Mirissa, Galle and Bohoma Istuti (Thank You) Sri Lanka

Fruit Stand Across from Our Hotel
 

Mirissa Beach was better than I expected, although at the beginning we weren't sure.  Sometimes reviews just don't work out and this was one of those times.  The place we reserved was just too funky - even for me!  By luck, as Paulette and I were walking down the beach, we decided to check out a place and voilà!  They had two rooms available.  It was a great place right on the beach with hammocks, chaises, free breakfast, beautiful sunsets, body surfing to the right and snorkeling to the left.  What more could you ask for?  Well, a bit of night life but not too much.  Done!  A line of restaurants on the beach  all with fresh seafood stands out in front for dinner and drinks completed the beautiful and easy-going setting. 



The Night Beach Scene



A Quiet Beach Near a Snorkeling Spot



Local Fishing Boats

 

View From My Room in Marissa
The rock in front is called Parrot Rock and
There are stairs to the top for great sunset watching.

 

No Explanation - Just Beautiful!

There was a bread truck that came by a few times a day playing what at first was an annoying jingle announcing its arrival, but the tune was catchy and I find myself missing it.  We definitely could have spent more time here (a phrase that seems to repeat itself in Sri Lanka).



Fisherman in Mirissa On My Snorkel Beach

Stick Fisherman in Wellegama

Ah, but now we're in Galle and it is an interesting place.  We're staying in the Fort area which is surrounded by walls (duh!) and is at the Southern-most tip of Sri Lanka.  There are narrow streets and lots of old, old structures within the walls of the fort built by the Portuguese and later fortified by the Dutch.  We went to a maritime archeology museum today as many ships have sunk off these shores carrying all sorts of interesting cargo including one referred to as 'the bottle ship'.  Ha!  Guess what it carried!
I snorkeled here as well as in a couple different places in Mirissa and it was incredible here for being so close to a city.  Snorkeling among beautiful corals and fish so near the fort wall was a unique experience for me.

A Snake Charmer on the Fort Wall (One of the Cobras Took a Liking to Me - I didn't like him so much!)

The Snorkel Site

From the Fort Wall - A Buddhist Stupa and a Catholic Church Behind
There is also a Moslem Mosque in Galle




Tombstone at the Dutch Church
Poor Edmund Buckle

Galle Lighthouse

Tomorrow, on to the airport and Kuala Lumpur on my way to Borneo.  I have really liked Sri Lanka, the people, the food, the beaches, the countryside . . . everything.