16th February<\/p>\n
Arrived at 8am in real heat.<\/p>\n
17th<\/p>\n
Felt much better although not up too early. \u00a0Went for a swim in the morning and for a trip oj one of their fishing\/sailing boats after lunch. \u00a0At about 4 walked into Nogombo which was a culture shock. \u00a0Wandered around the busy streets self conciouswith sore feet then had a ride back in a bullock cart with two beautiful little girls and a small boy at our heels. \u00a0Curry again for our evening meal.<\/p>\n
18th<\/p>\n
The new moon so a day of rest for Buddists and for us. \u00a0Had a lazy day under a grass parasol and still ended up burnt. \u00a0Spent ages in the sea swimming and trying to body-surf. Went out in the evening for a seafood platter at an adjoining hotel. \u00a0Eat in a cafeteria style place, pleased we weren’t staying there. \u00a0Bought a model sailing boat and tried sandals ordered yesterday which weren’t quite right.<\/p>\n
19th<\/p>\n
Up at 7. \u00a0Breakfast then into our taxi at 8. \u00a0To the interior and Kandi. \u00a0Red Mazda with driver. \u00a0Stopped at various places en route, pineapple farm, batik factory, tea factory with lunch high up with Christine and Paul from the Plough near Brighton. \u00a0The people waved and smiled all the way and begged if we stopped. \u00a0Ended up at The Grand Hotel, Newark Eliya, an old colonial place, rundown but still charming. \u00a0Tea workers earn R20\/day. \u00a0We bought batiks, tea and silver spoons.<\/p>\n
20th Feb<\/p>\n
Set off after seeing a bit more of Nuwara Eliya for Kandy, a long hard drive. \u00a0Stop at the botanical gardens first -to see orchids, palm avenues, giant bamboos set by the river. \u00a0Then to the temple of the tooth, where Budda’s tooth is. \u00a0Then to lunch overlooking Kandy. \u00a0Then to the indoor market – an amazing place, rows of traders, one row selling nothing but sp and rice from sacks and dried fish. \u00a0Then back to Brown’s Beach. \u00a0Pick up my sandals, very nice. \u00a0A BBQ meal – not very nice.<\/p>\n
21st<\/p>\n
A trip to Selsun village, the other side of Colombo. \u00a0A lady greets us and shows us the plants in her garden – cinnamon etc. \u00a0then local ladies cooking native style, then a potter making traditional pottery and a lace maker. \u00a0The4n we witness a wedding ceremony. \u00a0Have a lovely traditional lunch with a funny old Catholic priest and butch woman. \u00a0A lovely day in a beautiful setting with charming people.<\/p>\n
22nd<\/p>\n
Get up and spend time on the beach after an awful night of stomach pain.Go from the beach at 1015 and sadly from the hotel at 1115 to grotty airport. \u00a0Fly at 1315 on Thai Airways still feeling rough. \u00a0Arrive in Thailand just at sunset. \u00a0Find man to take us to the hotel who doesn’t speak any English. \u00a0The hotel is luxurious and we meet an English couple in the bar and go for a meal in a Whole Earth restaurant, still not in peak condition. \u00a0We drop the man off and have a drink with the girl who moans about our courier.23rd<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
23rd<\/p>\n
Sleep in late then go off exploring. \u00a0I order a suit. \u00a0Lunch at the hotel before going on the temples tour. \u00a0See 70 ton solid gold Budda, palace temple with Buddas everywhere. \u00a0Very interesting but hot and reinforces my opinion that sightseeing is not for me. \u00a0Wander the streets at night after meeting the courier until we came to a lovely restaurant where we were the only Europeans. \u00a0Difficulty ordering but lovely food. \u00a0Met Carol & Andy in coffee shop and have drinks with them. \u00a0Meet another couple – the Pierre Cardin couple!<\/p>\n
24th<\/p>\n
Up at 0700 and off at 0800 with 4 other English people in air-conditioned combi. \u00a0Past miles of flat dried up paddy fields to the old capital (1350-1700) where we visit several temples. \u00a0Then to King Rama’s summer palace – very hot. \u00a0Then to a lovely air-conditioned boat where we had a lovely buffet and cruised all afternoon. \u00a0Suit fitting, shower then out with a few people to a piano bar. \u00a0Not a great evening. \u00a0Row with Pauline simmering all the time. \u00a0Walk down a ‘sin’street.<\/p>\n
