Elenegoda

Left Galle and drove along the coast to Peralyia to the Community Tsunami Museum. It was truly heartbreaking - Dave decided not to go in.
In the 30 mins between waves the sea receeded a long way. The fisherman, unaware, another wave was due went out onto the exposed sand to collect fish. Sadly, they all lost their lives when the next wave appeared. Lack of education about tsunamis and lack of alarms....
The husband and wife who run the museum are survivors of the day as their village home was a little inland, but they lost a niece and nephew. A train close to her home was hit so hard the engine was thrown 100m! The conductor and 1 passenger of 1700 survived. The engine was eventually restored and the line reopened and the conductor returned to work! The scale of destruction was immense - the photos graphic and the words attached were hard to read.
The donations help to raise orphaned children.
On a lighter note, she was fascinated with my boot and kept pulling up my dress to show people!! Since being fitted with the boot I have been stared at continuously , most Sri Lankans attend Aryevudic clinics where my ankle would have been manipulated and massaged and sent away with a prayer!

We headed north to Colombo - not being fans of big cities, we were so impressed with Colombo. Much cleaner and greener than expected. Juxtaposition between old and new buildings. Sadly with all big cities not all of it was great.
We visited Independence square - 1948 the British handed back the island to it's people.
Drove past Parliament, fancy hotels, through a chaotic market, took pics at the Lotus tower,past a mosque now enveloped with shops and visited a Buddhist temple where a variety of gifts are left for the monks including a Rolls Royce!!
The Sri lankans love a holiday and Christian or not they have the next few days off. Negombo is 80% Christian so Chamath was thinking the restaurants would be closed! We headed to a supermarket and bought our tea. Imagine our delight when we found our homestay give us access to a kitchen. Had imagined eating on the bed but have kitchen and eating area!! Had a milky tea - aquirred taste that I love! Chamath gave us a leaving present xRead more