Off on an adventure in Sri Lanka (page 4 of 6)

Day 13 (continued)















Luckily, the best activity of the day was right there on our dinner plate. As night fell on Weligama Beach, stalls set up to proudly display beautiful fresh fish and shellfish. Easy-peasy picnic—you pick a few critters that give you puppy-dog eyes, then settle at a table with your feet in the sand while they get dressed up for their barbecue debut. A few minutes later, your taste buds are treated to a long, passionate rendezvous. Yep, our grilled prawns made us forget all about the day’s weather woes. A tsunami of flavor. A standing ovation in our mouths. Rest in peace, little guys—our stomachs are over the moon...

Oh! I'm really late to the party—I just saw this travel journal now. You could’ve given me a heads-up! 😅

Oh! I’m really late to the party—I just saw this travel journal… you could’ve given me a heads-up! 😅

Yeah, *way* late, especially since you’ve had access to this journal for months on FB! :P

Yeah, but I avoid checking FB... I prefer discovering your adventures here 😊 So next up... Namibia ❤️

I just caught up on my backlog, and honestly, Sri Lanka under your pen really makes me want to go 😍

Yeah, but I avoid checking FB... I prefer discovering your adventures here 😊 So next up... Namibia ❤️

I just caught up and wow, Sri Lanka under your pen really makes me want to go 😍

Between Sri Lanka in December and Namibia in April, there was the American West in February :p Both travel journals are online... on FB 😎

Yeah, but I avoid checking FB... I prefer discovering your adventures here 😊 So next up... Namibia ❤️

I just caught up on your posts, and honestly, Sri Lanka through your words really makes me want to go 😍

Between Sri Lanka in December and Namibia in April, there was the American West in February :P Both travel journals are online... on FB 😎

Ah! Right... I missed a step 😍 but when do you even work? 😄

The essentials to fund my 😏 travel urges

Day 14 - December 19

Between the lush green tea plantations, the impenetrable jungle, the sacred sites steeped in spirituality, and the coastline offering its array of idyllic beaches, Sri Lanka really pulls out all the stops when it comes to diversifying its points of interest. And let’s not forget that the island can also add its easily accessible wildlife to its already impressive bow. We’ve already written a few lines about elephants, but today, other little creatures have clearly taken over the story.

This time, the stars will be marine—or they won’t be at all: whales to brighten our morning with a sunrise boat trip, and synchronized swimming with turtles as a post-lunch activity. On paper, it sounds perfect, but as always, it’s all conditional—animal participation isn’t guaranteed.

So, in full ocean paparazzi mode, necks craned and eyes glued to the horizon from our boat, we scan the sea like our lives depend on it. Except for now, all we’re seeing is an endless expanse of water topped with a generous layer of waves. "Hey whales, we want the big stuff—dorsal fins, ocean giants in 4K Netflix documentary mode! So show yourselves!" Unfortunately, our four monotonous hours of nautical drifting only offered the entertainment of the Italian in front of us puking up his breakfast to attract the cetaceans. Oh, but wait—taking pity on us, a pod of about twenty playful dolphins put on a little show at the end of the trip, just so we wouldn’t go home empty-handed, as they say in *le bouchonnois*...







No luck with the whales, but will the turtles smile upon us? Oh yes, I say yes! The turtles saved for the afternoon are far less shy than the whales. Arriving at Dalawella Beach, we’re greeted by no fewer than seven massive, walking shells in fifty centimeters of water. Let’s just say the show starts without even needing to put on masks and snorkels! And let’s just say the little boy with me has as many stars in his eyes as candles on his birthday cake... "No, little Jacky, Dad already told you not to touch the turtles..."

Day 14 (continued)



And how to perfectly wrap up a day all about animals?... By sacrificing a fine specimen on the altar of our taste buds, of course! Like last night, we end the day with our feet in the sand and a big grilled fish on our plates. We’re leaving the area tomorrow morning, but thinking about it, I reckon we wouldn’t mind staying two or three... years longer just to repeat this little ritual every evening...

You bet! 🙂 I really love discovering this country through your adventures, thanks Franck. Hope you’ll start a Namibian travel journal too!

Hello, the travel journal is written and online on my FB account. I’ll admit that the lack of activity on VF doesn’t really encourage me to share it quickly, but I promise I’ll do it... 😛

Day 15 - December 20

Fifteenth day... Fifteenth, but most importantly, the last day of our little adventure! This morning, as we opened our eyes, we were fully aware that we were soaking in the last morning light of our Sri Lankan experience. And we also knew that the six hours in a tuk-tuk to the airport would force us into a day-long road trip romance. And when you’re getting cozy with the open road, that means stops, encounters, and discoveries all about improvisation and lucky breaks! Alright, let’s go, buddy!

The plan is to head up the entire west coast of Sri Lanka, hugging the sea with a radiant sky above our heads. Let me tell you, this is nothing like my trips between Reims and Château-Thierry in the middle of December!

