Last weekend, we made our way over to the Southern coast of Sri Lanka. Having visited the mountains more times than we would have liked to, the sandy shores were practically calling our name.
While normally we’d take the highway bus for its comfort and speed, for the first time, we decided to take the train to Unawatuna. Although the journey was long and tiring, and finding a seat was a task in itself, once we’d finally settled in, the view of the stretches of oceans – the sea glistening in the early morning sun, the rocky shores, and the bright blue sky – was a sight enough to ease all our exhaustion. In fact, it only made us bubble with excitement to finally be able to dip our feet into sea water again.
Having reached after about three hours on the train, we headed over to Toddy by Hoppa – an age-old cafe that is located by the beach down Yaddehimulla road where all the hotels and restaurants are found. The reason we picked Unawatuna was to attend a charity festival – Angel Time – that was happening in order to raise funds for a leukaemia patient in Sri Lanka. The concert featured about four bands and three solo artists; it was an all-day affair and these talented musicians kept the crowd entertained from morning to noon. The tourists that had flocked to see what all the hype was about were so impressed by our local musicians that they opted to spend their entire day at the café. Although you missed it, Toddy by Hoppa does have live music playing on weekends and we can swear by the food as well – the menu isn’t too extensive, but everything we tried was better than most hotels in Colombo; the prices are reasonable as well.
Just down the road was Manidi Villa where we chose to spend the night. The place is very budget-friendly, and if you’re looking for a slightly fancier option than a hostel, then this is the place for you. Fully equipped with A/C, hot water, free WiFi – oh, and a hammock, which we were excited about – and the works, the villa has everything you’d expect from a hotel, except for a pool, but who needs one when you have nature’s pool just a few feet away. If you’re a tourist, then you’d be given a great exchange rate as well, so do check this place out.
After grabbing breakfast at the villa, we spontaneously decided that going to the natural pools down in Thalpe would be the best way to unwind after a long night. A 15 minute tuk ride got us there, and since we were visiting for the first time, we were blown away by how gorgeous the beach was – several little squares of what you could call nature’s jacuzzi, and a reef holding back the waves from crashing into you. You can even swim under the rocks that are placed there. Despite there being quite a large crowd and the sun directly overhead, the ocean was immensely relaxing and had us all feeling serene and also helped us work up a hefty appetite.
Thalpe, though beautiful, has not yet been developed enough to offer much in terms of restaurants or cafés. So, to quell the growing hunger in our stomachs, we thought we’d head over to Galle as our final destination, and after a quick lunch, we’d hop the highway bus back home and be back in no time. Obviously, we headed towards the Galle Fort. We’ve been there several times but it is yet to bore us; there’s something about the buildings, architecture, and location that keeps us coming back. We stopped at Bastille’s for lunch – we had heard they offer a 
wide range of fresh seafood and it would be a crime to go down South and not indulge in some. Unfortunately, for the hefty price we paid, the portions were disappointing and the food was quite mediocre. We wouldn’t recommend the place, but a quick walk around will give you several more options. We also made a quick pit stop at Isle of Gelato – it’s become a tradition of ours everytime we visit the South. The upstairs gives you a lovely view of the fort, and if you’ve timed it, the sunset is breathtaking to see. They also have a wide variety of flavours and options for vegans too; the vegan in our friend group was absolutely delighted to hear this – and from him, although vegan, the ice cream was amazing. We would say on a hot day, this would be the perfect way to end your vacation but it wasn’t hot, in fact it was raining, so what we can say is rain, sun, or snow, ice cream is always the answer.
Next time you’re in the South, maybe check out these places, but most importantly, remember your sunblock and shades – the sun is no joke.
