| Year and Month |
8-9 Feb, 2014 |
| Number of Days |
2 |
| Crew |
4 (Sheham, Kasun, Kasun’s Friend Asitha and Me) |
| Accommodation |
Camping at Thalawila Beach |
| Transport |
By Car |
| Activities |
Boating, Wild Life, Photography, Archaeology, Islands, etc… |
| Weather |
Excellent |
| Route |
Day 1
Dehiwala->Peliyagoda->Wennappuwa->Kalpitiya->Baththalangunduwa->Kalpitiya->Thalawila.
Day 2
Thalawila->Eluwankulama->Silavathura via Old Mannar Road through Wilpattu->Arippu->Nanattan->Mannar->Pallimunai->Mannar->Settikulam->Oyamaduwa via Thanthirimale->Saliyawewa->Puttalam->Colombo.
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| Tips, Notes and Special remark |
- The distance to Baththalangunduwa is about 15-16 Nautical Miles (26km).
- Mark Boat is the only ferry between the island and the mainland and berthed at the Kalpitiya Fishery Harbour. Owner Sujith 0773-286939).
- The ferry operates every day except Sundays. It’s always a safe option to call them and check if you’re going on a Public Holiday.
- The ferry leaves Kalpitiya in the morning at 08.30am and reaches B’Gunduwa around 11.30am. (Roughly 3 hours of travelling time.
- The ticket price is Rs. 270/- per person one-way. They might charge extra if you carry a lot of luggage.
- The afternoon ferry leaves B’Gunduwa at 01.30pm and arrives at Kalpitiya around 04.30pm.
- There are no accommodation facilities available in B’Gunduwa. Camping is an option and you might also be able to stay at the school or talk to a fisherman and bunk at one of their huts.
- You’re not permitted to take pics at Kalpitiya Fort. Navy has a camp inside and one of them will escort you. You’ll have to produce your ID to their checkpoint.
- The Old Mannar Road runs through the Wilpattu Junction for about 40+km. Eluwankulama is the last town before that but you’re better off getting anything from either Kalpitiya or Puttalama.
- There’s an entrance to the Wilpattu National Park near the Kala Oya but the office didn’t look occupied.
- Be extra careful if and when you’re driving along this road coz it’s not in a good condition and very slippery. It’s bordered either side by the Wilpattu Jungle so make sure you don’t knock any wild animal by reckless driving.
- That road is not suitable for vehicles with low ground clearance such as cars. We had a very tough time maneuvering around in our Toyota Wagon.
- Don’t get down and move about as it’s not safe enough to do. Avoid driving in the dark, especially early morning and evening and at night.
- The road from Puttalam towards Eluwankulam is under construction but most of it finished and in good condition. After the Wilpattu, from Marichchukkaddi till Mannar the road is under construction but about half of it is completed.
- Doric House and Arippu Fort are located very close to each other. (Within about 1km)
- Mannar Fort is just off the bridge entering the peninsula to your right. The Baobab tree is along the Pallimunai Road about 600-800m away from the Fort.
- There’s a short cut when coming towards Colombo avoiding A’Pura. Travel along Medawachchiya road till Settikulam and passing the Station you’ll come to an Army Camp with a Lord Hanuman’s Statue onto your right. Take the right road which goes through Thanthirimale towards Oyamaduwa and meets the Puttalama-A’Pura main road at Nochchiyagama.
- Don’t disturb the Nature or do anything harmful.
- Respect the wildlife and obey the rules.
- Be careful travelling in the ferry.
- Try not to disturb the fishermen and their families living in B’Gunduwa.
- Take plenty of water or any drinks.
- Caps or Hats are a must if you wanna avoid the scorching sun. Sunscreen is a good solution too.
- Parking your vehicle at Fishery Harbor is possible. Do inform the security and you’ll have to pay Rs. 50/- for parking.
- Visiting hours of Kalpitiya Fort is from 09.00am to 05.30pm.
- Special Thanks to the Beach Traveler, Nishantha Kahawita.
- Don’t waste water coz you gotta go see these people to know how valuable water is and we just take it for granted and waste it at will.
- Don’t waste electricity either. You have to go see how much they suffer without electricity so save it as much as possible.
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| Author |
Sri Abeywickrema |
| Comments |
Discuss this trip report, provide feedback or make suggestions at Lakdasun Forum on the thread
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“What on earth are you hammering the keyboard so much for?” – One of my colleagues doesn’t approve my constant tapping.
“Just writing a report, you silly” – I retort.
“How many reports have you written so far?” – He’s trying to take the mickey out of me.
“Well, I don’t know. Why do you ask?” – I’m beginning to lose my cool.
“You don’t know? You’re constantly tapping on the darn keyboard but don’t even know how many reports have you done? What a funny thing?” – The bugger is relentless.
I quickly checked and found to my own amazement that there are 46 reports published under my name. Oh dear, have I seriously written that many? I asked myself.
“46” – I casually replied wanting this stupid conversation to be over.
“All of them on-line? You’re counting the ones you’ve not even written right?” – Dear God, I seriously wanna hammer this fella.
“No you snob, it’s 46 online and I’ve some unpublished ones as well” – I quickly checked and found there are 2 more to be published and 1 to be written.
“Seriously? Let’s have a look.” – God save me and my soul. I had to get this over with so decided to just let him have a peek at my desktop.
After looking through them he asks “What are you gonna do about your Half Century?”
“What half-century?” – Since when this bugger started talking in Greek?
“Your 50th report buster, what else?” – Holy Moly Guacamole!!! That one. “I ain’t decided anything yet. But now that I know, gotta do something special”.
“Oh yeah, you gotta do something very special. I’ll be waiting for that report” – What about the other reports, I felt like asking but decided to get on with my work and with that finally the end of conversation.
Wow, 50 trip reports in just over 18 months is something I’d never dreamed of. That night at home while glancing through the news I heard a magical word. Baththalangunduwa!!!
