Set Compass to ‘South’

Today, we came to Unawatuna (una WAT ton ah).  It was Full Moon Poya so nobody had to work but it fell on a Saturday this month anyways.  The road to Galle is fairly good.  A great deal of it hugs the coast enough so that one gets a hint of the beaches and tourist towns.  We weren’t quite sure if there would be less or more traffic because of the holiday.

The driver and van were the ones which we usually use.  The driver is safe and dependable.  He started in Minuwangoda picking up Jay’s father, younger sister, and auntie.  Also, one of the main reasons for the trip was to bring Jay’s sister-in-law and two nieces for an outing.  The girls have grown so much over these past three years!  They, then, came to pick us up in Nugegoda.  Lal didn’t come on this trip.

We didn’t intend to set any speed records getting here.  We left and stopped to have breakfast along the way.  Another big stop occurred at a large temple along the way.   We didn’t even try a Kalutara but went further to Kandera Viraha.  When we were there in the past the huge Buddha in a sitting position wasn’t completed.  Now it is.  Jay’s dad had brought along a collection of fruit, which needed to be cut, for an offering.  There were lots of people there.

By the time we got here in Unawatana it was about 2:00 pm.  We drove in on the public access road right to the end.  The area was mobbed.  Hundreds and hundreds of local folks were taking a swim.  There were hardly enough places for all the cars, van, and busses that brought them.

We’d not had lunch, so that was a priority.  Jay and I took a walk down the beach.  Jay’s dad can’t manage on the sand, so we started down the road we’d come in on.  The first place we came to was the Sea View Restaurant.  We ate here.  The grounds were nice and they had a hotel part too.  We decided right then we’d stay here for a few nights.  All the others were to head back after lunch.  The nieces did get a good swim after eating but in retrospect, they would’ve had more time in the water if they had swum as soon as we put in our order.    Our meal was good but it took a while in arriving as everybody ordered something different and another large group preceded us in ordering.

We waved everybody off at about 4:00 pm and I finally felt as if another part of the vacation dawned!  I love a little beach time.  I’d be bored just spending a vacation at one, but ah this is the life!  We ate dinner within two meters of surf.