Turtle Hatchery, Colombo then back to Tokyo!

Our next stop is a Turtle Hatchery

An albino turtle



A green turtle.  Most of these turtles have been injured by sharks and brought by fisherman to the hatchery for medical treatment.  Several of them are suffering from ingesting plastics.  Many are released back if treatment is successful where others are kept as they won’t survive if returned.

We arrive at our next accommodation in Bentota.  Quite lovely

The next day we drive to Colombo for a few high lites.

An ice cream Tuk Tuk.

A construction Tuk Tuk.

Independence Hall

The Golden Buddha 







Gangarama Temple

This temple is full of surprises.

We then head back to Negombo for our last night in Sri Lanka.  We’re enjoying our last day at the infinity pool on the roof top.

We arrive back in Narita, Japan for our last two days before heading home. Horrendous flight from Colombo to Tokyo as our flight was delayed by two hours leaving Colombo so we miss our connection in Shanghai after an overnight flight.  They get us on another flight to Tokyo after a long day at the airport in Shanghai but to the wrong airport!  We land in Haneda Airport which is the other side of Tokyo from Narita where our hotel is located.  Then by the time we are processed through immigration it is 10:20 pm and the shuttle bus and trains are no longer running between the airports.  We are forced to take a taxi….$350.00 later!!

Went to a large mall for shopping.  Shopping in Tokyo is amazing.  If I come here again I need an extra suitcase.



We do some last minute shopping in the town of Narita which is a lovely surprise.  Quaint, quiet street full of shops and restaurants.

Cooking eel.  Seems very popular and smells great.

An amazing temple is our last stop as it starts to get dark.

Galle

We next arrive in the Old Town of Galle. We go to the fort.  This is a World Heritage Site.

Strategically located amongst Indian Ocean trade routes, Galle served as an international trading port well before Europeans arrived in Asia.

The British took over in 1796.  It is so hot out we don’t last long without shade.



It was  during the 16th century that the Portuguese established this fort for trading and defensive purposes.  The Dutch followed the Portuguese.



Beautifully maintained British architecture.



A Dutch church.

This building was a Dutch hospital.  It now houses several restaurants.

We now go on a boat ride on the Madu River through the mangroves.  Here you can see where they trap prawns.

We visit this man who has lived on this small island for sixty years.  He shows us how cinnamon sticks are made.  The cinnamon plants grow on the island and the process is done totally by hand.

He lives with his wife in this simple mud house.

Once back from the island we go for lunch and I sample some fresh prawns.  So good!



And dessert!  Fresh fruit, love it!

Another Safari

Today we travel to Mirissa/Dikwella which is the southern part with Sandy beaches.

We have a beautiful hotel with a great view.  Tomorrow morning we are up early for a safari in Yala National Park.

We are in search of the elusive leopard and we’re at the park gates at 6 am to be one of the first jeeps into the park.

Our guide spots tracks of a leopard but unfortunately this is as close as we get to spotting one.  Later in the morning they did find one asleep in a tree but it was too far away for us to see.

The road is incredibly bad due to rains.  Other parts of the park are closed as they are impassable.  Normally December is dry but like everywhere else weather is not normal and they are having lots of rain.

Peacock putting on full display.



Water Buffalo



Wild Boar

Crocodile



Water Monitor

Cheeky little monkeys.

Typical traffic jam.  Animals are loose to graze along the road.  You never know what you’ll come across.

Another lovely hotel.  Wish we had more time to enjoy the facilities.  We usually arrive late in the day and leave early the next morning.  If I had to do it over again I would spend a couple of days in each spot.

These are Stilt fishermen.  They used to fish this way but it’s not practiced any more.  They do this for tourists for income.



Caught a small fish while we were there.








Fresh seafood is plentiful.  Pulled from the ocean that morning.