YALA TO BENTOTA

We got picked up today at 8.00am from Jetwing Yala, which was a very nice hotel, for our big day along the south coast, up the south west coast to Bentota. Our last four days are to be on the south west coast to take it easy before our return home. We had a quick stop and drive through Galle then continued up to Bentota. We finally arrived at our Hotel called The Surf although I think they might have changed it to Echo Surf. I had been in touch with our Indian travel agent as I was worried about this hotel as it doesn't get good reviews. He got in touch with the Sri Lankan agencies and it seemed everyone was running around doing their best for us. On arrival we found we had been upgraded to their best rooms but not nearly what we had been used to. We had phone calls and everything from our agent. We said we will accept the room but had only just arrived so hard to comment. As time went by it wasn't the best, only thing good was the beautiful beach and the chance to swim in the sea for the first time which was so warm. We thought the Indian Ocean would be cold. Also we get free breakfast and dinner which is a big help. And the food is good. Can have as much as you like!

We arrived at Galle about midday for a quick stop. Nice little beach. We then had a drive  through the old walled city. Seems a nice area popular with the tourists. By this time I think that our driver was just thinking about getting home to his family as his duties finish with us after he drops us off at the hotel. He has been with us for 13 days away from home and he's done a lot of driving in that time.



The swimming end of the beach at Galle. A few tourists down there.

This light house which sits on the hill where I was standing looking over the beach which was built in 1938.



Looking the other way along the old wall.

The Portuguese arrived in Srilanka in 505 and built this church in 755 and is in very good condition for those years. Next came the Dutch in 687 and then the British in 794. The British built this church (below ) in 800 and it is in magnificent condition as can be seen.

Continuing up along the south western coast we drove through the area which was worst hit by the 2004 Tsunami. The above is a memorial to the people who lost their lives. Unfortunately it wasn't in English but our driver told us many stories. One he told us was when the tide went right out the locals rushed out to claim their piece of new land. They didn't realise that the water was going to rush straight back in again. Poor people hadn't been educated regading the Tsunamis. I might have mentioned earlier that 50,000 lives were lost in Sri Lanka during this Boxing Day 2004 Tsunami. Very sad for them.

He also told us that his mothers sister lived in this area and there was no way to check if she was OK due to the loss of all communications. No one from outside the area was allowed to enter. Fortunately someone in our drivers family was a policeman who they managed to contact and also other members of the family to go there to check if his Aunty was OK. Furtunately she was as she lived on higher ground. He said when he got there he just saw so many bodies every where. Awful for him.

Above and below looking south and north is the beach area that was hit so hard.

Looking down the street.

Some of the buildings that were deserted as the government wouldnt let anyone live in this tsunami area again so they had to walk away from what was left of their destroyed homes. We are not sure whether those land owners were compensated by the government for their loss of land.

Just the foundations of this house remain. All the growth has grown over what looks like the foundations only.

This is what the rest of the land looks like all taken over by the government who won't let anyone build or live there. All so sad for the people.



The room wasn't too bad good size, but bathroom awful. Nice big balcony outside will show better photos in next blog.

Got a photo just before sunset. This is looking from our balcony. One of my requests was not to be close to the pool. And here we are right above the pool! There are two pools.

Last nights sunset. Beautiful beach.