Fort Galle, Sri Lanka

Here's the last look of the place called Ella, in the Hill Country. And Yes, we had to take pictures of Buffaloes walking down the road just before the 7.30a bus arrives. It is the only bus we want to catch to go down South to the coastal area.

After another 4 hours in the public bus (no air-conditioning), we arrived at the beach in Marissa. In the picture (above), you can see the coastal line, and the tuk-tuks that we sometimes travel around in.

For a 30-km distance, the tuk-tuk drivers will charge us like 1,500 SLRupees (equivalent to RM45).
Almost like KL prices, no?

The heat here is terrible. Reminds me of the open skies in Jordan.
Anyway, after putting down our backpacks in Marissa (a small village/township), we took a public bus to Fort Galle. It took us about 30-45minutes to get there. The picture (above) shows the entrance to the historic World Heritage site itself.

It's amazing. It's the only 400 year old fully complete Dutch/Portuguese/English fort in the world.
Let me explain: it was started by the Dutch, continued by the Portuguese and the English completed it 200 years ago. You can actually walk all around the fort on the walls itself. It is 3.1km long.

Excruciatingly neverending, on my aching feet. I was happily limping all over it.

 Here's me at the entrance, trying to be 20 years younger...

 The picture (above) is of Mr. Walter De Silva. He claimed to be a Security Guard there and of the original Portuguese descent. He was very informative though and the stories he told were unbelievable. I actually recorded the whole 1-hour that he was with us.

We didn't invite him to be our tour guide. But he was anyway.
After that, he asked if we could "help him" i.e. asking for money for his services and MC gave him 500SLRupees.

I felt almost "cheated" and thought that he could be a professional con-man after all.

 Lovely clock tower at Fort Galle.

 The beautiful light house.

In the middle of the fort, is actually the grounds where currently 118 families currently live-mostly bought over by foreigners. There are 2 secondary schools, post office, 3 old churches, the Court house of Fort Galle (the place). It is a living heritage!

It makes me feel that the piece of fort wall in Melaka is like a big joke.

At the time when we were there, the roads were being paved with grey bricks. We were told that the Dutch government is looking after the Fort, not the Sri Lankan government really.

 Here's me again. I made MC take a tourist-sy picture of me.

The first entrance earlier is the newer one. Here's the original entrance to the fort dating back 400 years ago. The best part are the thick doors, which have never been replaced! Strong wood indeed.