Last day in Colombo and the long journey home

Monday, August 13th, 2018



No early start for us this morning. After breakfast, Mahl takes me round to see some shops full of beautiful things. But I don't feel like purchasing anything after all because my suitcase is very full as it is.

We have lunch in an Indian Vegetarian Restaurant which is very yummy. Then we spend the afternoon on the verandah at Mahl's home......sweating profusely.

I sort through the photos for my blog and Mahl assists me with names of animals and places.

We are observed by some of her frequents visitors.

There are plenty of squirrels running around as well, keeping a beady eye on us, but their speed is beyond me and my camera.

Eventually, it is time to deal with my luggage, packing the big suitcase so that I won't need to open it until I arrive at home.

After a last wonderful Sri Lankan dinner, a taxi picks me up to take me to the airport where I arrive with plenty of time to spare as my flight doesn't leave until well after midnight.

Tuesday, August 14th, 2018

After an uneventful night in the air, we land in Bangkok early and I have a bit of time to spend in the lounge before boarding the flight to Melbourne.

I try to sleep a little, but of course, it is daytime and I have trouble settling. The eyes just about refuse to read or watch the screen by now. Good thing there is always food coming along to break the monotony.

At last we arrive in Melbourne around eight o'clock. My Antarctic cabin mate Mawson (Mary) and her husband Dave are at the airport to pick me up and take me home for the night. This is another happy reunion between Mawson and Mertz (the latter being me since I'm Swiss).

Wednesday, August 15th, 2018

Mary and I have to leave early to go to the airport. It is a pretty long drive, all the more because we seem to have taken a wrong turn somewhere. Not to worry, we have plenty to talk about and there is no end to the hilarity. With the help of Google on Mary's phone I manage to assume the role of navigator and we make it to the airport in good time.

My big suitcase spent the night in her car to make things easier. As we take it out, I notice to my horror that the zip is starting to come apart on one corner.

I have the lady at the check in tape it up and hope for the best.

The suitcase is still holding together when I arrive in Hobart, but only just.

And so ends this incredibly memorable big trip around the world.

What happens at home on my return will be in my regular blog  Mon Beau Séjour.

Sri Lanka Adventure - Day two

Sunday, August 12th, 2018

We are downstairs by 5.30h waiting for Safari driver Ranga to pick us up for a 3 1/2 hour sunrise safari in the Udawalawe National Park.

I have no idea what these trees are called, but I'm very taken with them. They look so majestic.

This morning, Ranga takes us for a drive where other drivers don't go. We seem to have the whole park to ourselves.

The first animals we get to see are these shy, graceful animals.

Spotted Deer

Elephants are coming out of the bushes. Everyone is slowly beginning their day.

We have clearly interrupted the flow here. This poor lady is getting a bit anxious because the rest of the family is already on the other side of the track.

Because we are the only vehicle around, it is nice and quiet, especially since Ranga has switched the engine off.

He's hoping she'll cross the track behind our vehicle.

We are conversing very quietly - in hushed David Attenborough voices.

But in the end, I tell Ranga to move on.

I have some lovely photos and I don't want to see the poor animal too antagonized.

White bellied Sea eagle

We drive through some beautiful forest and arrive at the river where we spot this white bellied sea eagle posing for us .

Gosh, I love my new camera with that great zoom. I don't think that bird even realizes we are present.

It is somewhere near there that we suddenly see a whole group of these beautiful deer. They didn't quite expect us either by the look of it.

The Monitor Lizard, or water monitor is just quietly sunning himself .

This water hole holds more surprises.

The Purple Heron is apparently quite a rare sight. Even the locals are getting exited about him.

There is a Grey Heron as well.

A whole family of Spotted Dear grazing just across the water.

Grey Langur

They seem to be quite intrigued by our presence.

Weaver Bird nests

Woolly-necked stork

Crested Hawk Eagle

All too soon, the time is up and we are returned to our hotel where Ranga very cleverly pulls up by the garden bed again.

This was a fabulous safari this morning with Ranga who obviously knows the Park like the back of his hand and was able to take us places where no other driver went.

Time for some late breakfast at last and then we have to pack up and hit the road for the drive back to Colombo.

Today, we drive round the South Coast via a place called Batigama where I take a couple of quick ocean photos.

After some lunch in Matara, we leave the coast and head up to the Southern Express Way which takes us back to Colombo.

And so ends another fabulous day.

Sri Lanka Adventure - Day one

Saturday, August 11th, 2018

We have a very early start this morning. Mahl has planned a two-day excursion and hired driver Dilruk for the duration so we can spend our travelling time catching up with each other. She has also brought breakfast to eat en route.

It takes us hours to get out of Colombo and through countless villages and towns via Ratnapura to our destination Udawalawe where we visit the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home and Orphanage in time to see the little and not so little orphans being fed.

This is Namal
click on the link and read his story

Namal was found with such a badly injured foot that it couldn't be saved. He has received a prosthetic foot, funded by the Zoo in Cologne, Germany. He is getting used to walking with it.

My back hurts watching the poor boy walk. Just look at his spine.

I can only hope that he will never be re-homed in the wild.

Little group by little group is led in to get their drink of milk - just one of several per day.

Some are just tiny babies.

A big pile of tree branches has been put there and as they finish their milk, they go and have a bit of a feed. The tiniest ones are not eating yet, they rely solely on the milk.

The pile of leaves doesn't last long at all. But I'm quite sure they get plenty more behind the scenes.

After the visit to the orphanage, we drive on to our hotel where we will be staying for the night. We have lunch and a very brief rest and then get picked up by a Safari vehicle for a 3 1/2 hour safari in the Udawalawe National Park.

The first animals we spot are monkeys in a tree.

There are lots of dams - water holes.

Painted Stork and two Black-winged Stilts

Black-winged Stilt

There are elephants everywhere. I'm in heaven.

Black Capped Kingfisher

Young Eagle learning to fly

There are crocodiles too. 

Little Green Bee-Eater

Buffalo

Two Black-winged stilts, Painted Stork and Black-headed Ibis

Red wattled Lapwing

This Little Egret is so close to the crocodile that I'm actually holding my breath. But it is smart enough to back off.

Grey Heron

Water Buffalo
This picture reminds me of one of my paintings.

The sun is going down on the elephants.

Spotted deer

The shy Spotted Deer are the last animals we see as we're leaving the National Park for the day.

When we were picked up, Ranga, the driver, had to hunt around for a crate to serve as a step so I could reach the ladder on the side of the vehicle. Coming back to the hotel, he cleverly parks himself so we have the low wall of a garden bed to step down onto. Nobody is complaining.

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There is a pool and I have to have a quick dip before dinner, but it gets dark quickly.

Dinner at the hotel is a buffet and is just wonderful.

Our room is very nice too.