Well we finally reached colombo after 3 flights in 20 hours as some of our original flights were cancelled because of the spice jet accident at goa airport but we managed to get to chennia via mumbia and then have 3 hours sleep before catching the 06.00 flight to colombo and hopefully get refunds for our cancelled flights to cover our over spend on new tickets
After clearing customs which went like a dream we were out of the airport in about 40 minutes from landing , we tried to get money from the ATM but they were empty and i began to think oh here we go india all over again but outside near the goverment approved taxi rank we found some more ATM,S and these worked fine , a short taxi ride later and we were in negombo at our lakshmi guest house ,the owners met us with a
big smile and lovely welcome and the offer of breakfast while we waited for our room as it was only 08.00, which was really kind of them after 10 minutes a beautifull plate of fruit and pancakes and juice n tea and coffee arrived much to molly,s delight .The family that run the guest house were so helpfull giving us info on where to go and what to see which was great.
We explored the beach after a little rest and a clean up and found a nice place to eat some local food all a easy walk from our guest house, i am not sure the beach is great for kids under 5 as the waves were quite big but after goa molly loved this , we had a early night as we were shatterd after our journey to Sri Lanka ,but looking forward to our next days trip which was a boat trip to nogombo lagoon the owner of our guest house toook us there and we got a boat and went out in the lagoon to fish after about 10 minutes he stopped the boat and started to climb out which worried us a bit but in the middle of this masssive lagoon we were on a sand bank we all climbed out and he took some chairs of the boat and our picnic box and we sat in the middle of the lagoon eating fruit and drinking and then he showed us how to find clams in the sand with our feet which was great we also found crabs in pionted shells, after about half an hour we climbed back on board and then went to a monkey island where we fed all our left over fruit to the monkeys who came and took it from my hand from there he took us to a sheltered area where we started to fish using lemonade bottle with the line attached we were using shrimp for bait we all cast out and with in 2 mins molly had caught a cat fish she was screaming with excitment after 1 hour and 6 fish later we then did a tour of the harbour and fish market and then went home , our host then took us home and went to make a nice meal for his family and us with the fish he caught another amazing day
I really cannot recommend this guest house enough we will be going back there when we fly out from colombo in 2 weeks lakshmi guest house 49 cemetery road negombo
next day we got the train from negombo to colombo 100 rupee then a train to kandy which was 570 rupee and arrived in kandy about 16.00 where we found a nice hostel called sea veiw hostel it was just at the far end of the kandy lake about 5 in walk up the hill it worked out at 15$ a night but very nice and clean we went out for a local meal at the green cafe it was full of locals and a fish curry chick curry and noodles was 7$ so well under budget for us today
next day we got up early and caught a bus in to town and then walked up a hill about 1 kilometer to a giant Buddha statue built 22 years ago round a giant tree here we saw a monk child flying a kite about 500 metre long string ,you can just see a dot in the sky
This picture also shows giant bats flying around during the day ,molly was a bit scared as she has seen vampire bats and thought they would come to get her .
After our long walk up and down we found a good local cafe called Devon cafe again filled with local people and had a not her cheap meal about 4$ this time ,and then we went to visit the Buddha temple museum and the Temple of Buddha tooth both these places were very busy but also interesting how many people were there as a family praying and having meetings together it as free in the museum but the tooth temple was 1500 rupee each molly went free so for us was quite expensive ,we then found a supermarket which was great but it could have been in London as there were so many westerners there we decided to buy our meals here for the next morning as we had a use of a kitchen which is great cups of coffee when you want, so we bought eggs bacon bread and fresh milk can’t wait!
TThe next we had a good breakfast and then walked around the lake near our hostel where molly got chased by this pelican afterwards we tried to catch a bus to a tea museum 6.5 km away we asked a tuk tuk man who said it was Sunday and no buses were running and he would take us so after bargaining with him we got it for 400 rupee but I said if we see a bus on the way it must be free he agreed to this ,of course he was lying as half way we saw 2 buses after much more lies he said they only go every hour ,at the top of the hill at ceylon tea museum he still asked for his money I said we agreed if we saw a bus it would be free he got angry and shouting so I told him to call police and we entered the museum he followed and we continued to argue until I started to phone police ,the museum is 800 rupees and was well worth it we spent 3 hours here and then walked down the hill which took 35 mins but again a free trip
that evening we went to see a traditional danced fire walking show which was great ,it is close to the palace this was 1000 rupees but we’ll worth it ,after I nice meal in the garden cafe again we went for a early night as we catching the early train the next day
We got up at 6 am and ate a ton of fruit we had left and then caught the bus to the station 32 rupees for us this is great in kandy we spent well below our daily budget, at the station we bought our tickets for 400 rupees to nanuoya which is 4 hours from kandy as the train pulled in molly was ready to board like a little rat as people were leaving the train she sneaked in a small gap and found seats for us and laid across till we got on as it is a very busy train and unless you manage to book far ahead you don’t get a seat reservation .We had great seats next to each other by the doors and window ideal for photo opportunities on the way as you can see by the photos it’s a beautifull ride with great views
This is a famous blue field tea plantation also the famous lipton tea is from this region Mr lipton came here over 100 years ago and decided to import the tea to his shops in Britain and this made him a millionaire 
Molly loved watching from the doorway or window listening to her music or talking to other passengers ,she has become much more confident with her English as well
She also found a play area on our visit to the tea factory which we went to and saw how tea is made now @ blue field when she could monkey around here we saw old ladies picking the tea leaves
We found a great guest house called the highest village bungalow with a nice family where we got a triple room for 2500 rupees a night perfect and also got a great home cooked dinner on our return from our tea trip then had early night as we were shattered from train and all our walking
