12th – 14th September

The next day was a relaxing one spent researching some more of my trip and a trip out on the boat with Mini & Jon at low tide to see the sand bank in the middle of the river. It was really cool, I got out the boat and just walked around the middle of the huge river! Always keeping one eye of for a resident croc!

In the evening we went into Colombo and met Jon & Mini’s friends for dinner. This affluent area of Colombo had an array of great restaurants and bars, some with live music. We ate at an Italian and I was sat opposite a guy into Botany who is actually friends with David Attenborough!!! Jealous much!!

On my last full day Mini and I went to the supermarket and she took me to a couple of tourist shops to get souvenirs. Very kindly they offered to take back anything I didn’t want to trek round with me for the rest of my trip when they next returned to the UK next year. Good opportunity to get a wall picture! I then packed ready for my flight the next day (and managed to shed some load from my backpack 😊).

In the afternoon we went back on the boat to try our luck at fishing (my first time). Although we didn’t catch anything, a couple of beers, relaxed and catching the afternoon sun was good enough for me!

We went out for dinner again as it was my final night, which Jon & Mini very kindly treated me to (two of the most generous, lovely, helpful & caring people I’ve met!). We sat in the back of their truck with a beer on the way there, great way to soak up the crazy street sights and sounds for the last time! We ate a Chinese style restaurant on the beach front, it was soooooo yummy.

On my final morning I got up at 5.30am to try and catch the sunrise. You can go up onto the rooftop of their house, as I discovered the night before watching the sun go down and dancing happily in my on world 😂💃. It turns out that it was cloudy that morning and after waiting half an hour for a disappointing sunrise I went back to bed for a bit.

When I got up properly I went straight into the pool for a final swim and exercise sesh (might be a while till I get another opportunity!). I left in a taxi around 11, saying my thanks and goodbyes to Mini, Jon and Janath & family. Colombo Airport was weirdly set out but I made my way onto my flight to Singapore!

TIP: Singapore is quite strict as a country, check the rules on what you can and can’t bring into the country!