Monday 22nd January 2024

My alarm went off at 04:30, as Erica and Shanthi (one of her 'girls') were giving me a lift to Tangalle to pick up a coach to Colombo, which was due to leave at 05:40. However, when the coach arrived at Tangalle it was already full, so Erica very kindly took me a bit further up the coast to Matara, where I was able to get a coach to the main bus station in Colombo. It set off at 06:30, and arrived in Colombo just after 09:30, and it was a very comfortable ride.

I took this longer route, as I couldn't face another 5-hour journey in a government bus, especially as Ranna was not the starting point of the journey, so I would not be guaranteed a seat. It was a pretty unbearable journey sitting down, so there was no way I could face it standing up most of the time. I was able to get another coach to Nuwara Eliya in Colombo, but it didn't set off until 11:00, and it took just over 5 and a half hours, but at least it was reasonably comfortable.

The coaches were so comfortable that I was able to read and sleep a little on both of them. I am currently reading 'The Judge's List' by John Grisham, one of my favourite authors, and I can certainly recommend it if you like a crime thriller that is an easy read. I cannot remember how many John Grisham books I have read, as there are just so many of them, but I have enjoyed all of them, with 'The Testament' and 'Bleachers' standing out for me as particularly good reads.

It felt good arriving back in Nuwara Eliya, especially as Chooty was there to pick me up as soon as the bus arrived, so that I had a very quick ride back to Blackpool. It was lovely to find Miggy there, and to see Jana too, as there is just something about seeing familiar faces that makes you feel that you are back where you belong. It was still a pretty exhausting journey though, so I was very keen to get an early night and catch up on some sleep.

There are no new photos today, as I was travelling all day, and there were no great opportunities to take any, so I have popped in a few of my favourite photos from this trip so far, the first one showing you Chooty in his tuk-tuk (from a previous day), with the others just a random selection!








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