Just managed to switch it over to the proper channel and got the news. There were people and reverends protesting against taking over Baththalangunduwa fishing island from the native villagers so that our power-greedy corruptive politicians can make money by selling it to some foreigner. B’Gunduwa has been a fishing village for generations and the people who stay there have migrated from the western coastal areas such as Negombo, Chilaw, Puttalam, Mannar, etc. They feel it’s their birthright to do fishing from this island located roughly 16 nautical miles from the mainland Kalpitiya.
B’Gunduwa was not a stranger to me thanks to the Beach Traveler Program which is one of my all-time-favorites. In his tour around SL along the coast, the beach traveler (Nishantha Kahawita), travels to B’Gunduwa and spend a night there. Since then, I always wanted to go there. His program had helped me in the recent past to find places to visit and I marked it under top-priority list. However, over time, other trips made it push further back in my list.
So when I heard this on TV, everything fell into place like a long lost jigsaw puzzle. Couldn’t think of a better time to go there like the present due to two reasons.
1. Need something special for the 50th episode.
2. If the powers-that-be decided to take over this island, then no amount of protest will save it. (Having a quick look of the recent past proves this point).
So I immediately called one of my long-standing travel partner Sheham and submitted the proposal. Sheham, being Sheham, jumped in the idea and said yes without even consulting his business calendar. Next in line was the Uncle Tony but he was having a difficult time with his job and said he might not be available. Hariya had also shown a keenness to visit the island but had to give up at the last minute co he had to do the watcher man at home. The other old fella, Athua agreed to come and I just called Kasun as well. I’m thankful I called him coz he saved the day by bringing one of his friends, Asitha as Athula had to pull back due to a personal problem at home. (Second time you missed out Atha).
Day 01
So on the 8th morning, around 2.00am Sheham picked me and we drove to Wennappuwa to pick Kasun and Asitha. E3 made it really quick and when I called Kasun somewhere in the middle of E3, he was still fast asleep. Our reaching soon his friend’s place put things in motion but we politely declined an offer of cuppa coffee from Asitha’s mother as reaching Kalpitiya ASAP was top priority. I’m now a bit worried about having to waste time for flat tires and other unpredictable problems after our delay in my Rail Hike Stage 5. The going was pretty good as the roads were isolated, no poisonous gases emitting from decades old engines. Our conversation was running wild with all the topics from Area 51 to Spies of Russia to the origin of Amazon River. It was so interesting as 4 different people talking in turns about various things. The night simply wore on and we found all of a sudden that we’d reached the Kalpitiya turn off.
It was 40km from there and the road is very wide nicely done passing the Puttalam Salt Factory and staff quarters of doomed Norochcholai power plant. At certain parts the road is still being constructed, especially the bridge about 1-2km off the turn off. We made good time and closer to Kalpitiya saw a statue of a donkey on the roadside. Gosh, not an actual statue but a very still donkey in the dark. Surprisingly those donkeys at Kalpitiya area seem to be too lazy even to move a hair on their body. Wonder how on earth they manage to stay like that.
We found ourselves at the Fishery Harbor of Kalpitiya. Our entering into the premises woke the security officer and he came running to see if a boat is coming along the road instead water. I’m sure he must’ve relieved to find it’s just a car. We told him that we were planning to go spend the weekend at Baththalangunduwa (refereed as BG hereafter) camping. He was very fascinated and gave us a lot of information about the island and Kalpitiya. It was lucky that we talked to him because we prevented a near catastrophic end to our magnificent journey.
We were planning to camp in BG and return on the afternoon ferry the following day, Sunday. However, we weren’t aware of the fact that the ferry is not functioning on Sun. Even when I called the Mark Boat and told them our plans, we weren’t told about this. I guess it was a miscommunication on both parties coz we emphasized on the dates 8 and 9 instead of Sat and Sun. Thanks to the security guy we got to know this before the journey and had to resort to abort the camping and spending the night somewhere else. I felt so down but thankfully Sheham came up with the idea of camping somewhere close by and doing the Puttalam-Mannar stretch on the following day.
None of us had done it before so it was a very welcome idea and we all embraced it with both hands. You know there’s a saying that “Everything happens for good” and we too thought as much and at the end of the journey figured it really happened for good as we managed to cover a whole lot of things in that 48 hours instead of only camping at BG. We had our breakfast of Tempered onions mixed with chilies, tomatoes and boiled eggs with sliced bread. The morning sun was creeping over the horizon and lit up the jetty full of different sized boats arrived in the night after a long stretch of fishing. Suddenly Kasun shouted and looking back I saw this glowing lava ball like Sun appearing at the edge of the horizon. What a sight it was!
I simply forgot the breakfast and Kasun ruined his hanky trying to wipe the curry-stained hands to get at the camera. We savored it to the max while the crows were coming in numbers sensing a free meal. There were a few dogs too and they had a rough time chasing the greedy crows. We shared the last bit of our bread with them coz the sunrise filled our heats and lifted our spirits. Finally we were ready to rock ‘n’ roll.
Tour Highlights:
1. 6-Hour ferry ride in total
2. Baththalangunduwa, a world of its own
3. Documentary on the Fight for Water in BG
4. Dutch Fort, Kalpitiya
5. Camping at Thalawila
6. Drive through the Wilpattu along Old Mannar Road
7. Doric House
8. Dutch Fort, Arippu
9. Portuguese & Dutch Fort, Mannar
10. Biggest Baobab Tree, Pallimunai
11. Pics of My Sister
12. Collection of Panos
We decided to visit the Kalpitiya Dutch Fort before the departure of ferry at 8.30am. When went to the entrance about 200m away from the jetty the navy officials informed us the visiting hours are from 09.00am till 5.00pm. Then we told them about our failed attempt at camping on BG and won’t be able to make it on time to see the fort. Then they said even till 5.30pm it would be ok so we left for the jetty yet again.
