More Mirissa, Tangalle and Arugam Bay

We finally got to see the whales, yay! Having said that we didn't get to see all that much of them. The water was choppy so they weren't really playing ball. We saw them a few times but not close enough for snaps unfortunately. However, at one point we were completely surrounded by hundreds (well maybe about 60) of Spinner Dolphins. I liiike (Borat).

At one point I almost fell arse over tit off the side of the boat were I was trying to get good pictures. To prevent my death one of the crew kindly offered to take my camera and take the pictures for me. I'm quite particular with my photographs, I hate shit pictures and I'm under the illusion that no one can take better photos that me, so I trust no one with my camera. I felt rude saying no so I just gave him it, but I knew it!! I'm now left with pictures of the baron water, a cargo ship and two pictures of the back of my head...???

After a munch and a nap we got on the bus to Tangalle. The place we stayed in was lovely. It was all modern and open plan. For £7 a night you can't go wrong. That night when we were heading out for food we noticed on the roof of the house opposite there was about 10 to 12 monkeys just chillin' out. Just as I was getting the camera out it started to rain so they all started to squeak or whatever noises monkeys do and they all went off. Was mad to see so many in an urban area.

Tangalle doesn't really seem like a nice place. It has an uneasy feel to it. When a tuk tuk driver told us it was a dangerous place and it's murder capital of Sri Lanka, I could believe him. Nothing happened or no one said or did anything to make me feel that way, but you know when you just get that feeling?
Despite this we still went walking down pitch black back alleys to find a shop that sold booze. We found one, but we couldn't get near for people. We decided to swerve it in the end because we couldn't be arsed to wait. It was Friday night so everyone must have been getting the drink in for the weekend. Either this or it's just a town of raging alcoholics.

The next day we got a bus to Arugam Bay. Took about 7 hours in total with one change. The first bus was so packed we had to stand for about an hour. You can forget your tricep kickbacks and your bench press and all that, trying to stand up on a Sri Lankan bus will sort your bingo wings out let me tell ya. Whilst on the bus on the way here we noticed sign posts saying elephants crossing. We had to swerve past one in the road and we saw 3 others, a mum and 2 babies just relaxing on the road side. Mental.

When we got to Arugam Bay it was night time so we pretty much went in the first hostel we came across. Made a swift exit when I spotted mouse shit on the bed, and shall we say man fluid on the sheets. I know they're hostels and I know we're paying next to nothing, but you still expect a certain level of cleanliness. We moved on to a place which was really cool. We stayed in a folly which is effectively a hut on the beach. It was about the size of a really big bed and the whole floor was mattress with cushions and pillows and it had saris for curtains. It was super cosy and it was really peaceful going to sleep to the sound of the sea. It wasn't practical for more than one night as it's basically camping, but it was fun.

The place we're staying in now is fine, does the trick. Woke up this morning to find a few mouse droppings on some of our stuff and on the furnishings. I'm starting to think that maybe this area just has a problem with mice. I don't mind the mouse here because the room is clean. I saw him today. He's a ballsy fucker, he just waltzed in (not literally, that would be weird) whilst I was tidying up my stuff. I've named him Dave.

Last night was funny. We we're trying to figure out how to put the mosquito net up. The lady had washed it and went out whilst we we're out, so because she couldn't get in the room she left it on the chair outside for us. It was like the bloody Krypton Factor. Took us ages to figure out. In the midst of things Lee was swinging off the string that holds the 'squito net and he pulled it towards the fan (???) and it snapped the string clean and got the other half all tangled in the propellers and it sounded like the fan was going to explode. A piece of garden furniture and some good balance got it fixed in the end.

Our place is right next to the mosque. Didn't realise until I got woken up at sunrise to what I genuinely thought was the beginning of 'Circle Of Life' from The Lion King. It wasn't until I woke up a bit a few seconds later that I realised it was the geezer calling people to mosque. He's going again now as I type. Annoying much??!!