Our first stop wasn’t random—it was scribbled in the back of my brain: Coconut Hill. For those who don’t speak English, that means we’re dealing with a hill overlooking the vast ocean, where a bunch of coconut trees proudly reach for the sky. Yeah, I admit, it’s quicker to say in English... Just be careful, though, because this place is Instagram’s pride and joy. If I translate that, it means there are more tourists per square meter than coconut trees. But according to the *Petit Larousse Illustré*, the definition of a "tourist" is clear: at seven in the morning, they’re still snoring like logs! So, since my dad isn’t wearing a tight croc-top and I haven’t injected hyaluronic acid into my lips yet, you won’t find any Insta posts from Coconut Hill this morning. Total privatization of the spot—thank you, goodbye!













For the rest of the trip, the rules are simple. See a nice beach? Stop, we’re pulling over! Run into fishermen hauling in their nets? Stop, we’re pulling over! Look at that cute little roadside fruit juice stand—how adorable! Stop, we’re pulling over! And that pretty little temple no one’s heard of—did you see it? Stop, we’re pulling over!

Day 15 (continued)





















And what if a cop tells us to stop? Ouch, same deal—we stop. The guy with the baton explains in perfect English that I had the brilliant idea to overtake on a double lane where tuk-tuks aren’t allowed. Apparently, Sri Lankan law doesn’t find this little detour very legal, and I need to follow him to his vehicle until a ticket is issued. I understood every word—got it, thanks. But not reasonable, and new around here...: "Nau spic anglich, sori..." The guy, stunned by my uppercut, finds himself backed into a corner. He calls over a friend to replay the same educational serenade. Same punishment: "Frènech frènech, donte anderstande"... Both guys, disillusioned, ask the crowd for advice. No luck... All that’s left is the 50/50 lifeline, which seals the expected outcome: "Go on, scram!" Ah, *that*, French understands very well!

Day 15 (continued)





All this to say we made it back on time, ticket-free, into the bustling anthill of the capital Colombo to soak up its joyfully chaotic vibe and hear the final whistle of our adventure coming to an end... And just like that, it's over... And it's right then, when everything stops and you glance back one last time, that you realize, that you take stock... What an amazing journey it was! So much ground covered! So many wonderful encounters!... A happy dad. And that feeling of having lived something real. Something powerful. Together. Father and son reunited, even if our boys' band was administratively short one member at the start of the tour... The satisfaction, too, of a job well done. Of bringing our tuk-tuk back safe and sound after 1,500 kilometers of loyal service, laughter, white-knuckle moments, dust, and improbable roads. What now? In full-on post-travel blues mode, we're doomed to return to our structured lives, our wintery home sweet home to recharge for the next adventure. If you're free and up for it again, how about we meet up in a month and a half?

Hi, the travel journal is written and online on my FB account. I admit that the lack of interaction on VF doesn’t really encourage me to share it quickly, but I promise I’ll do it... 😛

Hello!

When you check the stats, there are still quite a few views! Plus, a travel journal is meant to last. Interactions are low today, but tomorrow other readers will come when they’re planning a trip. For example, me Given the current situation, if my Plan A (the Sultanate of Oman) doesn’t work out, my Plan B will likely be Sri Lanka. Anyway, I’m here now and maybe I’ll be back [;]

Hello, the travel journal is written and online on my FB account. I admit that the lack of interaction on VF doesn’t really encourage me to share it quickly, but I promise I’ll do it... 😛

Oh yeah, but think about all those who don’t have your Facebook account!! I looked on your blog too!

I’ll take this opportunity to thank you (again) for your travel stories—they always whisk me away with so much energy and good vibes!

Hi Bibouns51,

It’s posts like yours that are going to breathe new life into this forum. They’re so funny, surprising, and addictive—all while giving tons of info about your travels. You can really tell you love discovering people and their cultures, and that’s great to see. In the past, it was Allan’s stories that drew readers (his trip to North Korea). Now, it’s yours, among others. So please, share your adventures from FB here on the forum!

Larri

Hi there,

My bad—I’ve been waiting to finish the travel journal to thank you, but I’ve been following along here with delight and I hope you’ll keep treating us to the story of your adventures!

Françoise

P.S. And to follow you on FB, do you use the same username?

Hey Franck!

I’m here too, but behind the scenes because I *should’ve* been in Sri Lanka last December (we could’ve crossed paths!). That is, if a grumpy doc hadn’t banned me from flying for 3 months 😤 So, I’m reading and seething with envy

That said, zero chance I could take my girlfriend (who’s brunette, by the way) on a tuk-tuk for a month!

Oh yeah, right, but think about all those who don’t have your Facebook account!! I looked everywhere on your blog too!

I did the same thing! Yeah, seems like there’s a party somewhere else, and they won’t even give us the address