Longest Ferry Ride to date
I called Sujith and told him that we were at the jetty and he too was very confused about our miscommunication but could do nothing at the time. However he promised to inform the manager of the Ferry about us and give us a bit of breathing space in case we were a bit late on the return journey. Paul came and talked to us and the two helpers on the ferry were very cheerful and pointed us to sit on the shady side and took care of our 2 5-litre water bottles.
There were a lot of people waiting to get on board and many sacks of different kinds of goods were also being loaded into the cargo bay underneath. This ferry is the only connection between the island and the mainland. You could even say it’s the lifeline of those people. There are a plenty of small fishing craft that can run between the two but for those fishermen doing it between the island and the mainland is very costly, about Rs. 3500/- – Rs. 4000/- worth fuel which is way too much for their liking.
So the ferry is the only viable method of transporting people and goods in between. However we felt that there’s too much dependent on this single ferry giving a kind of monopoly to the owners. Just wondering what it would be like if the ferry stopped operating due to a malfunction for a few days. I hope they have replacement in place but didn’t see any sign of it. We boarded and sat along the shady edge. The layout is kinda funny coz the boat is three-tiered. The bottom (under the waterline) is the crew quarters, washroom and cargo bay. The mid-section above the water line is the passenger hold. Passengers sit on a wooden platform that provides little or no comfort (Beggars can’t be choosers, I guess) especially when the sea is rough. Thankfully it was nice and calm when we were on board. Above it is the roof-cum cargo-passenger hold without a shelter. I guess it’s a good viewing spot especially in the morning run but you’re bound to get sun burned due to direct exposure.
We were relieved to be on the shady side as the boat finally laden with so many essential items and about 50 people left the safety of the jetty into the Dutch Bay. It’s actually the extension of Puttalm lagoon along the arm of Kalpitiya Peninsula on the left and Eluwankulama and Wilpattu Jungle on the right. If you wanna look for BG on the map, just look right across the Kudiramale Point to the left about 5-6 nautical miles off. The navy boys look less busy now the terrorists are wiped off the face of our country. However, they have to stay vigilant as the stinking Indians continuously breaching our sea areas and the biggest threat for our youth, the illegal drug smuggling too seems to be happening across Negombo via Jaffna along the North Western coast.
About half hour into the journey somebody yelled “Dolphins” and we were so excited and forgot for a moment that we were sitting at the edge of the boat. There were about 5-6 dolphins jumping but we couldn’t take clear shots of them as the front of the ferry had a row of people sitting. I managed to get a quick pic of a dolphin but not prominent enough. Unfortunately our ferry wasn’t in the mood to hover about and see them and sadly we passed them behind. It was my first encounter with dolphins and what a sight it was.
There were a number of tiny islets full of Kadolana trees scattered along the arm of the peninsula and the mainland too. They looked green against a blue-grey-emerald green lagoon. I found the team talking to someone and found he’s a fisherman from Negombo located at BG returning to the island. His name was Nissanka and provided us with valuable information. There was plenty of time to kill and we kept chatting with him while shooting the odd picture. All of a sudden we saw a group of Pelicans flying towards us, they were not so big and we had difficulty identifying them at first. After that there was a single Pelican so skinny flying overhead that I named the Somali Pelican.
Video 01 – Just a short video of the ferry journey.
There were an endless number of sea gulls crashing like a stone and catching fish and at times floating on the water with the waves like ducks. We got fooled at first they were real ducks. The average speed of the ferry was about 8-10km an hour. It recorded a highest speed of around 20km according to Sheham’s GPS. Time wore on and all of a sudden Nissanka showed us a distant communications tower which was at BG Navy Camp. Without even knowing we had moved from Dutch Bay to Portugal Bay but for me it was the same lagoon or rather the sea. However the water looks more clean and clear than it was close to the mainland. We could clearly see the ocean floor and the depth can’t have been more than 10ft. The water looked a gorgeous emerald green too.
There was thing that happened on the ferry I found so hilarious that I couldn’t resist laughing out loud. There was a group of travelers going to BG for a reason they didn’t know. Most of them were middle age fellas with pot bellies and a few kids with their mothers too. They were staring at us as if we’d descended that very moon from the mighty Jupiter. While we were talking among ourselves and with Nissanka, they looked at us open-mouthed as if we spoke Greek. The ladies (as usual) were very curious about what’s going on around and kept asking odd question from whoever was close to them. However, one lady found it too irresistible to wait any longer with her question and asked one of the ferrymen. I couldn’t help overhearing the most hilarious conversation in 2014.
The lady: “Meke Saththuth Innawada” – “Are there animals on the island?”
The ferry worker: “Apo Innawa” – “Of course, there are”
The lady: “Mokkuda Inne” – “What kind of animals?”
The ferry worker: “Ballo, Harak” – “Dogs and Cow”
I can assure you the real conversation in Sinhalese was far better than my sloppy translation. The lady was very serious about the question and the worker very sincerely replied to her. I couldn’t help laughing nonstop and soon had to divulge it to my team mates who couldn’t control their hysterical laughs.
The lagoon was too shallow so we kept going in an arc to reach the island coz the heavily laden ferry couldn’t risk of running aground. We kept sipping the lime and mint drink brought by Sheham and it was a godsend as we felt the heat taking its toll. There are two islands joined by a narrow sand strip which are Palliya Watta and BG. At times they get separated when the sandy bank is submerged in the tide. There’d been another island named Karathivu but now it rests peacefully under water. When the tide is out the sand banks might appear but the rising sea levels have taken care of it.
We saw just off BG some divers with face masks on as if they were snorkeling. Looking at the sea didn’t reveal anything to go snorkeling for and one of the fishermen on board solved that mystery to us. He said that those were fishermen doing a part-time job of collecting “Sangu”. It’s the Tamil name for “Hakgediya” or “Conch Shell” in English. Apparently those are a sign of good luck and sell like hot cakes among superstitious rich folks.
