4th March - Gal Oya to Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka

Another beautiful morning and a much more expected warm night.  Today we were off to Arugam Bay on the south east coast, apparently a very special surfing area, but we are in the close season so we expect it to be quiet.  We are going here to visit another national park, Kumana.

But first breakfast and the highlight here after the food was surrounding scenery in the morning sunshine

This Oriental Garden Lizard was sunning itself just outside the restaurant.

After a confusing handover by the camp's jeep we were eventually on our way.  The journey took us through a strikingly diverse landscape, with forested hills, savannahs, turtleback rock formations and low grasslands, providing a serene, varied environment that remains blissfully undeveloped by mass tourism.

It was clear as we reached the coast that this flat land was important for rice growing with endless paddyfields stretching out on both sides of the road.  The local farmers spread the rice husks out on the roads to dry them out.  The traffic is very good and avoiding driving over them and will even stop to let other pass rather than driving over the rice.  Once dry the rice is bagged and then sent for processing.

Just outside one of the towns we passed through, Viraj stopped the car and pointed out an Indian Roller on the overhead wired.  At first the light wasn't too good, but I took a record shot.

I then slowly moved to get the sun in a good position,but the Roller flew, fortunately to another wire in much better light.

As we approached the hotel, which was located on the coast in the town of Pottuvil Viraj received a phone call.  I could see that it was from the Jetwing offices.  The conversation was in Sinhala, but I was able to understand our names and the reference to Singapore.

We had been booked on a Singapore flight out of Colombo to Singapore, and then on to London Heathrow on the 15th March, two days after we were supposed to leave.

As we pulled into the hotel I received an email from Audley confirming the flight details and that they would be making the reservation and covering the cost of the two days hotel charges.  The relief was immense and we were able to relax a little more.

We checked into the hotel and had a wander around the grounds.

Cattle were grazing around the cabanas accompanied by Cattle Egrets.

I then had a call with the travel agents, confirmed we were happy with the flights (we would be happy with any flights away from the Gulf states!).  The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing by the pool.  A good thing considering the day we would have tomorrow.