“Villa Hundira is great, so great” as Donald J Trump would say. It’s the kind of place where you don’t need to go anywhere else, you can just sit and listen to the wind in the trees and the birds. There is an occasional bloop sound as a fish breaks the surface of the water. Mangroves grow at the waters edge, and their stilt roots are full of tiny fish seeking refuge from the bigger fish in the creek.
Breakfast was the Full Monty, Sri Lankan style., a buffet served in heated tureens. To start I had egg hoppers with curry, a solid start and something for my intestines to grab hold of. Next I had frankfurter and bacon, the real thing not crappy turkey bacon. After that came the fruit course; pineapple, watermelon, papaya and bananas. To top it of and I finished with fresh bread and jam. What a glutton! That will keep me going until dinner this evening, possibly.
There appear to be almost as many staff as guests here, and they are all busy maintaining the property. Other hotels we have been to are quite scruffy and the staff just sit around doing nothing most of the time. It’s clear that this place is very well managed and they keep high standards.
We borrowed a sit-on kayak and went for a paddle into the Lagoon. It is only a few feet deep, and is fringed by mangroves. The Lagoon is open to,the sea, so it is tidal, but the range is only a foot or two. There were plenty of birds to see; crows, cormorants, herons of various types, terns and distant eagles. I feel more at peace here than anywhere I have been in Sri Lanka. It’s such a contrast from all the turmoil that we have seen on TV on the BBC World News. DJT appears to be making enemies of everyone apart from white American conservatives.
So far we have stayed in eleven different places. The worst was Sunny Hills for one night in Kandy, which cost £12. The best is Villa Hundira which costs about £45 a night, and by far the best value. The priciest was Muhsin Villa in Galle which was £48 per night. This place is so beautifully furnished with interesting pieces, including a life sized white wooden bull sat in the middle of a huge lounge. The whole hotel looks like something out of a glossy magazine or a book on architecture.
In theory I could sell my London home and buy a big beachside home here in Sri Lanka. But in reality I would be bored within a week! I have lots of interests in London that keep me busy; skiffing, running, cycling, cinema, country walking – none of which I could do here. The weather is wonderful for a few weeks, but I would miss the change of the seasons at home. Of course the main question is, could I live on curry? Well I have enjoyed it every day since I have been here, so I probably could. Sri Lankan curries are much lighter and more interesting than the typical “Indian” available at home, and they are an compliment to the rice, which is the main dish. My final Rice and Curry is at 6.30 tonight, in half an hours time, so I had better go and put a shirt on for dinner.
timharnesstravels 