![The sun is appearing in the horizon]() The sun is appearing in the horizon |
![Navy boat returning to the camp after a night patrol]() Navy boat returning to the camp after a night patrol |
![Busy at work early in the morning]() Busy at work early in the morning |
![Just appearing]() Just appearing |
![Wow]() Wow |
![Fiery looking lava ball]() Fiery looking lava ball |
![Parked along the jetty]() Parked along the jetty |
![Very important notice]() Very important notice |
![This craft (Sudu Duwa) was freed by the Indian Authorities after the agreement]() This craft (Sudu Duwa) was freed by the Indian Authorities after the agreement |
![1 million fine? Oh dear]() 1 million fine? Oh dear |
![Cubes of ice is being taken to the waiting fishing craft]() Cubes of ice is being taken to the waiting fishing craft |
![Captured Indian vessels illegally fishing in our waters]() Captured Indian vessels illegally fishing in our waters |
![Done a good job of building this]() Done a good job of building this |
![The Ferry]() The Ferry |
![Another boat that carries tourists around]() Another boat that carries tourists around |
![Team ready to rock 'n' roll]() Team ready to rock ‘n’ roll |
![Peering at the Navy camp]() Peering at the Navy camp |
![Paul, the manager is overseeing things]() Paul, the manager is overseeing things |
![Being loaded onto the ferry]() Being loaded onto the ferry |
![Crowded]() Crowded |
![Leaving the jetty]() Leaving the jetty |
![Another Navy craft returning to the jetty, they moved dangerously close to us]() Another Navy craft returning to the jetty, they moved dangerously close to us |
![The lush greenery islands]() The lush greenery islands |
![Another large fishing craft]() Another large fishing craft |
![Cheerful worker on the bow]() Cheerful worker on the bow |
![Nissanka on the left]() Nissanka on the left |
![Trying to reach to the roof]() Trying to reach to the roof |
![First-ever Dolphin sighting]() First-ever Dolphin sighting |
![The sea gulls like sitting ducks]() The sea gulls like sitting ducks |
![Cargo hold is providing shelters for workers and their close friends]() Cargo hold is providing shelters for workers and their close friends |
![Getting their catch to the boat]() Getting their catch to the boat |
![The mother ship with the Conch Shell collectors]() The mother ship with the Conch Shell collectors |
![Got you]() Got you |
![Portugal bay water is more clean and emerald green]() Portugal bay water is more clean and emerald green |
![The comms tower in sight]() The comms tower in sight |
![Got there]() Got there |
![Climbing down the ladder]() Climbing down the ladder |
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The Uniquely Placed Fishing Island – Baththalangunduwa
After it felt like an eternity, we reached the BG but there was no jetty. Instead they had improvised a ladder along which you have climb down and jump to the sandy beach. I had to jump a bit further to avoid getting my shoes wet. The strong smell of fish hit us in waves but not so bad. I guess those fishermen might not be able to take that off them for a long time, might even be lasting a lifetime. There was a row of fishing huts where the 15hp-engined craft were parked under the shade of woven coconut leaves. The whole island looked less busy coz the fishing is done for the day and most of the folks were dozing after a hard run at sea from the early morning.
There were people inside those huts sorting out fish (mainly small one such as Hurulla, Salaya, Karalla, Keeramin and a new kind called Kohombaya which sounded funny), cutting them and adding salt to prepare for dried fish. To be honest I don’t think they welcome the outsiders but stay quiet. So should you ever go there, be sure to stay out of their way as much as possible. However we found some of the keen ones inviting us to take pics of their catch. The people at BG speak mainly Tamil and Sinhalese, however there’s some strange dialect unique to them but no name. It’s a mixture of Sinhalese and Tamil. The Sinhalese and Tamil speakers of the mainland find it difficult to understand this.
E.g. They’d say “Enge Yanne?” – Enge is a Tamil word meaning “Where” and Yanne is a Sinhalese word meaning “Going”. So they are asking “Where are you going?” in a mixture of Tamil and Sinhalese. Uncle Tony knows this a lot better, so should you ever come across him, do ask. He has some very interesting things to say.
So many interesting things and we enjoyed this unprecedented journey even though the sun was up and running full blast sending scorching rays mercilessly as if to fend us off. Walking along the fishing huts didn’t provide us with many landscape shots and we decided to go to the other side. We saw the makeshift wells made by digging holes in the sand burying plastic cans about 3-4 feet deep. No doubt the water is salty but they’re using that water to do cleaning pots and other utensils. The water off the beach is not so good due to garbage and rotting fish. I even saw a couple of toilets too. Wonder how they manage to dig holes without them collapsing on their own in the sand.
Crossing all this we reached the other side of the island which is about half a kilo meter and devoid of any construction. It’s a crystal clear beach but about 50ft off the beach is their main toilet too. So watch your step folks. Funnily enough it also doubles as their waterhole where they dig holes in the sand about 2ft deep looking for less brackish water. They use it to drink and bathe. The beach was however clear of the garbage save for a group of travelers who came with us in the ferry started drinking. Can you imagine the length people go just to get drunk? I was aghast.
Avoiding the drinking party we kept exploring the beach and saw a navy water jet hovering about 3-4 nautical miles off. All of a sudden we came across a Star fish but a dead one. Never seen one before except on TV so this was a very nice encounter. There were plenty of them along the beach so we took pics of them both sides. Sea shells were very common and there were very artistic ones too which didn’t escape our exploring eyes and lens. Sheham kept reminding us about the time so we decided to walk about half a kilo meter further and take a sharp turn back to where we got off.
All of a sudden one guy materialized out of nowhere and was heading towards the beach. About half way back he squatted down and we knew what he was up to. After a few minutes he got up and left; no water or tissue. That’s the way they’re living with no hygienic facilities yet making a living and sending hundreds of tons of fish to feed us Sri Lankans. Then there were 3 guys coming towards us and we saw dug holes in the sand marking their waterhole. They were very cheerful guys and chatted with us while one of them dug the sand looking for water.
