Tissamaharama was a good place to launch into the south east, half a days bus ride from Aragam Bay. Less touristy and rural with rice fields, coconut and sugar cane farming, also fishing on stilts! We loved our stay at My Village, a designer guest home and bike riding round the lake. Mirissa was a gorgeous beach, with waving palm trees. It was our last stab at swimming though we were tossed about in the huge waves. Galle was a real treat where we ended up staying longer than planned due to its atmospheric old colonial port of Galle. First Europeans to set up here were the Portuguese, followed by the Dutch, then the English, each improved the fortifications with thicker and higher walls. It was interesting to see the way they sited the canons to cover all angles of approach, with star bastions on each corner to protect the wall. We enjoyed stolling around the walls as well as having a beer on our rooftop, especially towards sunset. The locals geared up in the evening, playing cricket and flying kites.
We got energetic on a cycle tour round the villages, lucky to have just the two of us and our guide. It was fantastic to wind round village tracks, visiting the coconut factory, watch the fisherman, see the cloth weaving factory in action and learn more about this fascinating country.
We got energetic on a cycle tour round the villages, lucky to have just the two of us and our guide. It was fantastic to wind round village tracks, visiting the coconut factory, watch the fisherman, see the cloth weaving factory in action and learn more about this fascinating country.