The beaches in Sri Lanka’s south are rightly famous. Between the capital, Colombo, and Yala National Park are countless places to stop and unwind. Galle with its famous fort and UNESCO town, and Mirissa with its blue waters are just starters. Most visitors, like us, don’t get beyond that southern portion.
The verandah of the Galle Face Hotel, which has hosted Hollywood celebs, armies, world leaders...and me.
Comings and goings of a small market.
Buildings in Colombo showing their age.
Many ways to make a living in Colombo's Pettah market district.
Beach, Sri Lanka style. Sit or stand on the sand fully clothed, until the end of the day, then get the shins wet just before sunset.
The old dame of Colombo, the Galle Face Hotel, looks down on the green.
Sunday in Colombo means gathering on the Galle Face Green to take in the afternoon breeze.
Galle Fort is one of the most recognisable structures in the country, built by the Portuese, expanded by the Dutch.
Dutch VOC coat of arms above an entrance to the fort.
Galle market.
View from the top of Galle Fort. Locals fill the fort when cricket is played on the ground situated at the base.
Ramparts along the Galle sea front, an area devasted by the 2004 tsunami.
The old historical centre of Galle is a lovely place to while away a few days.
Making roti in Galle. I wish I had more food pics. Roti Kottu is bread with lamb or chicken and chopped. Hoppers are the ubiqitous Sri Lanka meal- search them out, they are hard to explain!
North of Colombo, the Muslim fishing village of Puttalam was a nice place to wait for flights.
A young man watches the sea in Hambanota. Many a perilous sea journey to Australia began from ports in Sri Lanka, for Tamils fleeing war and persecution.
Small fishing boats on the beach at Hambantota, which is the staging town for Yala National Park.
It's not just the small fry that the bring in.
Mirissa, fresh cocnut juice.
Selling, hanggling, bargaining for fish is a spectator sport in the south.
A common scene on Sri Lanka's south coast.
I can't imagine that hanging on to the stilts while reeling in fish to be an easy way to make a living.
Sun sets behind Mirissa's stilt fishermen.
One of Sri Lanka's biggest draw cards is her beaches. Mirissa is one of the best, but not so overcrowded.
Yala National PArk has some very good wildlife viewing, including elephants and rarely seen leopards (no) and sloth bears (yes).