Going to be my last post recording our journey in Sri Lanka. Our last day was a tiring one, as we had to rush from Mirissa back to Negombo in order to catch our midnight flight! And you should be aware by now that the traffic in Sri Lanka was not the most reliable one. Luckily, it's no longer a public holiday in Sri Lanka and the traffic was somewhat smoother than the previous days.
Accommodation
Mirissa - Ballena Recency
I booked this one on impulse after seeing a blogger posted about it. However, during our stay, I wasn't quite sure whether it's considered as a good deal. I could see how the staffs were trying to be helpful by responding to our complaints/requests immediately, but there were just too many complaints we had to make! And the worst being shortage of water supply - the supply was cut off while my mum was taking a shower with her hair full of shampoo :( Afterwards, we had to call them twice for non-functioning lamp and Wi-Fi, respectively. Notwithstanding this, I have to mention once again that the staffs here did a commendable job. Maybe it's just our poor luck to encounter these incidents?
Cost per night = USD116.33 or RM474 per room for 3 pax
(+) Convenient location (within walking distance to beaches and eateries), friendly staffs, spacious and well-equipped room
(-) Water supply issue, sandy floor, weak Wi-Fi signal
I kinda miss the variety of breakfast in Malaysia and Singapore.
Super cute!
Attractions
Matara Paravi Duwa TempleAfter leaving our campsite, a two-hour drive took us to this small town known as Matara. We stopped here to visit a temple and have a quick lunch before continuing our journey to Mirissa.
Coconut Tree Hill
Entrance fee: None (but you have to donate a small amount of fee to a temple if you walk through the temple to reach Coconut Tree Hill - the easiest route out there)
The most instragrammable place in Sri Lanka? I would probably agree. Nothing much here apart from being a good backdrop to take photos.
Another instagrammable spot. If you are agile and flexible, you can even go further down to take some good shots.
Very unique traditional way of fishing, as we see the skillful fishermen sitting gracefully on a narrow stretch of wood and holding their fishing rods to wait patiently for a good catch. Chandra shared with us that instead of being an authentic fisherman, a lot of locals just waited for tourists to approach them and acted for photos only.
Oh well, I wouldn't mind that much as regardless of the genuineness of their identities, you still have to pay a fee to capture a photo with the "fishermen", although it would be good to support those who are real. For those who are interested, you can even get a taste by trying the activity yourself. Of course, just need to pay more.
I am not sure if this was worth every penny we paid.
Galle Fort
Our last stop before heading to airport. It's almost evening by the time we arrived Galle. There are a couple of attractions in Galle to be explored, such as Dutch Reformed Church, the Dutch Fort, the Lighthouse and the Clock Tower. All places have their own histories, including how the place survived the hit of tsunami many years back, waiting for the travellers to find out and appreciate. It's actually quite relaxing to take a stroll along the fortress and enjoy the sea breeze.
Two brothers were enjoying their ice-cream.
How the wind messed up my hair...
Food
Matara - The Dutchman's Street
Address: No 09, Dharmarama Mawatha, Dutch Fort, Matara.
Opening hours: 9am to 10pm daily
Great place to enjoy a meal en route to Mirissa. The restaurant is beautifully decorated in vintage style with a lot of good photo opportunities available. You can even walk to the beach while waiting for your food to be served, merely a 5-min walk away. The restaurant mainly serves Western cuisine, with an extensive range of options. We randomly ordered a few dishes for sharing and I remember the taste was decent. The only complaint was the relatively small portion.
Very home-like arrangement.
Blue Whale Chinese Seafood Restaurant
Sick of Sri Lanka and Western cuisine? You can actually find Chinese food in Mirissa, given it gathers tourists from all around the world. However, expect to pay premium price for it. The food met our expectation (bear in mind that it's not high to begin with).
How adorable!
Steamed fish is my all-time favourite.
Address: 92 Pedlar Street, Fort, Galle 80000, Sri Lanka.
Opening hours: 9am to 10pm daily (closed on Friday afternoons from 12.00pm until 1.30pm)
One of the most satisfying meals in Sri Lanka, featuring fresh and well-cooked seafood (so much better than The Ministry of Crabs). The prices fell on the more expensive side though.
All I want for Christmas is hot chocolate!
Must order dish!
Sorry for the blur photos. Was too eager to feast on these yummy prawns.
Lastly, just to provide some information about our dining experience in airport. NEVER EVER EAT IN THE AIRPORT - OVERPRICED IN USD! A simple meal set in Burger King was close to 18 USD, totally a scam! Okay, I shall stop here before complaining more...
The expensive last meal in airport marked the end of our trip in this charming country. While I won't miss the traffic jam here, I will miss the kind people we met here and the genuine smiles they showed us throughout the trip. Til the next time, Sri Lanka!
Comments
Post a Comment