June 10—  I talked with my sister, while Jeff got us a takeaway breakfast from The English Cake Company- TECC. We had a cream cheese bagel, finger bananas, lemon drizzle cake, and brownie – eating it up on the roof while talking with some New Zealanders. It was a couple and their adult daughter. She is teaching and living here, while on break she is showing her parents Sri Lanka. She gave us some places to see while we have our car. Then we talked with Jeff's sister.

Now we packed up, checked out of Seagreen, and hired a tuk-tuk to take us a mile to the train station. We arrived at 1000, Jeff bought our tickets, and we went out to the track. A train was here, so we got on. We felt a bit uneasy – as the train was here early! I told Jeff to ask someone… well, turned out it was the wrong train. So we promptly got off and waited for the right train, which came about ten minutes later. We boarded and the first train, the wrong train we had boarded, left. Our train then left (ten minutes late, of course). It was a scenic coastal ride with views of the ocean most of the time. We made it to the Colombo station, by 1330; checked our bags in the cloak room; and walked to Sea Fish Restaurant. We had eaten here almost two months before! We had the Fish and Chips, and the Marinated/grilled Fish. It was as great as we remembered! I think we were as sweaty today as that first time too😂🤣!! We also had fruit salad with a scoop of ice cream.

Anyway, finished, we went back to the train station for our bags. Jeff was getting ready to book a taxi, when a tuk-tuk driver offered. They negotiated and we were heading to get loaded up when it started pouring rain. We managed to get loaded in, bags and all, before we got too wet. We arrived at the Cason's Car Rental around 1600. Jeff paid the tuk-tuk and we were directed inside for paperwork, while they finished getting our car ready. They had Jeff's Sri Lankan Driver's License and went through the agreement. We have the car for 30 days! The rental is basically $12/day, gas not included. Now we went to the car and checked it out, taking the pictures. It's a cobalt blue, Alto 800 Suzuki. Itty-bitty thing but has four doors and hatchback. Our luggage all fits in the hatchback part!

Anyway, all settled we get in and take off at 1630, out of Colombo. Our destination was Negombo. Jeff booked us a homestay there. We drove through all city/suburb area to our place, arriving at 1745. Our place is called Negombo 146 Homestay. Jeff had called our hostess, and she said she would arrive in 30 minutes. So we unloaded and went right out to the beach for sunset- it was only one block-ish away. It was nice. The beach here is a steep angle to the ocean and not real wide, but there was sand and water and sun!! Back to our place and the hostess showed up and we got checked in. I blogged and Jeff read/planned. Bed by 2100.

Today, June 11—  Up and about to the beach. We walked along it and saw quite a few masted boats with square sails – we assume to be fishing boats. We walked until we started to feel the sun (it had still been behind the buildings when we started, but was coming up). So we were leaving when a lady offered us a coconut drink. We sat and enjoyed it and the sounds of the ocean. Then we left the beach to a little stall store and got water, returning to our place. We packed up, loaded the stuff in the car and checked out. We will be moving on north and some west today, but first we stopped and got some yogurt to finish our breakfast (we already had some gingersnaps with our morning coffee/hot chocolate).We drove along the coast, leaving Negombo. We took the smaller coastal roads and came to Chilaw Beach Park. We got out – paying 50 rupees,16 cents, each to use the toilet first – then explored this beach. It was a normal sand beach, but right at the water was a black rock ledge! It was like a tiny mini-cliff – it's hard to describe and wild to see. We left the beach passing by some local fried/dried sea food stands. They looked good but we were a little skeptical and opted to find something else for lunch. Once in our car, we drove on, but now we go inland. We arrived at Puttalam looking for some lunch, but not finding much – we drove on through. Now we angle up to the center of Sri Lanka toward the city of Anuradhapura. We passed a roadside cafe, Nimrasa Hotel (not a hotel, but a cafe). Jeff flipped a U and we had the best lunch! As we entered a young lady opened all the lay out — rice and many, different curries – all in clay pots lined up on a long table. We filled a plate and sat enjoying the bounty we just received!!! We did not overfill ourselves, but we could have…it was simply tasty! Jeff paid 2,000 Rupees ($6.67) for both of us! (They had told him 1,880Rupees). Wowza!

Now we drove the rest of the way into Anuradhapura to our homestay for the next three nights, Sunhill Lake Tourist Rest. We checked in to a spacious, room. Unloaded, and I did this blog. Jeff tallied miles of our two day transition from Galle to Anuradhapura… it was 187 miles – that is less than Wichita to Kansas City!! But the driving is so much more stressful. It's nice roads, usually, but way smaller.

Anyway, we took a break and went out to explore our new 'environs'… we are right on a small, man-made lake developed for irrigation purposes. We walked around it, so many different birds and a monitor lizard, of course. They built a nice walkway around the lake, but it is less city-like compared to Kandy… more… countrified, I guess, but totally in a town. That's weird, but I'm sticking with it. Jeff had researched a place to eat so we went there – Mr. Karapincha. It was highly rated on Google and well we agree. We shared a tomato salad and a huge portion of chicken-cheese kottu. So good. Today was a great foodie day in Sri Lanka! We finished and promised to Google rate them. Now we went to a local store and found some ice and a few other items. 

We had a night cap of some Arrack while catching up on some You tube. Love you all — blessings!