Australia0811 Travels
Thursday 3 July 2014
Sunday 8 December 2013
South To Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
Heading south out of Batticaloa, the coast landscape takes a dramatic change. Most of it now abandoned & derelict thanks to the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. Sri Lanka was the second hardest hit with over 36,000 lives lost.
Further inland, heavy rains have flooded most of the rice fields and there is some great opportunities for locals to fish "the run off"at the bridges and creeks. No rods or lures here.
Just north of Arugam Bay is a small community whose housing style can be best described as "Tea Pot"shaped. Why we couldn't find out.
Arugam Bay is traditionally a sufie beach heavily frequented during the good season - April to August. Now it is a bit lonely except for the local fisherman.
at the far end of the beach is the "Cobra Tree"
We are never far from our street food vendors.....
Preparing roti for Kottu Roti
the local bakery
Our local bar and takeaway....where Sharon was a celebrity....1 x 500ml can of ice cold Lion beer....150Rupee....$A 1.25
Our Accommodation - Galaxy Lounge,Galaxy Rd, Nth Arugam Bay
A sunset drive to a nearby tank or lake brings a pleasant surprise when a wild elephant appears on the edge of the roadway. He doesn't remain for too long preferring the safety of the jungle to our company.
The lake is a haven for bird life as well as Sri Lanka's freshwater crocodile....
Malabar Hornbills
Green Bee-eater
Mugger or marsh crocodile can grow up to 4.5m in length & only inhabits freshwater
A lovely sunset, cloudy but no rain for our last day
Tomorrow we start back to the west coast and our last 3 days before flying home......
Saturday 7 December 2013
Batticaloa, Eastern Sri Lanka
Travelling south from Trincomalee on the coast road, we see numerous signs of the Australian Govt's - NO VISA - NO AUSTRALIA campaign to deter illegally boats.
Giant Billboards - roughly translated meaning "NO VISA. NO ACCEPTED IN AUSTRALIA"
Wall Posters - which don't fare so well & subject to overnight vandalism
THE DUTCH FORT
The Batticaloa Fort
was built by the Portuguese in 1628 and was the first to be captured by
the Dutch (18 May 1638). It is one of the most picturesque of the small
Dutch fort of Sri Lanka, it’s situated in an island, with the battlements still in good
condition.Unfortunately the interior was destroyed and now houses the modern Divisional Secretariat.
One of two Dutch cannons....all that is left
HMS HERMES & HMAS VAMPIRE SUNK - 9 APRIL 1942
Light Aircraft Carrier - HMS Hermes
Escorting Destroyer - HMAS Vampire
FISHING BY THE DOZENS
EVEN IN THE RAIN, WE MUST EAT - OUR FAVOURITE
Giant hot sandwiches in Turkish bread, giant hot filled roti rolls and Donner Kebabs
OUR ACCOMMODATION - RIVIERA RESORT
Our Cabana is an island....
but dry and pleasant......
The next day....Arugam Bay
Thursday 5 December 2013
Trincomalee, Eastern Sri Lanka
The recorded history of Trincomalee spans more than 2500 years and is one of the oldest cities in Asia - it has
served as a major maritime seaport in the international trading history
of the island within South East Asia.
British Occupation c 1900
Trincomalee was made into a fortified port town following the Portugese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom in the early 1600s, changing hands between the Danish in 1620, the Dutch, then the French following a battle of the American Revolutionary War and the British in 1795, finally being absorbed into the British Ceylon state in 1815. Attacked by the Japanese as part of the Indian Ocean raids during World war II
in 1942. The city also has the largest Dutch fort on the island.
FORT FREDERICK
Arthur Wellesley, later, 1st Duke of Wellington visited whilst a Colonel in the British East India Company, the bungalow he resided in is known as Wellesley Lodge which is inside Fort Fredrick and now is the officer's of the 2nd (Volunteer) battalion of the Gajaba Regiment of the Sri Lankan Army.
Gokana Temple
At the Markets......
On the Beaches
"I'll have 1 cold Lion beer please"
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie...check out the legs...
Trincomalee's Oldest Cemetery
Check out our eatery
first roll it out......
now flip it around in the air
keep flipping it until you get a MEGA ROTI
your choice of roti parcels for lunch...
...and at night.....
Sharon's favourite...Kotthu Roti
Our Recommended Accommodation...only the best
Dykes Rest Beach Resort
228 Dykes Street, Dutch Bay, Trincomalee
( http://www.dykerest.comuv.com/index.html )
with a back door right on the beach......
So ends a wet, rainy holiday in Trincomalee, but we still had loads of fun. Our next stop is Batticaloa
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