25th<\/p>\n
Up at 0600, very tired and row continuing. \u00a0Off on floating market trip – no market but very interesting anyway along river and canals. \u00a0Amazing boats – huge teatugs on one hand and narrow speed boats with diesel engine on swivel with a very long prop shaft. \u00a0Called at yet another temple – very hot. Went in pool at lunchtime and met a marine biologist. \u00a0Went shopping in the afternoon, bought very little but collected my suit. \u00a0Ate in coffee shop but neither of us were hungry. \u00a0Had enough of Bankok, hot ,smelly and spread out, yet quite sophisticated.<\/p>\n
26th<\/p>\n
Set off for Pattaya in air-conditioned car. \u00a0Very flat countryside – rather tatty until a few miles before our destination. \u00a0Lovely hotel, U-shaped with pool and palms in the middle and we have a ground floor room with a terrace. \u00a0Arrive at lunchtime and eat in (slow) coffee shop and relax by the pool all afternoon. \u00a0Go for a stroll down to the village – les girls everywhere – whole bars full of them, old men, clients, walking with them. \u00a0Lots of shops for Pauline to buy endless numbers of dresses. \u00a0Sea food on display like I’ve never seen before. \u00a0We eat our (set) meal in restaurant by the hotel sampling some of it.<\/p>\n
27th<\/p>\n
Have breakfast on the balcony and we’re on the beach by 0900. \u00a0Hire a boat-scooter (now known as jet ski) and zoom round the bay stopping for a couple of swims. \u00a0Then I hire a windsurfer and try for the 1st time, very difficult but I learn a bit. \u00a0I walk back for a shower in the hotel then back again – very hot. \u00a0At lunch realise how burnt I am. \u00a0Play scrabble in the shade all afternoon with an occasional dip to cool off. \u00a0Shower early and walk into the village as the sun is setting. \u00a0Peruse the shops en route. \u00a0Both of us are feeling the effects of the sun and although we go to a lovely restaurant we only snack.<\/p>\n
28th Feb<\/p>\n
We take a day trip to a coral island on a 60-year old teak ex-trawler. \u00a0Pauline goes paragliding. \u00a0I hire a mask and snorkel and view the corals. \u00a0Then there is a trip to a second beach in a glass bottomed boat where we have lunch. lovely meal, casual, seafood and rice. Good company. \u00a0Lovely trip back watching nearby storm. \u00a0Go for drink in Holiday Inn and for a lovely meal in a restaurant by the hotel. \u00a0Pack for tomorrow<\/p>\n
1st March<\/p>\n
Up at 0520 (0250 Sri Lanka time). \u00a0Drive to airport. \u00a0Arrive at Sri Lankan hotel just after lunchtime. \u00a0No water or electricity much of the day. \u00a0Spend most of the afternoon swimming. \u00a0Liver curry for dinner which neither of us liked and early to bed.<\/p>\n
2nd March<\/p>\n
A very long day. \u00a0Hire a Topper in the morning and also try windsurfing but the sea is too choppy for a beginner. \u00a0Have crayfish for lunch, sunbathe, swim and scrabble in the afternoon until the storm breaks. \u00a0Shower outside and change in swimming cubicles. \u00a0Wildlife film on tigers, then drinks until ‘farewell dinner’ a BBQ. \u00a0We feel a bit out of it as everyone knows everyone else. \u00a0Finally to airport and after more eternal waiting to the plane. \u00a0Sit in smoking next to journalist from Australia who is quite nice.<\/p>\n
3rd March<\/p>\n
The plane journey seemed endless. \u00a0Stopped in Rome so the flight took 15 hours. \u00a0Taxi across London, just catch train, taxi home.<\/p>\n
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16th February Arrived at 8am in real heat. 17th Felt much better although not up too early. \u00a0Went for a swim in the morning and for a trip oj one of their fishing\/sailing boats after lunch. \u00a0At about 4 walked … Continue reading