It was a foot race at an ungodly hour, and those who were leading the pack won precious seats in rusty crimson carriages. Even with our clumsy locomotor skills comandeered by half-asleep brains, we succeeded in seizing two ‘second class’ hard seats under my — ahem — competitive lead. They were to cradle our arses for the next eight hours.
Like he wanted to go home just to have a vacation.
Train chugged at five in the morn, amazingly punctual. Outside was still pitch dark. I must have shifted into 101 positions, none of which lulled me to sleep. At the next train station, we learned that slumber’s indeed impossible to attain when a huge batch of passengers poured in and filled the cabin to the brim. Standing passengers placed their suitcases and even their babies on sitting passengers’ laps. It’s the norm.
And there I was whining about my lack of sleep. I was then a new mom to seven-month-old Luna and this memory changed my view on parenting. But that’s not to say I could/would stand for two hours aboard a train while carrying a tot. To this very day, I think the woman possesses superhero powers.
Our arrival in Galle was on the dot. The alighting was surprisingly not a push-and-shove business. It didn’t take long for us to exit the station and cross the street to catch a bus to our final destination, Unawatuna Beach. The snail-pace drive, with a few stops to pick up and drop off passengers, took almost twenty minutes. We checked in the first cheap hostel we found, dropped our backpacks and dashed to a nearby restaurant faster than you could say ayubowan (a greeting in Sinhala).
Despite our droopy eyes, we headed to the shore after licking our plate clean — not a trace of huevos rancheros was left on it. We found the beach oddly uncrowded. A few elements reminded me of the Philippines’ Puerto Galera. Not entirely palm fringed, and hostels are housed in low-rises. Tables and chairs are set up right on the beach. Only a few peddlers pass by every so often to hassle sunbathers.
The moment our feet sunk in the fine, golden sands the hubby muttered, “We should have been here since the beginning of this trip.” Followed by, “Now where do we order beer?”.
Not-So Refreshingly Sri Lanka (and it’s all my fault) Series:
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka: Lion’s Rock
Photo Essay: Golden Temple of Dambulla, Sri Lanka
Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka: Ruins Of An Ancient Capital
Temple of The Tooth
The Kandy House
Not-So Refreshingly Sri Lanka
How To Apply For A Sri Lanka Tourist Visa In The Philippines
Looks like a beautiful beach. Guess the loonnngggg journey to get to this place was all worth it 🙂
Quite a respite 🙂
Looks awesome! Love the half dazed look from Sherv on the last pic that sums up the entire post! And the laaaaaaaady bet she was looking at you because she thinks you know. Italicized you know….. 😀
Haha! At least Sherv looks only half-dazed here when he actually felt like he was about to pass out any minute!
I am pretty sure that the beach is beautiful!
Respect for that lady holding a toddler! 🙂
Amen! Saludo kay ate 🙂
Twas worth the journey.
oh! No one among men offered a seat to the lady with a toddler??
Am considering visiting Sri Lanka! Reading back your posts.
They rarely offer. When they do, they give it to a traveler 🙂
I totally agree, women (mothers, especially) have superhero powers! That beach looks awesome. : )
It looks like there’s no tragedy that happened there years ago. It’s a renewed place with better sightings and more exciting amenities. http://www.backcountrynavigator.com/
Love your storytelling, PTJ!
*kilig*