ...