An Adventurers Tale: Galle.

We left Dikwella this morning after loading up "Ruby" for our 2 hour journey to Galle. We are on the final arc of our travels now back towards Negombo. Galle is an old town on the southern coast. The seat of colonialn rule under first the Portuguese and then the Dutch. It's a big town but the attraction is the Dutch Fort. Built on a promitory jutting out into the Indian Ocean it is a self contained colonial town within the walks of a 16th century fortress. The next 2 days will be more cultural than beach. There are many hotels and lodgings within the old town walls but secure parking is a problem. I didn't want to leave "Ruby" anywhere where she wouldn't feel safe. In the rural areas it is not a problem but in a busy town could be a problem. There is almost no security with a tuk tuk. Anybody can simply push her away in the dark and we would never see her again. It's not so much the Tuk Tuk itself that is desirable but her wheels and engine. As such I chose a quiet little house in a private secure garden a short 15 minute walk away. It is on Jail road and is a good location. I didn't realise when i booked that the jail in the name actually meant it was adjacent to a Prison. One of the largest in Sri Lanka and home to many dangerous criminals. It looks scary from the outside so heaven knows what it must be like inside. I have worked in a few prisons in the UK and have an idea what they are like. I think Strangeways must seem like a 5 star hotel compared to this one. The good news is one of the guard towers is right outside our gate and manned 24/7 by a machine gun toting policeman. I think "Ruby" is going to be safe here as we have asked him to keep an eye on her.

We dumped our matildas on arrival as we were early and went into the old town for a quick look around. A spot of lunch later and a brief walk around saw us back in our lodgings to shower and settle in before once more heading out for dinner. It looks amazing and we are looking forward to a day strolling around tomorrow. There seems a lot to see and it is of course Dear Old Crispys birthday. There are a few tat shops here to keep her amused and she might be able to spend her birthday money.

Right now we are back in our little house. There is a wedding going on a few miles away up the hill and the music is booming. It's loud here so must be deafening at the actual venue itself. The owner assures us it's not normal and under Sri Lankan law must cease at 10pm. It's now nearly 11pm so we will see. If not I'll ask the guy with the machine gun if he has a rocket launcher tucked away in his little tower we can borrow. Crispy needs her beauty sleep.

In the resteraunt we met another English couple who had travelled here from Thailand. It seems the weather has been hit and miss all over SE Asia these past few weeks. It's not bad but a little cloudy with occasional downpours and tropical thunder storms. Secretly we are glad it's not just Sri Lanka that has got the unsettled weather.