Maybe, with a lot of luck, I’ll be able to post a couple photo’s here??? I’m going looking for THE spot with the fastest wifi connection before trying that. For now, here’s the latest.
Going in reverse, I’m in Pinnawala at the Elephant Orphanage. Waking before 6:00 am, I packed and got an early start. The Indian Restaurant was to be open at 6:30 so I went for breakfast. A tuk tuk driver at the end of the street told me they weren’t open and drove down to check. NOT!
He gave me a good price and took me to the bus station. When I stopped the other day, they showed me the schedule and bus number but all the buses were red. Red are public buses. They are generally crowded, uncomfortable, slow and stop much more often than the other buses. My driver asked me where I was going and then took me past the red buses to the blue buses. Faster, more comfortable, don’t stop as often, etc.
Perfect! And, early morning is always cooler to ride on non-AC buses.
I was going to Pinnawala but had to first go to Kurungeala. We stopped at a crossroad with NO bus in sight? Lots of traffic and heat! I asked a tuk tuk driver and he pointed to an even more busy round about? Confused but trusting, I started walking that way. About 100 meters, I saw a short street across the road from me with a restaurant. Hungry, I walked over there to eat first.
Concerned and helpful faces greeted me, the only tourist, anywhere in sight. “Where going?” “First, eating” as I motioned my hand toward my mouth. They served me some great daal with chipati and milk tea.
Finished, a young man walked me out of the restaurant, across the street and down about 50 meters. There, through a nearly invisible walk way, I glimpsed dozens of buses. This was the stop! He escorted me personally to THE bus I needed, this time to Rambukkana. Awesome! I was the first one on.
We arrived in Rambukkana around 1:00, I’d been on buses since 7:00 and wanted a juice. However, there was no juice stand in sight??? Seeing a pharmacy, I decided to head in to see if they had anything like advil/ibuprophen. A short friendly man behind the counter gave me a head bobble and smiled. I pointed to a spot in front of his counter and asked if I could put my backpack there? “Yes” and he pointed to a spot right in front of him where I could put my other shoulder bag.
Then, he guided me through the shop amongst giggling staff. Of course there was me, a very tall, big American tourist. Then there was their store owner a good two feet shorter and much tinier than me! Giggles around, I left my pack and went in search of an ATM and juice! I asked how much a tuk tuk should cost me to get here?
He walked to the back of the store and brought an employee forward. He has a tuk tuk and would take me for $200 LKR, about half what the other drivers charge! Awesome. The owner went with me and his driver.
Once here, they weren’t allowed to drive down the street to the hotel. The guard and employee of the orphanage was confused. Because of the room I had reserved, it automatically showed there were three people! Having two native speaking Sri Lankan’s along was immensely helpful!
Finally, at the front desk way before my 4:00 check in time, my room was ready. I walked down the stairs past elephants relaxing in the river to my room. Great! And that’s another way that…”everything is always working out for me”!
I stayed at the place my friend Linda recommended at the beach in Trincomalee. After a week of hot, uncomfortable or mosquito’ish rooms, having a private room with AC was great! I slept nearly 11 hours my first night. I mind the slight discomfort of hostels. Many are awesome. Just once in a while, it’s nice to have privacy and recovery time.
That said, I went out on a whale watching trip with five other people. No whales but a whale of a good time! Two days before, they saw 10 whales. This is the experience I was close to and will pursue next time. Off season and a storm the night before didn’t make for favorable conditions.
It was great being in Trincomalee relaxing, just what I needed. Last night, a group sat around drinking and talking. Martin grabbed a guitar and played some music. We were from Canary Islands, Spain, Israel, US, Germany, Sri Lanka and I’m probably forgetting someone. Lovely space, quiet and intimate, good food and people! All that and space I could hang my hammock!
Jaffna wasn’t my thing. I’m glad I visited but also happy I listened and left when I did. It was so much more relaxing handing out on the beach with new friends!
I’m not giving up on posting photo’s but that will wait for now. Dinner time and I’m tired and hungry!
Ciao!