Colombo to Bentota

Tuk-tuk to the rail station where the man in the tourist information centre proceeds to organise various rail tickets and car with driver for eight days, most of the rest of the trip, for GBP260 all in. Surprisingly the price hadn't increased but less surprisingly it has to be a cash transaction. I would be more suspicious if the office wasn't right next to the transport police.

A man accompanied us onto the train to find us seats, but we lost him in the crush and I sincerely believe there were no seats to be found anyway. It was a second class only train and we settled for sitting on our rucksacks at the end of a carriage. This was very good because we were right by the open doors of the carriage and as long as we didn't fall out we had a great view of the countryside and fresh air too!

For an hour and a half we rattled southwards, often with the beach on one side of the train and a constant ribbon of compounds, huts, bungalows, houses and shacks on the other. This was accompanied by the frequently blaring train horn and the occasional smell of fish.

Then, luckily I spotted the town name we were heading for on the door sign of some local functionary. The locals love titles, my favourite is Station Master ( Acting). Out we popped and only after the train had rattled away did we spot the station sign. Luckily it was the right one!

Tuk-tuk to the Waterside Bentota Hotel, after a few wrong turnings and phone calls by the driver, he eventually found it. Very pretty place fronting onto a lagoon.

As we sat on our balcony overlooking the water, I saw a large log start moving. It turned out to be a six foot long water monitor lizard lazily swimming along the shoreline.

In the afternoon we walked to the Bentota seaside, a beautiful sandy beach, and paddled in the sea. At beer o'clock we found a bar called 'the loft' which served an expensive cold beer on the second floor balcony as the sun set over the sea.

Tuk-tuk back to be met by one of the hotel staff with a plate containing the largest prawns we have ever seen. Did we want them for dinner? Yes please! They were caught in the lagoon and were delicious.

Train arriving.

Fort railway station

View from our balcony