Off to Sri Lanka

After months of anticipation, planning, and saying goodbye to family and friends, we finally started our journey.

Our first destination - we decided on it and booked the first flight in January - is Sri Lanka. After two pleasant flights from Zurich to Abu Dhabi and then to Colombo, we arrived in Sri Lanka early in the morning. We took a bus to the city and from there, a tuk-tuk to the train station, where we encountered the train system for the first time. The express train to Matara arrived quickly, and we were soon on our way south along the coast, surrounded by locals in a rattling carriage. We chose a small hotel in Bentota for the first two nights to relax on the beach.

We knew it was the off-season, but being the only guests was a surprise. Nevertheless, we were well taken care of and enjoyed our first hours on the beach before exploring the area on foot. The village itself didn't have much to offer, and we were the only tourists around at that time. A local guide insisted on showing us a temple with a reclining Buddha. We then went to a lagoon, where we enjoyed a short boat ride through mangrove forests. It ended up being quite expensive - a lesson learned to ask about the price before departure.

After another relaxing day of reading on the beach and enjoying some local meals, we continued our journey south. We took a train for about 2.5 hours to Weligama. This place is a surfer hotspot during the high season, but it's quiet now. There are a few more backpackers around, but we are still the only guests in the Soul Surfer Hostel. With the ocean right in front of us, a cool guy as the owner, and two other acquaintances, the first evening was a lot of fun. And yes - the puppies also play their part.

The next day, we visited Galle with its Dutch Fort, which is nearby. The area is extensive with some cool views. Today is a public holiday due to the full moon, so many locals are out and about. The bus connection worked well, and on the way back, we walked a few meters and spotted a colony of flying foxes (or bats) and a group of monkeys.

In the evening, we spent our time reading (Seraina) or attempting to surf (Mat). Reading was probably more successful...

Tomorrow, we plan to leave the coast and travel towards Udawalawe to visit the highly touted national park.