Digging water out of those sandy areas is such a cumbersome thing in a way yet very simple in another aspect. They just choose a spot clear of garbage or anything else and dig a hole in a circular way about 2 feet deep and another 2 feet in diameter. You have to do it very systematically so as not to have the walls collapsing on you. The water will slowly come up as if from a spring. Then using a small plastic cup they’d fill a larger container. According to those guys you can fill about 2-3 fairly large containers with a volume of roughly 10-20 liters.
Video 02 – The struggle to dig water at Baththalangunduwa.
They told us how difficult their lives were due to the lack of water and do switch on your headphones and listen to their story. However on the ferry Nissanka claimed that it’s so surprising that they even have this kind of drinkable water in BG coz it’s practically very small and nowhere to get fresh water. They gave us a clear cup of water to taste which Asitha sampled. He claimed it was not so bad. So it shows that miracles do happen. It’s very costly to bring water from Kalpitiya costing about Rs. 500/- for a gallon of water including all the transport costs. Just imagine how lucky we really are. Therefore please by all means save water and electricity. We offered them some of the mineral water carried with us and they very hungrily took it and gulped it down. Wish we had more water with us. They’re supposed to close the waterhole after as dogs and crows will feed on it dirtying it.
After witnessing this we decided to call it a day and head back to where we got off. It was so hot and sun was very much unforgiving. Nonetheless we were very much content deep down coz this was a life-time experience. There were many solar panels in their houses along with a few TV antennas as well. We then saw a generator near one house and the secret behind the TVs was solved finally. There were plenty of kids too playing around and can’t imagine their lives being stuck in a tiny island with nothing more than sea and fish. There were plenty of cows and dogs as well. I’d never seen such bored dogs coz they simply stared at fish and dried fish as if they didn’t give a toss. The dried fish was drying in the open as none of the dogs would bother stealing them.
Cats were no different. They too look fed up of fish and dried fish. I just imagine taking a few hundred dogs and cats from mainland and dropping them there for a few hours. They’d have a field day and need to be hospitalized for over eating. There was one shop selling the day to day items but we didn’t have time to venture into it. Having reached back where we were well before the ferry departure time gave us time to recollect our thoughts. The ferry wasn’t there which gave us a jolt but around 1.30pm it was coming towards us having toured around couple of other places dropping and taking cargo and people. The stop we got off is called Sinna Gunduwa (small Gunduwa).
It was time to go and we bid our farewell to this unique place and got on board the less crowded ferry. Once again we were lucky to get the seating on the shady side facing Wilpattu and Eluwankulama. Funny thing was there were quite a few small fishing boats catching up with the ferry bringing more passengers and cargo, mainly fish or dried fish packed tightly in cardboard or rigifoam boxes. It was so fun to listen to the exchange between boats and their dialect was completely off my limits. The going was more or less easier compared to the morning one as the waves were rolling along with us instead of towards us. I could figure out the beloved Gange Wadiya in the distance with the Navy RABS (Rapid Action Boat Squadron) camp clearly visible. You can read our Gange Wadiya Adventure over here if interested.
The Kala Oya and the Kumburawa River where the Elephant Tree (allegedly the second largest Baobab tree in SL) located were easy to distinguish. Aruwakkalu Limestone Quarry was also there and the destruction is clearly visible from the ferry. There’s a stretch about 4km all looking reddish at places among replanted trees. This is where they’ve dug deep and extracted the limestone for producing cement. This area is a frequent living place for the Camalian but this kinda destruction doesn’t help their well-being. It won’t be long before they’ll be extinct from this are. This exploration keeps on going at a more devastatingly speed. Repercussions of privatization are clear for all to see.
We got a big fright when I saw one of the workers unloading bucket after bucket of oily water from the below deck and went to inspect. To my horror water was leaking inside and the worker was working furiously to get them out of the boat as quickly as possible. The mainland was looming closer so we felt somewhat subdued. It was a back-breaking task but he kept at it.
Video 03 – Back breaking task of unloading water of the BG ferry on return journey.
We got back at the jetty around 4.30pm and said our thanks to Paul and his assistants. Got back to the car and had a long pull on the lemon and mint drink and headed towards the Kalpitiya Dutch Fort.
