Chapter 12 - Visit in 2000 with STC Old Boys And Families





At the Melbourne Airport waiting for our boarding call.






Relaxed in Colombo the next day after the flight from Melbourne.





We spent the rest of the day sight seeing in Colombo and getting over Jet lag.





One of the Tuk Tuk's we used in our travels around





Fish for sale on the payment.


That night we were taken to a restaurant for dinner.








The next day we met Percy and Pia and took a walk along the Galle Face Green and then to the Galle Face Hotel for drinks.





Drinks at the Galle Face Hotel





After this short break it was off to the Royal Thomian Cricket Match.
Next day a visit to St Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia to see the old school and the surrounds.















That night we stayed at a Hotel in Mt Lavinia and had dinner there'







Next morning we took a walk to the Mt Lavinia Beach looking to the Mt Lavinia Hotel.
It was back on the bus again to travel to Bandarawella and Nuwara Eliya. 







Lunch on the way.


We stayed at a small hotel in Bandarawella and proceeded to Nuwara Eliya after breakfast.






View from our Bandarawella hotel in the morning.





Lunch at the Nuwara Eliya Hotel





That night we stayed at the Citadel Hotel on the banks of the Mahawelli River









View from our bedroom of sand mining in the river.

Next morning it was on the bus again for the journey the Kandalama Hotel

Sun set over the Kandalama Lake









A contemplative Andy Armitage takes in the view





A cooling dip in the swimming pool






Ed, Ruth, Percy and Pia at Dinner.
The next day we all got into the bus for a quick visit to Polonaruwa.





Polonaruwa Samudra (lake)




Polonaruwa Rest House





Pia and Ruth in the Rest House garden




Our group lunch at the Polonaruwa Rest House





The start of the elephant ride




The mandatory elephant ride.




Hanging on for dear life






Through the adjacent lagoon




An elephant salute




                             
                               The horseman carrying the Thomian Flag farewells our bus






On the way to Colombo we stopped and climbed the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.









A view from the summit












After a refreshing drink and a quick lunch we were on our way to the Pinnawella Elephant Orphanage.




The Pinnawella Restaurant beside the river where the elephants are taken for a bath





Feeding time for baby elephants




Panoramic view of elephant orphanage





Patting the baby elephant








The elephant bath
 Then it was off to Negombo.





A "Tusker" that we passed along the way to Negombo.




A low country factory

                                                     After a long drive, sunset in Negombo.





Fishing boats in the Indian Ocean seeing from the hotel






Breakfast on our last day in Sri Lanka




During the day we swam in the hotel pool and later took a walk around the Negombo Harbour








Dinner and a beer with David Varney before we finish






Relaxing while we wait for the bus to take us to the air port

 Then it was back to Australia and say farewell to our fellow travellers from Sydney and Melbourne.

Five months later on we had a reunion gathering at Percy and Pia's House in Melbourne to swap yarns about our Sri Lankan visit.




                                                 A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL


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