01 – Sri Lanka – Our first two days in Rural Gampaha

Travel to Columbo was uneventful thanks to British and Qatar Airways. Regardless missing a nights sleep does take its toll. Once you land in Columbo be prepared for everything to be different.

A Guardian Stone at the entrance to a Chapter House on a monastic site in Anuradhapura. We think it’s from 300AD but will verify.
Day one bike ride through the adjacent dikkele reserved forestwith Sumanaree, the manager at The Notary’s House where we spent our first two nights.
The beautiful and serene dining area situated between the main house and the lake was host to some incredible food created in the kitchen by the staff.
This bull was grazing at the temple near our hotel. The next day we noticed he had been moved. It’s an efficient and natural way to keep the plants from taking over snd keeping the livestock fed. Such a beautiful breed we had not seen before, Many more cattle photos to follow… Moo..
Our bike ride took us past local small rural businesses operating as they used to before mechanisation came along. Carolynn has a go at husking coconuts. The spike is extremely sharp and this work is clearly dangerous. No safety apparel and probably no risk assessment! It’s a different world. Locals are employed and have a happy hardworking attitude. The husks are one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most valuable exports. There are many trucks hauling them.
Phil had no better luck. Couldn’t give it full welly for fear of impaling himself.
coconuts, coconuts and more coconuts. Older coconuts are more difficult to shuck. Thousands of them. First piece of advice we revceived was to “look up and not walk under a coconut tree”
Weavers at the loom,
Keeping the ancient tradition alive
The most excellent Notary’s House, our home for the first two nights We give this place our strongest possible endorsement. It was excellent on every level with only 6 rooms.
A wonderfully comfortable and spacious room.
Notary’s House pool. Always immaculate. Weather didn’t cooperate with sun so we only put our toes in. It was not however ever cold. This is true tropical climate area, warm and humid.
Our room at the Notary’s House was top left
Our view
Front view of Notary’s House
entrance hallway with floating flowers.
Notary’s House viewed from the dam.
The lake where the hotel feeds the turtles. The road top left goes across the dam towards a temple and which which was a favourite meeting place in the evenings.
Turtle feeding time after diner is a major event. We saw a herd of at least 25 climbing over each other for scraps.
The flowers and the colours are so vibrant despite the grey skies
The birdlife is extensive, vibrant and harmonious. The paddy fields and numerous lakes attract numerous egrets.
The hotel cultivates much of the food served in their dining room in their extensive gardens including herbs and spices such as cinnamon, basil, curry leaves and root ginger.
Vegetable gardens
Phil Shatz

One response to “01 – Sri Lanka – Our first two days in Rural Gampaha”

  1. Alex Shatz Avatar
    Alex Shatz

    Looks fantastic. Love the in depth detail with each photo too. More to come I hope!

    Reply

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