![The fishing huts are all along the beach]() The fishing huts are all along the beach |
![Yet another fishing raft]() Yet another fishing raft |
![That day's cache]() That day’s cache |
![It's the season of small fish such as Salaya, Hurulla, Karalla and Keeramin]() It’s the season of small fish such as Salaya, Hurulla, Karalla and Keeramin |
![Temporary shelters for the boats and people sorting out the fish]() Temporary shelters for the boats and people sorting out the fish |
![Few big ones too]() Few big ones too |
![Getting the dried fish ready]() Getting the dried fish ready |
![Imagine the taste of fried Karalla]() Imagine the taste of fried Karalla |
![Dogs and cats are nowhere near. They’re bored to death of the sight of these]() Dogs and cats are nowhere near. They’re bored to death of the sight of these |
![Here's the Kohombaya]() Here’s the Kohombaya |
![Temporary well for washing the crockery]() Temporary well for washing the crockery |
![They are playing]() They are playing |
![Not many trees like these]() Not many trees like these |
![Long stretch with plenty of coconut leaf roofed houses]() Long stretch with plenty of coconut leaf roofed houses |
![Water buffalo? Up close it's actually a dog in the water coz it's too hot even for them]() Water buffalo? Up close it’s actually a dog in the water coz it’s too hot even for them |
![During the high tide all these areas get flooded with sea water]() During the high tide all these areas get flooded with sea water |
![Very beautiful]() Very beautiful |
![Never thought she'd look this nice when I took it]() Never thought she’d look this nice when I took it |
![One of the waterholes]() One of the waterholes |
![Yet another waterhole but I initially thought it's croc]() Yet another waterhole but I initially thought it’s croc |
![The team]() The team |
![One of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen]() One of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen |
![Sea shell X'mas tree, made by Sri]() Sea shell X’mas tree, made by Sri |
![Colorful shells all around]() Colorful shells all around |
![Eroded by the continues lapping of sea water]() Eroded by the continues lapping of sea water |
![Black Pearl?]() Black Pearl? |
![Here's the star of the day - Starfish]() Here’s the star of the day – Starfish |
![Belly of it]() Belly of it |
![Looked nice through the lens]() Looked nice through the lens |
![Some life on the unforgiving soil]() Some life on the unforgiving soil |
![If they were in dark fatigues, you'd mistake them for a group of soldiers]() If they were in dark fatigues, you’d mistake them for a group of soldiers |
![Just beginning the ordeal of water digging]() Just beginning the ordeal of water digging |
![Eurekhaaaaaaaaa!!!]() Eurekhaaaaaaaaa!!! |
![Managed to fill two containers, one of which is a rigifoam box]() Managed to fill two containers, one of which is a rigifoam box |
![This one is poisonous I think. Name is Puffer fish if I'm not mistaken]() This one is poisonous I think. Name is Puffer fish if I’m not mistaken |
![Pack of sea gulls disturbed by our presence]() Pack of sea gulls disturbed by our presence |
![Stunning colors]() Stunning colors |
![They must be leading a pretty difficult life with barely any grass and drinking water]() They must be leading a pretty difficult life with barely any grass and drinking water |
![Taken some measures to make sure they're not exposed to dogs and cats]() Taken some measures to make sure they’re not exposed to dogs and cats |
![Getting ready to pack and send to the mainland]() Getting ready to pack and send to the mainland |
![Plenty of these all around]() Plenty of these all around |
![Sigh of relief, here she comes to pick us up]() Sigh of relief, here she comes to pick us up |
![They kept coming in boats like this and catching up with the ferry]() They kept coming in boats like this and catching up with the ferry |
![After the cargo and passengers are on board back to work]() After the cargo and passengers are on board back to work |
![How on earth can they sleep here?]() How on earth can they sleep here? |
![Not for long coz he had to get busy with water leaking]() Not for long coz he had to get busy with water leaking |
![Back breaking task]() Back breaking task |
![Bored]() Bored |
![The pilot maneuvering the craft with his left foot. Look closely]() The pilot maneuvering the craft with his left foot. Look closely |
![Looking at the back]() Looking at the back |
![Navy on constant patrols]() Navy on constant patrols |
![Navy jetty]() Navy jetty |
![Here we are and the carts are already waiting for goods unloading]() Here we are and the carts are already waiting for goods unloading |
![Waiting to jump out]() Waiting to jump out |
![Time to go]() Time to go |
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Kalpitiya Dutch Fort and Camping at Thalawila
There are no pics to show you of the Kalpitiya Fort which is so much irritating. We went to the gate and Navy people took about 15 mins making up their minds and getting someone to escort us inside. “No Cameras or Phones” was their motto and we felt so frustrated having gone there all the way not being able to take a pic of this piece of wonderful creation. The soldier who took us gave a running commentary as if replaying a recorded cassette. I’m sure he’s done it hundreds of times and now it’s more like listening to a computer operated robot. However he was very friendly and answered our questions as best as he could. Inside it was a disaster as Navy had added numerous structures and using the interior open area as their playground.
However on a previous visit Sheham and his team had been given the permission to take pics by their escort but they’d left all their camera equipment in the cars. So it looks different messages are being conveyed at different times. There were two tunnels inside but now blocked by the earth and one was barricaded by a brick wall due to terror attacks. That soldier had tried to venture into them without success. Apparently this tunnel leads to a nearby church and the home of the commander of that time. The church is still there about 500m away from the fort complex.
It was a pity to see the current status of the fort due to the negligence by the archaeological department and additions by the navy. True they (Navy) did an outstanding job of protecting our coastal line but I think it’s time they moved out of this place and let the visitors enjoy it and take pics without all this hustle and bustle. We didn’t even have this much hassle at the top of Piduruthalagala where they have the most sensitive radar installations.
Out of sheer frustration, I asked when the Navy was planning to move and the soldier said that the archaeological department had inspected the place and will soon take over. Finally some good news but it means another trip to Kalpitiya too. After that we decided to camp around Kalpitiya and do the Mannar tour on the following morning. Having talked to numerous people about an ideal camping slot and came up with two options. 1. Kandakuli, 2. Thalawila. We, after a lot of thinking, decided on the latter. It turned out to be a wise decision and we hurried on hoping to catch the sunset. Passing “Ali Rani Palace” notice put up by the archaeological department made me wanna go there too but Kasun said that there’s hardly anything to look, just a bare unexplored area so abandoned that notion.
First- Ever Camping on the Beach, Thalawila
We reached Thalawila church around 5.40pm, well in time for the sunset and found a grassy patch just off the beach devoid of any thick bushes for camping. Doomed Norochcholai was looming in the distance and for a change working. It was belching a streak of black fumes towards the Indian Ocean signaling that it was doing something worthwhile for the money spent. From what I’ve heard, it’s been out of commission more than 50% of the time it’s been installed here. Some record.
There were wind mills too about 2km away from us. Thalawila is a very popular church among Catholics who come in large numbers during the festival season. However this being a quiet time, not many were there. Rows of houses roused my curiosity and found out they’re available for rent and get full very quickly during the festival. “For 2014 festival, already all the houses are booked”, one of the caretakers told us. We set about putting up the tent which was the biggest I’ve ever slept in. It was a massive 7-man tent but we managed to set it up in a record 20 mins. The sun was setting and we managed to shoot on and off while setting up the tent. The sandy ground made it difficult to hold the tent with 8-inch guy pins. (Those are the ones buried into the ground to hold the tent together, funny name nevertheless).
