Northern Province

Today we head for a drive around some of the islands to the west of Jaffna, mostly connected by bridges to the mainland. It's a peaceful drive through small villages which seem very much countryside, but at the same time you can see so many abandoned or destroyed houses from the wartime. We are told Jaffna is about half Christian and half Hindu, with a very small minority of Muslims and Buddhists (which is interesting in a Buddhist country). There are an incredible number of temples, churches and shrines all around which I find quite confronting at times (being non religious). The confronting part for me is the clear wealth and richness of these religious buildings, often close to schools which don't look anywhere near as well resourced.
We search for a beach and head towards the well known and advertised Casuarina Beach, however we are quite disappointed after the beach we visited yesterday. Lila loves it though as the water is quite shallow for a long time and there are no waves what so ever so she was happily swimming and floating in the water 🤗
Before we head back we stop at a really nice restaurant for sunset and dinner. The restaurant is run by the Navy and is part of a former prison, now hotel which is found inside a fort on a tiny island a small boat ride from the restaurant. Lila enjoys her new found love of fried cuttlefish and we are treated to a lovely sunset 😊Read more