After an early night last night we were up bright and early for breakfast on the patio. There's a big golf tournament at the course right beside the hotel
, so lots of golfers at breakfast and there is a large group of Jains [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism ] at the hotel on a pilgrimage to this area. They have separate buffet that we can use as long as we don't carry other food into the room on our plates. They don't use any roots in their food, so I can happily eat there, knowing it's all garlic-free. There are about 200 of them and they were checking out at the same time as we were. [ no problem -- I was intercepted by a hotel agent and led to the side for immediate personal checkout service, leaving a trail of colourful Jains in my wake: L ]. The front area of the hotel teemed with people, busses, suitcases, porters and other staff. We lost track of our luggage for awhile, but it turned out that the porters had it carefully sequestered. From then on one of us stayed with the cart until Ramesh managed to bring the van near enough to load it.
On our way the tea-pickers were out in the fields as we passed, so we stopped and watched them for a bit and shot some pictures.
As we drove down the mountain, we passed a young man with a large bunch of flowers for sale. The road was a series of switchbacks and on each straight stretch there he was again! He was running downhill, intercepting us. Finally, we stopped and bought several and took his photo.
A little further along we stopped at a stand where Nuwan and Ramesh bought avocados for their families.
For miles along the edge of this highway narrow beds of canna lilies have been planted, and occasionally a stretch of neatly trimed hedges.
A stop for tea was welcome break from the back and forth motion of the vehicle.
The movie "Bridge on the River Kwai" was filmed in this area, and our lunch was served beside the river that stood in for the Kwai.
Most of us chose grilled sandwiches and french fries with ketchup and ice cream to follow. We had all been craving more familiar flavours I guess.
The road soon leveled out although it continued to be quite twisty.
We stopped for a few moments in Nuwan's hometown so he could drop off some things and pick up others, so we met his beautiful wife and 2 very sweet daughters.
Shortly after, we were on the straight and smooth divided highway heading straight to Galle.
We arived at the wonderful Jetwing Lighthouse Hotel just before sunset and enjoyed a welcome drink on the terrace overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Every hotel here has been different and this one is as well. Our room has a private balcony facing the ocean, a huge bathroom area, king sized bed etc etc [ and good internet despite the apologies about it from the staff ]. I could really settle in here! We will be here for 2 nights.
, so lots of golfers at breakfast and there is a large group of Jains [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism ] at the hotel on a pilgrimage to this area. They have separate buffet that we can use as long as we don't carry other food into the room on our plates. They don't use any roots in their food, so I can happily eat there, knowing it's all garlic-free. There are about 200 of them and they were checking out at the same time as we were. [ no problem -- I was intercepted by a hotel agent and led to the side for immediate personal checkout service, leaving a trail of colourful Jains in my wake: L ]. The front area of the hotel teemed with people, busses, suitcases, porters and other staff. We lost track of our luggage for awhile, but it turned out that the porters had it carefully sequestered. From then on one of us stayed with the cart until Ramesh managed to bring the van near enough to load it.
On our way the tea-pickers were out in the fields as we passed, so we stopped and watched them for a bit and shot some pictures.
As we drove down the mountain, we passed a young man with a large bunch of flowers for sale. The road was a series of switchbacks and on each straight stretch there he was again! He was running downhill, intercepting us. Finally, we stopped and bought several and took his photo.
A little further along we stopped at a stand where Nuwan and Ramesh bought avocados for their families.
For miles along the edge of this highway narrow beds of canna lilies have been planted, and occasionally a stretch of neatly trimed hedges.
A stop for tea was welcome break from the back and forth motion of the vehicle.
The movie "Bridge on the River Kwai" was filmed in this area, and our lunch was served beside the river that stood in for the Kwai.
Most of us chose grilled sandwiches and french fries with ketchup and ice cream to follow. We had all been craving more familiar flavours I guess.
The road soon leveled out although it continued to be quite twisty.
We stopped for a few moments in Nuwan's hometown so he could drop off some things and pick up others, so we met his beautiful wife and 2 very sweet daughters.
Shortly after, we were on the straight and smooth divided highway heading straight to Galle.
We arived at the wonderful Jetwing Lighthouse Hotel just before sunset and enjoyed a welcome drink on the terrace overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Every hotel here has been different and this one is as well. Our room has a private balcony facing the ocean, a huge bathroom area, king sized bed etc etc [ and good internet despite the apologies about it from the staff ]. I could really settle in here! We will be here for 2 nights.
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