Ocean View Hotel Wadduwa

... locals only"; half way though our journey, another checkpoint. This time we're pulled over by two men with big guns, and a torch is shone in my face while the driver shows his id. And to get into my hotel, id must be shown to the armed guard on duty before the heavy gate is lifted. Despite this, I felt completely safe the whole time I was there, the precautions creating security rather than fear. Although I realised an hour before I ...

... So I was standing with about 20 other people waiting for the bus. I was watching a couple of guys across the street changing a tire on a bus parked along the side of the road. On the other side of this bus was a grassy embankment and I decided I could go on the other side of this bus and have enough cover to have meself a pee. The 2 guys were just tightening the lug nuts on the tire they had just changed. So I casually walk over there as if I'm just taking a stroll to kill ...

... of travel, for passengers.) After the agent and six variously-uniformed officials had been aboard for a while, stamped and copied forms and received the customary presents, I got an official shore pass at about 12:15. As sailing was scheduled for 16:00, shore leave expired at 14:00 but the captain gave me an informal extension, so I decided still to go. I had discussed options with the agent, and decided that the best was to walk ...

21st December 2007: 7:50 p.m. flight to Colombo via Amsterdam 22nd December 2007: 4:20 p.m. arrival at Colombo Airport, driving to the hotel Can't wait to get there and do nothing but relax...:o) pictures of the hotel are added yeaaaaaaaaah!!!

... funk knows why, and that it would be inh lanka in 14 hours time.....oh joy So after blagging 25 quid compo from them i headed off thru the airport with my day bag, which contained a pair of shorts, a travel book, and mp3 player and a tampom (no idea why). Got a taxi to negombo, where i planned to stay for the night, and i was very quickly reintroduced to the lankan ...

... spent the rest of the evening seeing Colombo by moped - which was fun, except when we had to go up a hill i had to run as it couldnt make it. Off to watch a Bollywodd film tonight and try out some local curry! Will post again soon Start work on Wednesday - found out today that i get payed for working too which is a bonus! Hope everyone is OK back home, some guy told me today there is MORE floods and a terrorist attack? i dont miss the UK.... yet!

... a bit of trouble just getting into Sri Lanka. Cathay Pacific, with whom I was flying had canceled all flights due to a Tamil Tiger terrorist attack on the airport two weeks prior to my visit. (NB the Tamil Tigers are a group from northern Sri Lanka who are determined to occupy this part of the country and name it as their own...a bit like the ETA in Spain maybe). I was initially pretty annoyed about the delays ...

... to Kandy was not to be missed so I headed into town to catch the train. The ride was stunning, beautiful mountain scenery along the way! I never got a real good picture of the scenery so you'll just have to take my word for it!

... No matter. We all needed to sleep. When the plane landed to pick up passengers in KL, we remained in the plane and had a chance to spy on a squadron of unformed utility workers sweeping through the cabin, replacing used blankets and pillows, making the the interior look as if the day had just begun. My new seatmate was a Sri-lankan woman returning to work as a domestic in KL. Although she could speak a little English she did not know how to read. "Auntie, please help me," she ...