We left the Kuwait airport at 4:30 and had a layover in Qatar. We decided because we had 7.5 hours we would check Qatar out! We jumped in a taxi and headed towards the City Center area. We wanted to be dropped off at the hotel that served alcohol but the taxi dropped us off at the mall nearby. So we walked around the mall many times looking for the hotel and finally gave up. We ate Chili’s restaurant and then went shopping. It was a nice mall. The architecture in Qatar was pretty cool. They have many large skyscraper buildings too. Finally it was time to go back to the airport and get on the plane to Colombo.
Day 2 – Monday, September 21st
We arrived in Colombo at 8:30am and picked up some alcohol at duty free. We were greeted by Chandika (but we called him Chandi) when we came out with all our bags! We got in the van and headed to Hikkaduwa. It was raining out, but Chandi said only in Colombo it was raining but not in Hikkaduwa. After about an hour or so on the road we stopped for a break at Monis and had fish sticks, bacon sandwiches, sausage and sweet bread. The tea was very good with lots of sugar. Just the way I like it.
It took us about 2.5-3 hours to get to Hikkaduwa because there was very little traffic. The atmosphere at Mambos was beautiful. The colors they used were vibrant red, yellow and green. They had seashells hanging from the ceiling for decorations. We changed into our bathing suit and walked along the beach taking pictures. We then went back to Mambos for a beer which converted was 0.93 cents. Wowzers! I laid my towel down on the sand and before I knew it I fell asleep. It was a glorious sleep in the nice hot sun. For supper we went to the restaurant next door. I had Gordon Bleu, sweet and sour prawns, and fresh pineapple juice for only 1600RS. Afterwards, we walked down the street checking out the little shops. Inside the shops there were bed spreads, art, pillows, clothes et. We wandered back to Mambos and had a few beers and decided to go to bed early.
Day 3 – Tuesday, September 22nd
What a wonderful sleep I had. I woke up to the sound of the ocean waves and fresh air. The sun was shinning and Barb and I went and laid on the chairs in the hot sun. Lindsay and Melanie joined us for breakfast we ate at the same restaurant that we had supper at. I had coffee and Baileys, and omelet and home made toast all for 374 RS. Then we walked down the beach to feed the turtles in the Ocean with Chandi and his friend who also worked at Mambos. The wind picked up as we walked towards the turtles and started to rain so we had to wait the weather out under a little hut. Finally the storm passed and we continued on our journey. We picked some seaweed from the ocean to feed the turtles. When we arrived at the turtles we walked into the water past our knees and there were 2 turtles!!! We got to feed the turtles seaweed and touch them. It was awesome!!! I even went swimming with them.
Next, we went back to Mambos and changed and decided to go shopping. I bought 3 shirts, a purse, a bed sheet, and 2 skirts.
Chandi took us to a town nearby where we went on a Catamaran ride on the Blue Lagoon. When we first arrived we saw a peacock on the top of a tuktuk. The catamaran only cost 1000 RS for over an hour!! On the Catamaran ride we saw a Buddhist Temple, Water Monitor, Cashew and almond trees, and bats. We even saw a coconut fall from a tree into the water.
For supper we wanted fresh fish so Chandi dropped us off at Beach Restaurant. I ordered Grilled Seer, tomato / onion salad, with ships and of course a lager lion beer! It was delicious!!
We went back to Mambos and changed into some clean clothes and started drinking and playing cards. Melanie and Barb decided to call it an early night and Lindsay and I decided to go to Vibrations with some other travelers that were also staying at Mambos. Vibrations was lots of fun! Jumped on the trampoline, and danced the night away. Met some people from Ireland who were teaching in Dubai. Afterwards, Lindsay and I went with Garth and Carlos in a tuk tuk to get some Rotty. We got vegetable and egg rotty. It sorta like a spring roll. 4am…definitely bed time!
Day 3 – Wednesday, September 23rd
8:00am woke up and had homemade toast and coffee…and lots of water! We had to get an early start on the road because we were going surfing!!
We stopped along side the road to drink some coconut juice…to help cure the hangover! Which I have to say definitely worked.
We went to Weligama Bay to surf. First I layed on the beach and enjoyed the sun while Barb Surfed.
Then finally it was my turn to surf.Chandi was an awesome teacher! I got up on the board my first time…little wobbly but I still did it. I love love loved Surfing!!
We had a chinese lunch at the hotel we were surfing infront of. Due to the off season not much was open they were just getting everything ready. We had the whole beach to ourselves which was pretty cool. On the way back to Hikkaduwa we stopped and took pictures of the fisherman stilts. It was raining so there were no fisherman on the stilts when we drove by. We stopped at the Peace Pagoda and looked at the beautiful view. In Galle we stopped at the Fort and walked along the ocean. There was a guy jumping from the rocks doing crazy tricks for money!
For supper it was recommended that we go to the Spaghetti Co. Restaurant for Italian Pizza. It was delicious!!
Back at Mambos we went down and started playing cards. I had almost a full litre of Baileys to drink…it was going to be a late night. There was a quick rain / wind storm that passed through and then afterwards the guys from Mambos started a fire out on the sand and we sat near it for awhile. Then the crew of teachers living in Dubai came (the same ones Lindsay and I met the night before). The music was playing, and everyone was talking and having a good time. Another 4am night for Lindsay and I.
Day 4 – Thursday, September 24th
Slept in until 11 and then Barb and I got up and bought our art paintings at a local shop. We went back and Lindsay was ready for Breakfast. (Mel went back to the surfing spot). We decided to have breakfast at a different restaurant…which was a mistake! The food was okay but they ran out of bread so they gave us French fries instead…sigh I wish I had gone for the fresh homemade bread next to our beach hotel…it was delicious! Lindsay and I decided to go for a walk through Hikkaduwa and stop and shop some more. At 2:00 we went back to Mambos to pack. We left at 3:00 to head into Colombo. It took us over 4 hours to get to the airport. The traffic was very busy. We did stop at a popular mall in Colombo. It was packed with people but the items were cheap! It reminded me of Walmart in away.
Overall, the trip was Awesome!! I had so much fun. It is hard to believe that I was only in Kuwait for 1 week setting up my classroom and then it was time for the Eid Vacation.
