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02/11/2013
He took us to Hansa Surf, a cheap hotel at £6 a night, where there was lots of other travellers etc. There wasn't much soul about the place and the place had lots of concrete pillars and was 'cold', but ok. To save some moolah, me and mike shared a double room. Hikkaduwa seemed really nice but there was an abundance of tourists. You couldn't say this was a backpacker place, it was just a downright holiday place for tourists. That was ok but it didn't really feel like travelling.
Later on me and mike went to meet his SL friend who had moved to Hikkaduwa. En route walked past a beach. Mike explained that every morn you can see gigantic wild turtles. However it was night now, but there were flashes of light from cameras so we decided to investigate. Low and behold when we got there we seen a gigantic wild turtle at the lip of the shore. Turns out it arrives every night as it knows the tourists will feed it. Was so good stroking it, and I felt like I was in a David Attenborough documentary.
We met the dude at his tattoo parlour. He was busy sketching two swans on a piece of paper and I must say it was an absolute masterpiece, they looked alive on the page. There we met his friends, and one of the SL guys spoke back to mike in fluent Italian. Turns out he was a tour guide and he also spoke fluent German and Dutch, crazy!
Later on we went for a meal and even the local waiter could speak fluent Italian to Mike. We decided to get pizza, and Mike discussed Italian cuisine as well as the recent corruption of Italy. Was very interesting. Mike paid for the bait, top bloke.
03/11/2013
Got awoken very early at around 6:30. As prewarned yesterday Mike's into mediation, and was about to commence his daily meditation to kick start the day. I didn't want to disrupt the guy too much but poked my head out my covers to see him sat crossed legged on the bed, eyes closed, perfectly still.
Later on I got up and me and Mike went next door to the surf shop where we hired a board each for an hour for £2. Ironically turned out this was where Mikes ex works, just by chance the next building down from the place we were stopping. I met Laura, very similar to Mike, Italian, tattoos, piercings and a big ear expander. I got a long board which is good for beginners. Mike gave me a 5 min lesson on the shore, before having a paddle out which took no time. There was so many surfers in the water. Surfing is massive here. I couldn't even master sitting on the board as the waves just constantly change your centre of gravity, so I reverted to just lying on it, waiting for a big wave. We met and French guy and chatted a bit. Turns out this was only his 2nd weekend surfing. There weren't any waves in our spot so we paddled back nearer to the shore. We paddled for quite a while then stopped. It was strange as even after all our efforts we didn't seem any closer. Still no waves, so we paddled further and eventually came in the breaking zone of the waves. Riding a wave felt so good, they lift you so high. I pushed up, raising my torso, but was too slow to get to my feet all in one smooth action. Get closer to the shore and you're no longer on the cusp of the wave, but in its breaking zone. Not going to lie it's a scary experience. The waves where strong in Varkala but these were much cleaner so the wave had more strength and where much bigger. First the wave hits you, then the force of the water behind it just throws you upside down in a washing machine. You loose your board, and one time it hit off my head. It's tied to your feet so you can't loose it, so you're never more than a doggy paddle away from it if you loose it. It then occurred to me that being in the breaking zone, and a strong regression of the sea didn't make for a good mix, and I thought forget this, this is not for me!! Getting back to shore was a real effort, as the waves just pull you back, before slamming you around in the water when they hit. I tried to remain calm because as long as I had my board I should be ok. Trying to make up as much ground as I could whilst there were no waves, as well as being thrown forward when a wave hit was my theory to get back ashore. This worked, but despite seeing the shore it seemed so far away. Eventually a wave threw me, I felt my body hit sand. It wasn't the most fashionable entrance back to the shore but I thought thank god I'm back on dry land. First and last surfing trip!!!
I waited for mike to return as we got breakfast after. They were out of nestecafe so my eggs and toast came with the local stuff, honestly the worst drink let alone coffee I have ever had. The taste was horrible and there was a pure sediment of unfiltered coffee in the bottom.
Later on mike when to settle dispute with Laura regarding their unfinished house in Aragun Bay. Mike had warned me that Laura was more than just crazy, but genuinely 'crazy'. He was gone a few hours so I decided to go to the surf shop to see if he was about. He was there with Laura, with her face like thunder. I didn't stick around long but I heard mention of lawyers and legal matters. Later on mike returned to the room fuming. He explained he had stumped up around 70% of the capital in the project, and had even spent a couple of trips in Australia to fund the building. Yet she claimed that two weeks ago on the phone Mike had promised to cut the property 50/50 when they sell it. She was no in Hikkaduwa working with her new boyfriend, but it didn't pay enough for her to live. Her folks said they didn't want to send her any more money and mike said he would even pay for a flight for her anywhere in the world if she wanted to go work in Aus or back home for example. He even said he would pay for her living from his Australia wage, as long as he was repaid when she received her cut of the house. Felt so sorry for the guy, seemed like such a complicated affair, one which wasn't going to end soon. Felt like I was watching a live episode of corrie.
Later on Mike went to an internet café to sort out some stuff, I went to a cheap place for a nice curry. It was quiet and there were an old British couple playing connect 4 at their table in the corner.
Later on me and Mike watched a surfing/travelling documentary movie on his Mac Air computer (laughed my head off when I picked it up…. So light) called Castles in the Sky. Was really good. Mike also told me that today someone had drowned in the water. A British guy. The next day I did some research and it turns out he was 65, swimming in the water. He mustn't have had the energy to out-swim the tide. Scary stuff.
04/11/2013
Said bye to Mike in the morn, he was going back to the East coast to settle a dispute with the house, but was going to return on the 7th. Went to travel agents to work out how to get to Ella. The guy was so helpful and wrang the bus people to see if there was any direct busses. I asked if it was possible and the guy reverted, "of course, this is Sri Lanka, anything is possible". Although just cringeworthy rhetoric it was good to see someone genuinely interested in helping me. 6am bus… from Galle, a half an hour bus away from Hikkadua. . Discovered there were cheaper rooms so moved my stuff. As I was taking a shower I spotted a big cockroach in my room, so this only confirmed my decision. However on arrival to my new room found another cockroach there too! I knew it was only a matter of time before I found them on my trip, every traveller said they had seen them before, as well as rats. There was a big power cut on the night, just as I was looking for somewhere to eat. Found a cheap place that sold these fish roll things for 50rs a pop. Had five haha. Went to the internet café after as the wifi was slow in Hansa.
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