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Sri Lanka & the Maldives
On Velassaru Island
We didn’t do much, which of course is the point of staying on a tiny tropical island
We divided our time between sitting on the beach, swimming and snorkelling in the lagoon, keeping cool in our bungalow during the fierce midday sun, more swimming and beach-bathing, before eating exquisite food every evening and doing it all again the next day. There were some majestic thunderstorms at night which lit up the sea like daytime and reminded us that we were on a tiny speck in the middle of the vast Indian Ocean. There was also a day when it rained heavily for an hour, which freshened the air a little, but mainly it was baking hot, bright, sunny, humid, and most important of all, peaceful.
Stationed along the beach were three (according to my book of Sri Lankan birds) Western Sea Egrets. When not resting in the shade of a beach umbrella, they would occasionally catch a tiny black and white sea snake or some little fish from the waters edge, all the while keeping an eye on the other egrets making sure they weren't encroaching on their bit of beach. Foraging through the undergrowth were White-breasted Waterhens. Cute and utterly tame birds that were our almost constant companions. There was lots of other wildlife as well; fruit bats, ghost crabs, various lizards, and of course, a great abundance of spectacular fish in the lagoon and on the reef.
We divided our time between sitting on the beach, swimming and snorkelling in the lagoon, keeping cool in our bungalow during the fierce midday sun, more swimming and beach-bathing, before eating exquisite food every evening and doing it all again the next day. There were some majestic thunderstorms at night which lit up the sea like daytime and reminded us that we were on a tiny speck in the middle of the vast Indian Ocean. There was also a day when it rained heavily for an hour, which freshened the air a little, but mainly it was baking hot, bright, sunny, humid, and most important of all, peaceful.
Stationed along the beach were three (according to my book of Sri Lankan birds) Western Sea Egrets. When not resting in the shade of a beach umbrella, they would occasionally catch a tiny black and white sea snake or some little fish from the waters edge, all the while keeping an eye on the other egrets making sure they weren't encroaching on their bit of beach. Foraging through the undergrowth were White-breasted Waterhens. Cute and utterly tame birds that were our almost constant companions. There was lots of other wildlife as well; fruit bats, ghost crabs, various lizards, and of course, a great abundance of spectacular fish in the lagoon and on the reef.
Doughnut
No shortage of pastries at the breakfast buffet on Velassaru
Infinity pool
Although Velassaru sits in a tranquil, turquoise lagoon skirted by a deserted beach of soft, white sand, the proprietors have been kind enough to provide a swimming pool right on the beach
Fruit bats
The little beach bungalow we stayed in on Velassaru had a bathroom that opened out into a little garden shower
If you looked straight up you could often see lots of fruit bats (or flying foxes) hanging in the trees overhead. They wouldn't do much during the fierce heat of the day except snooze. Occasionally, something would disturb the group and they would chatter and screech and vie for hanging space.
If you looked straight up you could often see lots of fruit bats (or flying foxes) hanging in the trees overhead. They wouldn't do much during the fierce heat of the day except snooze. Occasionally, something would disturb the group and they would chatter and screech and vie for hanging space.
To the reef by glass-bottomed boat
Heading to Galle from Kalutara, we stopped at Hikkaduwa for a cool drink and a short trip out to the reef by glass-bottomed boat
This takes only a couple of minutes, and once there, we could see the reef in the glass beneath our feet, with lots of small fish darting about in the turbulent water. Our boatman gave us some dry bread, which we threw in the sea to bring the fish to the surface.
Suddenly we saw, feeding over the reef right next to us, a large sea turtle of some sort (at 1 minute in), which was lovely to see, having just come from a turtle sanctuary where we'd held tiny little hatchlings in our hands. Although the boat was organised and paid for by our guide, it is customary to tip the boatman 100 rupees.
Music: Sri Lankan Drum by malakadew
This takes only a couple of minutes, and once there, we could see the reef in the glass beneath our feet, with lots of small fish darting about in the turbulent water. Our boatman gave us some dry bread, which we threw in the sea to bring the fish to the surface.
Suddenly we saw, feeding over the reef right next to us, a large sea turtle of some sort (at 1 minute in), which was lovely to see, having just come from a turtle sanctuary where we'd held tiny little hatchlings in our hands. Although the boat was organised and paid for by our guide, it is customary to tip the boatman 100 rupees.
Music: Sri Lankan Drum by malakadew
Palm squirrel
There were lots of these tame little animals all around the Kani Lanka Resort
On the Colombo-Galle Road
Random footage shot from the window of our minibus as we travelled through Sri Lanka looking at stuff