Day 2 in nuwara eliya we started with a great breakfast in our guest house of fresh fruit bananas watermelon and pineapple followed by omeletes and toast and of course a pot of tea ,we then caught a bus to the train station to try and by tickets for the next part of our journey but it was full so we neeed to buy on the day again so will be standing probably ,then we went for a walk around victoria park and lake which was very nice and molly went on a miniture train ride ;this isnt the train to ella.. we met a group of school children and i got invited to play rounders i havent run for so long but i got it on film for proof
Next day as expected after a good breakfast we caught the bus to the train station and bought our tickets to ella 2nd class but no seat again when the train arrived molly jumped on between people’s legs before they got off and secured our seats for us we have to squeeze our way on with our back packs, our seats were again facing the right way and perfect well done molly,after a few hours we arrived in ella then took a bus to our guest house little heaven homestay a very nice place free wifi close to the centre and they have a washing machine hooray for us as I am in need of new shorts ,
We went to explore more temples and had a great walk to little Adams peak it was a hard walk for molly but she never moaned as we played games on the way I spy and naming things thru the alphabet in Lithuania
The next day we had a early start back to colombo fort and then on to galle which will means 12 hours on the train changing at colombo so a early night after a nice cheap meal in Nash ora cafe only 1500 rupees
We arrived at galle station after a great train ride along the coast line from colombo even though it was a long day we were all happy molly had eaten cereal and milk for breakfast then noodles for lunch we ate some deal wade which were spicy from the food seller’s and had various cookies
Once we arrived at the station map.me showed us the route we needed to our guest house we had booked and off we went to catch a bus this was about 10 minute trip but only 30 rupees it was a bit tight with luggage as bus was full but some nice people moved so molly could sit
We found our guest house after getting of the bus a short 100 the walk thanks so much to map.me you are a life saver I wish I had found you ages ago ,our guest house was nice a family room and only ÂŁ13 the owner told us about a good local restaurant a short walk away which was great we had some nice kebabs and sri lanka cream soda so nice ,no alcohol as it was not allowed as it was poya a full moon day
molly tired after a long day I love my meshka
The next day after a good bowl of fruit and local yoghurt we went to visit galle fort and lighthouse and maritime museum and also galle festival we had a great day walking and meeting so many people we caught the bus there and back so easy and so cheap ,the walk around the fort takes about 3 hours but we took longer as we stopped for a paddle and nice food,that night we went to the same resturant as molly really enjoyed her kebabs
Lighthouse made by the dutch
Maritime museum
Next day we packed our bags, this is getting to be so easy now everyone knows what goes where and why it’s great to have a routine said our goodbyes and off to catch a bus for about 40 km to mirissa a town on the south coast famous for its beach and stick fisher men who fish from a platform on a large pole
We arrived in mirissa after a crazy journey on the bus I think the driver wanted to be a F1 DRIVER he was blowing his horn overtaking everything but nobody bats a eyelid as it seems normal for them,the bus fare was 150 rupees instead of 5000 for a taxi no contest once we arrived at mirissa we then looked for a place to stay not on the beach as the prices are more there than just off the side roads ,we found a nice guest house called splendid lodge we got a family room with fan and mosquito nets for ÂŁ13 a night the family room is a bonus for us when we can get it cheap as we don’t have to sleep with molly kungfu panda ,we dropped our bags grabbed our swimming gear and off we went to the beach about 500 Mt walk down a small lane and wow what a great beach not crowded and clear water we found a great spot under a palm tree and then straight I to the sea
hi well our trip to sri lanka finished on a negative note
we had a great stay in sri lanka our final stay at banana garden guest resort was great we stayed for 2 nights here at mirissa beach about 50 meters from the beach we had 2 days relaxing and swimming in great waves now molly is not so scared of the surf now we ate at ret 1 roti cafe near our guest house and on the final day we athlete at kama restaurant that just opened a month ago Great tapas and and guy playing music for about 3 hours and perfect finish to our trip
the next day we got up early and caught the train from weliga ma to colombo fort a change here and then to and import train station everything was going okay till train was late and then we had to take a train to another station and then swap platforms walking over the tracks then on 1 train then thru the next after about 15 mins we finally got on the right train but it was so busy so we stood by door and then sat with feet on steps perfect and cool molly loved it ,we arrived at station then a quick bus to airport all for under 10 dollars fro a 6 hour journey when a taxi would have been 100 dollar we arrived at the arrived import and this is where our trouble began at check in desk they would not let’s us board because our tickets to was from colombo to chennia then chennai to bangkok but as the terminals were different we had to change but we did not have a transit visa so we were not allowed to board so we then booked a ticket direct to bangkok costing 20 dollars for 3 of us but at the check in desk we were told we could not board as we did not have onward flights from bangkok after much talking we went to immigration and was told you need a exit flight from Thailand and a train ticket is not okay so we then had to book more flights out of thailand even though we wanted to go overland so another 250 dollars gone but we won’t use flight will try to cancel as we will be in chiang rai not bangkok when flight goes
NEXT problem we had was another bangkok airport when we got there we found out that visa rules have changed from December for lithuanian nationals so jolanta had to go thru a different immigration gate to me and molly we had already filled our forms out but now jolanta need 1000 baht ours was free we took about 1 hour to clear but jolanta took 2 hours and so many questions about onward travel where she was staying why she was coming to thailand ,eventually she got thru and we then realised that our original tickets were to the smaller airport Don mueang so we sneaked on a shuttle bus for free to there and saved 15 dollars we then got a bus to our hotel at 07.00 after 24 hours travelling LIFE ON THE ROAD I LOVE IT
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