We had to use a few stones too to keep it in place. In the meantime Kassa and Asitha had gone and sweet talked one of the caretakers and arranged a washroom in one of the houses for us to have a wash. It was a very welcome thing as we badly needed to have a shower and was wondering where to go. After the camp setup we took the gas cooker and started boiling instant noodles packets and heating the pre-cooked canned chicken meat balls. The dark enveloped us quickly but a half moon lit the whole open area beautifully. Moon rays were reflecting on the still ocean surface and it was a night good for a poet.
We gobbled up the hot noodles mixed with steaming chicken meatballs, left over tempered onions and boiled eggs from breakfast. To top things off, there was a loaf of bread too. What a feast! We badly needed this kinda meal coz we were without lunch. After a sumptuous meal, we decided to turn in for the night. The tent was more spacious and we had ample room to sleep. We settled in for the night, listening for the rustle the wind made by disturbing the flaps of our tent. The waves kissed the beach in small waves making very little noise as if not to disturb us. I fell asleep and slept like a log till 5.00am.
![Moored at sea off Thalawila]() Moored at sea off Thalawila |
![No light house but the statue of St. Anne's on top of that tower]() No light house but the statue of St. Anne’s on top of that tower |
![Hiya]() Hiya |
![One of the dumbest projects, Norochcholai finally belching black smoke]() One of the dumbest projects, Norochcholai finally belching black smoke |
![Ready to set]() Ready to set |
![Getting redder]() Getting redder |
![Almost sunk]() Almost sunk |
![The biggest tent I've slept to date]() The biggest tent I’ve slept to date |
![Chicken meat balls and eggs are ready]() Chicken meat balls and eggs are ready |
![6 packs of noodles to go with it]() 6 packs of noodles to go with it |
![The tent in the torch light and the blue light is coming from the tower]() The tent in the torch light and the blue light is coming from the tower |
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Day 02
Getting up, after a very good night’s sleep was a blessing and we boiled water and had Nescafe 3 in 1. It revived our bodies and we went back for our borrowed washroom to wash and get ready. By 7am, we were ready to go and bid our farewell to the friendly caretaker and were on our way merrily.
![Good Morning! everyone]() Good Morning! everyone |
![Busily folding the tent]() Busily folding the tent |
![Here he comes]() Here he comes |
![Look at the halo]() Look at the halo |
![Sweet]() Sweet |
![Still there where it was]() Still there where it was |
![Busy at work in the morning]() Busy at work in the morning |
![Laying the nets]() Laying the nets |
![Another ready to get going]() Another ready to get going |
![Puttalam lagoon, one of the biggest in SL]() Puttalam lagoon, one of the biggest in SL |
![These are a familiar sight for me]() These are a familiar sight for me |
![Going towards Eluwankulam]() Going towards Eluwankulam |
Old Mannar Road via Wilpattu, Doric House and Arippu Fort
We left Thalawila and headed towards Kalpitiya turn off. Reaching Puttalam starving wasn’t an easy thing to do. So we stopped to buy some buns and headed back towards Eluwankulama. The road is under construction but done quite a lot since our last visit to Gange Wadiya in Oct 2013. Passing Eluwankulama junction where the turn off for Gange Wadiya we headed further up towards the Navy camp where the Kala Oya borders the southernmost boundary of legendary Wilpattu. There was a barrier across the road with a navy soldier on guard. You don’t need any permission to go on this road but they’re checking the vehicles for any smuggling goods or taking animals too.
I hope they’re doing the same thing for the vehicles coming out of the park too coz the chances are very high for people to smuggle animals or plants out. He explicitly asked us not to photograph around their camp. Ban the photographers is the theme for them. We reached the Sapaththu Palama and Kala Oya was gushing not over but underneath, almost touching the top. It was a super duper place for camping as there’s plenty of fresh water and scores of Kumbuk Trees are providing cool shade throughout. No chance of getting permission I guess.
Video 04 – The Southernmost boundary of Wilpattu, Kala Oya
There was park office near the Kala Oya to enter the Wilpattu but looked isolated. The gravel path is uneven making it very hard for low clearance vehicles to maneuver. There’s very little traffic mainly the people either side (Silavathura and Eluwankulama) of the jungle moving from one area to the other. We saw motorbikes, small Lorries and even passenger buses going in this road. Puttalam-Mannar buses use this road. It must be noted that the bus drivers are very reckless in this road. They travel at high speeds putting both passengers and animals lives in danger.
There was one CTB bus of Mannar Depot (WP NA – 7032) travelling as if this was the Expressway about 60-70kmph. It was crazy driving totally unacceptable. There were a couple of Navy checkpoints inside the jungle taking down the vehicle numbers. I wonder why they don’t do something about these maniac drivers. There were quite a few tanks we passed along the way. Periya Villu, Periya Naga Villu, Malai Villu, Mailanganmotte and Karanchiuttan are a few of them. After a very scenic drive on a slippery gravel road, we reached the northernmost boundary of Wilpattu which is the Modara River (Modara Gan Maruwa). There was a checkpoint at Marichchukkadi the first village after the jungle. There too and those soldiers were fascinated to hear what we were doing and gonna do.
From there the road was in good condition but still under construction at most parts. Passing Mullikulam and Silavathura where the SL Army’s first offensive into the northern terror-held areas was bringing back the memories of valiant sacrifices made by our soldiers. Our first stop was Doric House which just by the road. There’s a tall white pyramid shaped monument close by. 2 Navy officers were on guard duty and talked to us were very friendly.
Doric House is nearly crumpling to the beach below. If I’m not mistaken the entire top floor is fallen off and the majority of the ground floor too is in pieces on the beach below. It was clear that nobody had taken any effort to restore this place other than putting up some sign postings. The walls are crumbling down and our Archeological Department gotta do something real soon to avoid this being fallen completely to the beach. There was color poster showing how it looked in 1804 and in 2012. The difference is heart breaking. Apparently this is where the first British Governor of Ceylon, Fredrick North resided while overseeing the pearls fishery in the North West Coast. The Arippu fort was built to safeguard the collected pearls with a garrison placed.
