Two.
It’s an easy night’s sleep for both of us. Anne comes to collect the tray of plates from yesterday and I introduce her to Dave. He then has a bit of an induction into the ways of the house here. Anne brings us both one of her generous Western breakfasts of omelette, sausages, toast, fresh fruit smoothies, and tea. As Anne leaves, Billy comes in and checks for geckos, followed by… uh-oh… the blind cat. Anne leaves us to it and within seconds of her departure, the blind cat does another wee!!! NOOOOOO!!! It sprayed the door: it looked more territorial than the previous time where it just looked lost and frightened. We can’t help but laugh and I get rid of the cats. We have the rest of our breakfast and get ready for the day. Dave pays Anne and goes off to the gym.
I shower and pack my bag, getting to the bus station in Karapitiya for 11.30am, where I meet Dave. Philippa and Rachel are running behind with our plans to go to the beach so they text us asking that we go ahead without them. We catch a couple of buses and by the time we reach Unawatuna it is raining lightly. We are going to a different part of the beach today, farther down the strip. By the time we reach it, the clouds have disappeared. We take two sunbeds, order a couple of drinks, and enjoy the sun. Philippa and Rachel find us about 40 minutes later and take two adjacent sunbeds.
Whilst Dave relaxes, three of us go swimming, the water being much calmer on this side. We wonder if it’s because of the rocks in the distance; perhaps they have some effect on how it hits the shore in different parts. As I am swimming out towards Rachel and Philippa, what do I see? A turtle swims underneath me! I can make out its patterned shell but sadly it swims off and we’ve lost it. We enjoy the water and get out to have some more time in the sun. I read more of Notwithstanding, which has been funny in most chapters, though the current chapter is a bit difficult to get enthused about. Dave goes snorkelling and tells us he has followed a turtle for a while. Perhaps the very one I saw earlier. He goes back into the water and the three of us relax until…
Drip… drip… drip-drip-drip… some clouds have formed but it doesn’t seem bad enough for rain. Give it a minute and sure enough, I’m wrong. The rain gets heavier and heavier, the sky darker and darker. Tourists hurriedly pack up their belongings and run for shelter. Dave seems to have packed as many bricks in his bag as possible haha, but I grab the lot and the three of us run in and find a table. As the weather gets wilder and the waves taller, we worry about Dave. We try and find him but soon enough we see he’s on his way. We order some lunch and drink, which sadly isn’t all that great. The company however is wonderful. The rain only grows stronger as the afternoon goes on. Philippa has a Monopoly card game so we play that for a while and before we know it, it’s getting dark. I had better get back.
We pay the bill, pack up, and make our way to the main road. On the way, the girls notice a jeweller that they have been meaning to find as they made an order but the shop never seems to be open when they come by. They don’t have enough money to make the payment here and now, but the shop owner has their jewellery ready. He gives it to them and tells us that his friend will drive us in his tuktuk to Galle for free so that they can use an ATM. Much better than riding the bus! We squash in, in the darkness, Philippa on Rachel and Dave’s laps, and arrive in Galle. The driver receives the money to return to the jeweller and we are dropped off at the bus station. With Dave and Philippa heading to Colombo tomorrow to watch the cricket, and my planning to pack all day (so unlikely that I will make it to the beach to see Rachel) I guess this is the time for goodbyes. Some goodbye hugs later and I leave them to catch the bus to Karapitiya.
The bus seems to take forever and by the time I get back to Karapitiya, I am greeted by torrential rain. The street lights are out and I don’t have my torch. My flimsy umbrella barely protects me but it’s the best I have. I put it up but realise I need to get back quickly. With only the make-do lighting in the roadside houses and the hospital, I run my usual ten minute walk home, bag over my shoulder and umbrella waving in the wind. I must have looked like a complete lunatic. I make it back soaked through, let Anne know I have returned, and dry off in the apartment. Dinner, a Skype call, and a little packing follow before…… Zzz…