Day 617 - Soaring into Sri Lanka

We woke up in the airport, well we didn't really get much sleep considering our bed was 2 chairs (with arm rests) pulled together! Nonetheless our excitement to go to Sri Lanka overruled our exhaustion, and we were soon shuffling through check-in lines and onto the plane. As soon as we landed in Colombo airport our camera drama continued - we somehow got into the "transit" area duty free and once we found a camera we liked we were told we weren't able to get it as we weren't transit flyers! After going through immigration we ended up at the other duty free shops and found the same camera. First of all we had to argue to get the price down to what the other shops had quoted us, and then after agreeing on a price the sales lady turned around and told us that we couldn't buy it because only Sri Lankans can shop at the duty free shops! Say What?! Oh well, in the end we got the camera (without boxes and with instructions to tell customs that it was our used personal camera!), and we love it.

In the time it took us to get from the airport down the coast to the beach we were pointed in the right direction by soldiers sporting machine guns and smiles; our bus was stopped, emptied and searched by military officers while we were the only ones who got to stay on the bus; we were escorted onto a local bus by a tuk-tuk driver; and were directed to a cheaper hotel by another hotel owner! Talk about Sri Lankan hospitality!

During the 3 hour bus ride down the western coast to Unawatuna beach we were treated to a visual scenic overload. As we swerved our way along the sea shore we passed a variety a different temples, from elaborate Hindu carvings to simple but towering white Buddhist stupas. The water ways that led inland from the sea were gorgeous greens and blues with lush foliage taking a dip at the shoreline. Best of all was the colourful sunset we got over the ocean as we neared to our final destination.

After getting our bargain room (US$4, right across from the beach) with the wonderful Mala at Coralland, we set off in search of food. It was then that we got the shock of how expensive things were here! As we entered and left each restaurant asking prices, our jaws dropped lower and lower at the prices - for goodness sakes, many places had things listed in Euros! Luckily we stumbled across a family home who dish out rice and curry (one Sri Lankan staple) to the budget travellers of Unawatuna each night! It was here sitting in the family room that we met JP and Nico, a couple of other travellers who we would dine with over the next few nights, and give us some tips for our (guide book-less) Sri Lankan journey.

Adlibing it with a new camera