17.09. - Colombo to Galle

Our first breakfast on the island consisted of a fruit platter, toast with jam, and omelette. We had a light Sri Lankan breakfast with a French couple. Shortly after, our driver, who only had a carry-on bag for the whole trip, picked us up on time. He had to empty the entire trunk for our two heavy suitcases and my carry-on bag. I felt a little guilty watching him do that, but I convinced myself that as a girl, I needed more luggage. :-) After loading everything back in the car, we started our city tour from the car. We saw the harbor, the financial district, the parliament, the president's residence, and stopped at a Hindu temple for our first temple visit. Luckily, we were able to enter despite not covering our knees; we just had to take off our shoes as per custom. We walked through the dark temple, admired the various gods, and I couldn't resist watching the people praying. We would have liked to learn more about the beliefs and rituals, but our guide had limited English skills and his own belief was in Buddhism, so we could only soak up the atmosphere. The next stop was an old Christian church where a mass was taking place. The inscriptions on the floor were partly in Dutch and partly in Latin. They provided some information about the church's founding. It was not particularly grand, rather simple, but it emitted a familiar feeling. Back in the car, we drove past Victoria Park to the last sacred site for today, the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple. For a small fee, we could visit the temple. Here, I had to wrap a white sheet around my legs and take off my shoes like everyone else. Unlike the Hindu temple, this one was very bright, with a courtyard in the middle and small buildings surrounding it. Inside these buildings, there were various donations to admire, such as watches, dishes, jewelry, household appliances, cameras, and even antique cars like an old Rolls Royce. But there were also other offerings, such as stone Buddhas, a hair of Buddha, or a life-size elephant. The temple was bustling with activity. Children in white clothing played in the courtyard and attended Sunday school. A holy tree adorned the upper floor and invited people to pray, as well as an altar near the stupa and a sacred hall with the god of the future, if I understood correctly, and another one sitting before the eternal circle. The hall was decorated with various paintings depicting Buddha in different human situations. With a series of impressions, we got back into the car and went to the supermarket to buy water and a small snack. On our way to our final stop, we drove past the Sri Lankan White House and several army headquarters, and then stopped at Independence Square near Victoria Park. After that, we left Colombo and headed south to Galle. Once we left the city, it became quieter and colder in the car, so we started to freeze. The sides of the roads were lined with various shops offering everything from sanitary facilities to wedding dresses, tuk-tuk tuning, and food. Even now, we noticed the stray dogs, but we had no idea that there would be even more in the countryside, many of them in a very neglected and partly mutilated condition. As a dog lover, my heart breaks every time I see these four-legged creatures lying helpless by the roadside.

For lunch, we stopped at Laluna Watersports Restaurant, which offered a nice view of a side channel leading to the sea. The food was cheap, not bad, but nothing special. Unlike our entertainment. An Arab family rented jet skis, and the veiled women took photos of their husbands while trying to calm their youngest child's inexplicable tantrum. It got even better when the women in burkas also got on the jet skis. We would have liked to watch a little longer, but our guide, who spent his lunch break with a doggy pack at the car, was already standing next to us and we set off. After a short time, we stopped again and visited a turtle sanctuary (1000 SLR per person). The enthusiastic animal conservationist proudly showed us his protected turtles, which we were allowed to hold in our hands. The baby turtles 🐢 were being taken care of for about two weeks before being released back into the sea. This is necessary to protect the eggs buried on the beach from animal predators. In addition to the little ones, there were also mutilated and blind turtles that could no longer return to the sea. We not only saw the breeding grounds and various tortoises, but also the protected stretch of beach, which was beautiful and inviting for photography and relaxation. Excited, we continued our journey and reached the town of Galle in the late afternoon. Our accommodation, the Seagreen Hotel, was simple but welcoming. The owner greeted us very kindly, and it quickly became apparent that he spoke German because his wife is from Marburg. After a short break, we walked along the fortifications to the lighthouse. Like many others, we wanted to see the sunset, but we were a bit unlucky with the clouds covering the sun. So we returned to the beautiful and inviting city for a stroll and then had dinner at Rocket Burger. We enjoyed the evening on a small balcony, had a very delicious burger, and had a great conversation with the owner. Afterwards, we went back to the hotel, where we spent the rest of the evening on the rooftop terrace before going to bed.