For our first full day in Sri Lanka, we decided to check out the historic town of Galle.
Along the way, we drove along the coast that was so badly battered by the Boxing Day tsunami. Around 75 percent of the area was wiped out.
Now, it’s as busy as ever with cars, buses and tuk-tuks darting everywhere.
We saw how the locals shop. This is a butcher…
Might pass on that, thanks.
And the fish markets are set up along the beach in the open air. Nearby, fishermen are using long line nets, hauling them ashore.
We also stopped for one of the most iconic Sri Lankan photos – the ‘traditional’ stilt fishermen. Basically, it’s a tourist attraction. There’s no fishing going on. They ask for money for photos.
At first, they wanted 1000 rupee for a photo. I offered 200. We settled on 500. Afterwards, we realised we were arguing over $2.48 Australian.
I’m not sure how traditional they were. Unless their traditional dress is Billabong board shorts.
It was then on to Galle.
The most I had ever known about Galle was that they play cricket here. But as we’ve quickly learnt, now is not the time to start talking about cricket when you’re an Australian.
The fort part of the city is behind a large wall which protected it from the land side, where there was ongoing wars.
Now, the city is bustling with tourists (yep, like us). We walked along the wall for most of the way. At home, things like this that are hundreds of years old would be well protected. Here, not so, because of the cost. It’s a rugged dirt track for most of the way.
After an hour or so in the blazing heat, we escaped to the relief of a restaurant for lunch before venturing into the streets of the fort town.
Then the skies opened.
I mean really opened.
The most spectaucular monsoon type of rain, filling the streets with water and lightning cracking close by. It’s the norm at this time of year and comes in like clockwork every day apparently.
So in the end we saw one block of the fort town before venturing back.