Once again, we are heading South... It is time to take advantage of over 1000 miles of Sri Lanka's coastal line with its year-round beaches.
It was a hike up the hill in the dark and rain, but we made it to our guest house in Mirissa.
How sweet to find a personal welcome note.
Maya is all smiles after she got her requested meal of plain rice and plain pasta.
Oh look, she even found a bird book!
Warm and full, I feel quite content too.
The next morning the first order of business is to visit the beach.
The beach is clean, empty and private. The ocean is warm. I think we can get used to this!
Yinon, fearless as always
Maya is taking it easy
Eial, wet and happy
Maya is practicing some surf moves
Trying to take a self-snap
Maya is getting better at dry-surfing
All in the water and not planning to come out
Maya's finds of the day
The best day ever. Maya got to touch a poisonous Russel's viper at a local snake farm. She also got to see two king cobras hissing at each other. The snake in the photo is a green vine snake.
Maya holding a trinket snake.
You can also wear it as an accessory.
Raphael is feeling brave too. I wonder what is Yinon thinking in this picture?
Cat snake.
Maya holding a cat snake.
Maya is handling an Indian rock python in front of a German tourist group.
The next morning, looking for bugs on a lawn in front of our room.
Here is one!
Eating lunch at Blowhole Restaurant in Unawatuna. We are finally trying Sri Lankan curry. Although it took an hour and a half to get our meal, it was worth it. The curry consisted of 7 different dishes and it was cooked from scratch just for us. Delish!
With Kumar, our driver and volunteer guide for the day.
Taking a walk at the beach while waiting for their lunch.
World famous Unawatuna beach. From what I hear it used to be much bigger, but it got affected quite a bit by the tsunami.
Unawatuna beach, popular with locals and tourists alike.
Another view of the Unawatuna beach.
Our next stop is Galle, the most important town in the south, famous for its 17th century Dutch fort. The fort has been declared a UNESCO World heritage site in 1988. In recent years the fort area has seen an influx of funds from the Dutch government and private parties, and has been completely revamped.
Here we are at the entry point to the fort next to the clock tower.
Massive walls and ramparts have been reinforced again and again over time.
The walls of the fort border the ocean on three sides of the penninsula. They actually served their purpose and lessened the impact of the tsunami. As a result the buildings inside the fort were spared from destruction.
The clocktower and one of the ramparts.
Inside the fort, taking a tea break at Serendipity cafe.
Yinon already found himself a pet.
Hip modern art on display inside the cafe.
Inside of the cafe.
Wandering the streets inside the fort.
Galleries, boutiques, coffee shop, and hotels are abound.
Streets of Galle fort.
Another hotel and restaurant.
Roaming the streets of Galle.
A graffiti on the wall - Save the Seas!
Dutch furniture, anyone?
Lush container gardens all around.
More examples of colonnial architecture.
Look at those two cabs! It must be a hotel.
Inside the lobby of one of the hotels / restaurants.
A view of a side street.
A hotel at the street corner.
Streets of Galle with ocean view at the end.
Another coffee shop.
This must be what old Galle looked like before Westerners have bought out most of the buildings.
A fine example of architecture.
Back at the fort wall. Enjoying the views of the ocean around us.
View of buildings inside the fort.
Views of fort wall, ocean, and lighthouse in the distance.
Last picture of the day, we are finished with beautiful Galle excursion.
