The let loose tour

The morning started with creating 6 holes in the hatchery and burying the eggs laid by the turtles last night...300 between the two turtles 🐢
There were several busloads of children this morning all of whom waved at us and wanted to shake hands with us and generally found us amusing as there were lots of giggles especially if we spoke to them...possibly 1st time Some of them may have seen a white person, it occurred to me.
It is an extremely hot day and due to the school groups filling the place and the building work ,which didn't require our help, we didn't really do much ,which i was grateful for as hadn't gone to bed till 2am and up at 8am.
However we did start a beach clean up...this was a stark experience! ..In a few minutes and within a very small area I collected half a sack of plastic that had washed up on the beach ⛱️...a Castrol GTX oil bottle and several plastic water bottle. This is the kind of thing you hear about on tv and perhaps pay no heed ...but I've now seen the reality and its not good..all 5 of us achieved half a sack of rubbish each in under 10mins in a very concentrated area.
If you think about this in relation to the 1day old turtles we send into the ocean each night...it makes you think differently..
I was told there have been occasions when at least 10 full sacks of rubbish have been collected.

We were called back from the beach because it was too hot..in the region of 32degrees .My flip-flops were burning under my feet so I was relieved

So a few more / final photos with the turtles, then lunch and goodbyes before leaving for Colombo and the posh hotel reccomended by the aussies on my tour....a 2hr drive...( 1hr Sri Lankan time ..they lack any real sense of time or urgency..but everything seems to happen anyway)

The owner's son Delan, took me in a sports car ,belonging to his friend ,currently in Italy 🇮🇹.

Apparently Delan had rung his friend in Italy and asked to borrow the car !🤣... I've no idea if Delan was insured to drive it and didn't ask 🤣🤣. This is very typical Sri Lanka way of doing things
However, we were stopped by the police who were at a roadside checkpoint.
Apparently we were let off as I was in the car.
It seems there's a funny attitude amongst locals....I saw the bus stopping for a white person but drive past a local person and possibly the similar attitude happens with the police letting Delan continue 🙄..he did say we'd got off with being pulled over because he had me in the car.
I was told by a member of staff the bus drivers like the white people but will drive past the locals and when I was with this person waiting for the bus,it was going to stop...being unaware of this attitude I finished my conversation waved her goodbye assuming she'd now get on the bus but it drove past her
I arrived at the hotel..it is indeed posh .It is the only hotel I've experienced since leaving home that has currency exchange.

It has chandeliers and a white grand piano in the Lobby .it's also huge .
I had to wait for the room to be prepared as the previous people had late checkout 🙄
However it's a Huge corner room with wrap around balcony overlooking the sea.
The sea here is very different..not as wild and not as beautiful...with the railway track running right next to the sea ,just like going to north Wales! .The road is also in front of the hotel.
The trains are utterly knackered! making our trains look half decent .People do hang off them .. there is no air-conditioning so probably cooler.
The room has a window between the bathroom and the bedroom which iv experienced in a few Sri Lanka hotels...but no idea why this is so....glad I'm not sharing with anyone ,though there is a blind...iv not bothered with that...so can see the sea from whatever I'm doing in the bathroom

It has ,inexplicably a phone, in the toilet. There is also room service so presumably you can dial for room service whilst on the loo.🤣
Did make me think tho that a phone in the bathroom at home would be sensible future proofing! As is a tuk tuk not a mobility scooter..much more fun ! ..a company from Altrincham imports them and will put on any designs you want 😉

The shower is big enough to have a party in ! If you chose to do so ..same with the bath.

1st things first...rang reception for glass of milk and for laundry collection ..
On arrival the waiter rang a doorbell on my room..couldn't believe it ...he was just delivering the milk.
Another ring on the door was the laundry person, who wanted to know what time I'd like it back..

Very soon after he left he rang in a panic that my white t shirt was stained ( yep ..covered in turtles and sand etc) Plus, did I want the items returned on hanger or folded !
Next , a shower..which I simply stood in for ages ...no more wash bowl contortions!..amazing as was rainforest kind

Finally feeling fresh and in clean clothes , I went to explore the hotel and also some food.
I discovered shops, where I bought two new t shirts and a godsend of an underwear shop where I renewed various things!
There's also a video games area a kind of cinema and a gym

I discovered the infinity pool and the jacuzzis in a rooftop garden which is exclusively for guests..both absolutely amazing..
In the restaurant on the roof I chose a chicken wrap with wedges and ketchup..plus a mixed fruit drink.
I felt I needed a red wine 🍷! 🤣...but they didn't have any Merlot or Malbec, so I managed without.
It was the Best meal I have had since leaving the UK ...and no rice to be seen...even better!!!

After dinner I wandered to the spa and booked massage for tomorrow...hopefully there'll be no large wooden chests of drawers units to get into...that are being passed off as steam bath.
I returned to my room and had look outside on the balcony before time for sleep.
I am really pleased to have done the turtles project. There's no doubt that after various standards of hotels, ( most good or very good) the accommodation was basic..and a big shock 😳 😐..which took some days to get over...but to be fair it was all clean ,the food was acceptable, with 3 proper meals per day.
Actually I began to adapt and feel more at ease..not sure if that was because each passing day was nearer to leaving or genuinely adapting....I do think possibly a genuine adaptation.

The owners were lovely friendly caring people who are doing their absolute best. They have rebuilt the project since the Tsunami and they deserve being supported..

I enjoyed the interaction with the turtles being allowed to handle them all...large, small, 1day old ,just an egg ,was special !
Being able to tickle the neck and see them stay still whilst I did it or stroke their shells in which they have nerve endings and see them stay still or wriggle around as much as to say ,do it here bit more there...was fabulous..
They swim off when had enough and will splash you if you do it and it's not wanted.
Giving the information to visitors, even tho I had to get my facts together v quickly to be able to give a credible tour was satisfying.
It was a chance to meet people from all over the world....India,Russia, Poland, Oz ,France,Sri Lanka and Wigan ...to mention just a few

I loved seeing the Sri Lankan children and their excitement in seeing the turtles.
I enjoyed trying to teach the children that came for English lessons.
I was less keen or maybe less prepared for tank cleaning and building work and probably didn't throw myself into these tasks as enthusiastically as the other volunteers.
I think tank cleaning is mentioned in the trip information but read so long ago that I'd forgotten.
The heat and physical work in 30+ degrees is a challenge ...and I know I will have the same again in Borneo for twice as long ,so a good starter experience on reflection.
Its been grounding ,a reminder that you're not there for posh hotel and rest but to make a contribution with an open mind and to embrace doing whatever is needed
The posh hotel will wait for your return and believe me It's all the more enjoyable for being so.もっと詳しく