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Day 7
Got up and prepared for our train trip to Colombo. We had booked 1st class seats for the 3 hour journey. Both our seats cost a total of NZ$29.
We had a final wander around Kandy to say goodbye. So HOT. Meandered our way through the market again and struggled with this. You just don't seem to be able to look without getting accosted by the shop owners who tell you what they have and what the quality is like and of course how cheap it is. Tiresome, but as Jenny says "it's just how it is here", so we grin and bear it. The prices in Kandy are definitely the cheapest we have seen so far in Sri Lanka food and clothing wise.
Rocked up to the Kandy Station on our Tuk tuk that we somehow got all our bags into!! Picked up our ticket and hopped on for what turned out to be a wild ride indeed. We both thought the turbulence on the plane ride on the way over was bad but believe me the up down, side to side motion of the train was nearly as bad, just at a different altitude! We were served a little lunch box consisting of a piece of cake, a muffin and a bottle of water. We elected not to partake in the hot drink due to fear of spilling it on ourselves. A real experience. I felt sorry for one young Japanese man that was horribly motion sick on the way.
Arrived safe and sound in Colombo. Colombo has a different feel to it from what we have seen so far. Much more westernized if you like but mark my words, it's just as hot! Checked into 'Whitehouse Residencies' for the night (we will be returning here for our final two days in Sri Lanka). Really nice hotel, big spacious room and everything is white. I just can't say enough how kind, friendly and service oriented the Sri Lankan people are, we could all learn a thing or two from them.
Day 8
Woke up to a lovely breakfast. All the hotels bar one have breakfast included in the price which is so cool. Decided to get a taxi to Hikkaduwa which may seem extravagant to some but in actual fact the two and a half hour journey cost $90. It would have cost less but we decided to take the toll road which we had to pay for and then we got somewhat lost towards the end of the journey which somehow got factored into what we paid. Still, it was a lovely cool trip (A/C) with another really nice man who entertained us. The countryside is so lush and green and just full of coconut and palm trees.
We finally made it to 'Main Reef Guesthouse' for a two night stay. A bit of a comedown on the standards we have become used to with our previous hotels. It doesn't have a TV, coffee making facilities or a fridge. But what it does have is: it is located right on the beach and has deck chairs with umbrellas right in front of the crashing waves, lovely golden sand. The atmosphere is fab. We spent the first few hours on the beach just soaking it in. We then had a meal as we watched the sun set over the Indian Ocean, truly fabulous.
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