Wasswold Sri Lankan Adventure Day 7

Wasswold's Sri Lankan Adventure- Day 7

After breakfast we headed south along the coast to the town of Galle. This area was hard hit by the tsunami on December 26 in 2004. More than 25,000 people were killed. 1500 were killed when the tsunami hit a train. Dave and his family had plans to come to this area that day but an unexpected visit from an uncle cancelled their trip. Thank God for the uncle! Their home was far enough inland that the tsunami did not harm them. 

Along the coast you can see the stilt fishermen who stand on stilts that they pound into ocean floor a few feet from the shore. Fishing season is in December but they hang out by their stilts in the hopes tourists will come by and want a picture which of course is not free. We stopped near them to see what the price of a picture was today. The price was high at first but when they saw  us move toward the bus, the price started reducing. After we were on the bus the real negotiations began and it was finally decided that Kate and Thilini could take a picture for 500 rupees a piece! I guess when the fish don't bite, the tourists do! 

The next stop was a small turtle hatchery. The hatchery guide spoke really clear English - almost with an Australian accent - and was very informative. There are many turtle hatcheries in this area to try and increase the number of turtles visiting Sri Lanka’s beaches. Most of them are nonprofit and run by volunteers. They go out at night and dig up the turtle eggs after they are laid before others can find them. They also buy them from fisherman at a higher rate than they can sell them. The hatchery then reburies them, keep them awhile after they hatch and then release them back into the sea. Their instinct will bring them back to the place they were released in 30 years to lay their own eggs. I've known that turtles live for many years but  I didn't realize that they are solitary creatures and never stick around to see their babies hatch. We were allowed to pick up the babies by their shells for a closer look- very cute! 

Saw some tea harvesting along the way.

This turtle was hurt and healing before returning to the ocean.

Eggs waiting to hatch.

Lots of babies!

The main attraction of Galle is the fort which was built in 1663 by the Dutch after defeating the Portuguese who had been here since 1589. The walls are still intact and you can see the Dutch influence in the architecture of the buildings within the fort. 

Alex and niece Kate pretending it isn't hotter than...

We walked around for awhile and saw the ramparts but it was a very hot and humid day and we welcomed the shady restaurant with the sea breeze for lunch! 

The remainder of the afternoon was spent at the hotel pool. Every night we created a tradition of gathering in the lobby for happy hour which was always a nice time to visit about the day. Another every other night tradition involved cigars and the solving of many world problems which I left up to the Ostwald boys!

This is how our laundry was delivered to us by the hotel! I may never leave!

Thilini and I enjoyed another cultural show put on by the hotel. These dancers were even better and the fire eater was on fire…well, not really but he was good!