We ate a different kind of Sri Lankan breakfast today, hoppers of a new type! They looked like bowl-shaped pancakes, some with eggs cooked in them, and some without. I don’t think they were as good as string hoppers with dhal and chutney, but they made a change.
The guide book described a temple on a hill with good views, so we set off to find it. We did find a hill, but no temple or views, but delightful birds with tropical songs. There are lots of jungle noises here, the little squirrels that run up the trees are very vocal! After climbing the hill we saw a sign for Secret Beach, so we followed that. A path took us along the side of a long wall which went down to the sea. We then had to clamber over rocks to find the Secret Beach. It is a stunning little bay with a small beach and a cafe amongst the trees. There were several small children paddling in the water and it looks idyllic.
With sarongs spread on the sand we settled down to read, I have just started Dissolution from CJ Sansom, a very good Tudor who-done-it. Then the water beckoned, so I went into the warm sea. I’m glad I put my goggles on, not only was there some colourful small fish, but also plenty of sea urchins! I got spiked by some of those nasty little buggers in Yugoslavia in 1975, and I don’t want to do it again. Another visitor was picking spikes out of his feet, and a lady next us got stung by a large wasp. Julie had some anti sting cream in her bag, which helped ease her discomfort. Then Julie got bitten by a big ant, which stuck its jaws in an wouldn’t let go! I had to pull it quite hard to remove the creature.
After lunch (calamari and chips) I found a very comfortable hammock slung between trees and had a snooze, you can’t do that in Twickenham.
Some the Secret Beach is very lovely, but also the most venomous place we have visited! On our way out we followed some other tourists, and took a much easier route back to the main beach. I passed a tuk tuk selling bread, they are all over Sri Lanka and play the same tune, Fleur de Lys. Either that or the same bloke has been following me around for three weeks.
timharnesstravels 