From Doric House, it was a short drive to the Arippu Fort. Not so difficult to find with well-placed signage. It too was crumbling down and nearby farmer had tied a calf inside showing that authorities don’t get there often enough. It was only the mere Archeological Notice going rusty that tried to fend these trespassers off. The funniest part was the name of the Pradeshiya Sabha in this area. It’s called “Musali Pradeshiya Sabha” and you all know what it means in Sinhala.
![Just before the barrier entering the jungle road]() Just before the barrier entering the jungle road |
![The Sapaththu Palama through the shady Kumbuk Trees]() The Sapaththu Palama through the shady Kumbuk Trees |
![What a nice place for a bath]() What a nice place for a bath |
![Lovely]() Lovely |
![Imagine what it'd be like when the water levels are too high]() Imagine what it’d be like when the water levels are too high |
![Towards the Navy camp. Wonder what those summer huts are for?]() Towards the Navy camp. Wonder what those summer huts are for? |
![Here's the isolated Entrance office]() Here’s the isolated Entrance office |
![(Click image to enlarge)]() (Click image to enlarge) |
![Managed to get only him out of plenty of birds]() Managed to get only him out of plenty of birds |
![Reaching to the infinity]() Reaching to the infinity |
![Oh dear, so far to go]() Oh dear, so far to go |
![This is the culprit bus who was driving like a bullet out of the gun]() This is the culprit bus who was driving like a bullet out of the gun |
![Doric Bungalow is just by the road]() Doric Bungalow is just by the road |
![The monument like tower about 50m away from the house]() The monument like tower about 50m away from the house |
![Dilapidated house]() Dilapidated house |
![Only the bare bones]() Only the bare bones |
![Those skinny pillars won't stand long.]() Those skinny pillars won’t stand long. |
![More than 50% of the bungalow is down at the beach due to negligence and 3 decades of war]() More than 50% of the bungalow is down at the beach due to negligence and 3 decades of war |
![What it was like 2 centuries ago]() What it was like 2 centuries ago |
![In 2009 but now it's worse]() In 2009 but now it’s worse |
![Sheham on the steps to the first floor but nothing to see]() Sheham on the steps to the first floor but nothing to see |
![Only the skeletal structures of the ground floor to see]() Only the skeletal structures of the ground floor to see |
![Just like a tank, no waves. Very still]() Just like a tank, no waves. Very still |
![Trying to get down to the beach]() Trying to get down to the beach |
![Very sad looking state]() Very sad looking state |
![Gotta do something very soon]() Gotta do something very soon |
![On the left are the two navy personnel]() On the left are the two navy personnel |
![From the beach below]() From the beach below |
![Huge chunks had fallen to the beach]() Huge chunks had fallen to the beach |
![Artistic sea plants on the beach]() Artistic sea plants on the beach |
![Making sand houses]() Making sand houses |
![Don't get many like these in the dry zone]() Don’t get many like these in the dry zone |
![200m to the left from the main road]() 200m to the left from the main road |
![The story behind]() The story behind |
![Protected by a fence but no guard]() Protected by a fence but no guard |
![Being used to keep cattle I suppose]() Being used to keep cattle I suppose |
![Nothing has been done to restore it]() Nothing has been done to restore it |
![The front is like a church. This is a tactic used by all of them Portuguese, Dutch and the English to fool the SL kings]() The front is like a church. This is a tactic used by all of them Portuguese, Dutch and the English to fool the SL kings |
![Not much left standing]() Not much left standing |
![Plenty of these white flowers]() Plenty of these white flowers |
![Leaving]() Leaving |
![Well, no words to explain the hilariousness of the name]() Well, no words to explain the hilariousness of the name |
![Pooh...]() Pooh… |
![The long causeway joining the Mannar Island to the mainland]() The long causeway joining the Mannar Island to the mainland |
Mannar Fort and the Biggest Baobab Tree in SL
Then we crossed the famous Malwathu Oya and entered Nananttan Area. From there it was pretty straight forward journey to Mannar through world famous bird sanctuary, Vankalai. However in Nananttan, the roads can be a bit confusing, so don’t forget to ask for directions. The road joins the Mannar-Medawachchiya main road just before the causeway. Along the causeway we saw two white lines in the distance lagoon. We were anyway looking for the gorgeous looking flamingoes and looking through Sheham’s 500mm lens proved they really were flamingoes. Such beautiful looking pinkish birds were my first encounter with them. Wish we had a small raft to get close to them and take a closer look.
Just passing the bridge that connects the causeway to the Mannar Island we saw the Mannar fort to our right. It’s so close and we got the first right hand turn and travelled for about 400m towards it. This fort like Galle and Jaffna are in a better condition. The complex is huge with plenty of buildings bordering the perimeter. One special place inside is the Church inside with gravestones along the floor of it. I think the same thing can be witnessed at the Church inside the Galle Fort which is still functioning.
We walked along the perimeter wall and noticed the man-made moat like thing using the water from lagoon. Pretty smart move huh! After a thorough inspection we went searching for the Baobab tree and got directions from the Army checkpoint. It’s about 600-800m away from the Fort along Pallimunai Road which is the second right from the bridge.
Reaching and looking at this mammoth tree was something wonderful. Its bark is so thick and charcoal grey in color, exactly like an elephant’s. It’s even got parts of the trunk popping out like an elephant’s foot with their big toes. What a gigantic piece of creation by the Mother Nature. Time was in short supply so we hurried up and got back on the road and reach a shop called “Rice Bowl” near the Giant’s Tank maintained by the Army. The food was tasty and very reasonable. We even got the info about one of their Holiday Bungalows called “Kamatha” in the area. I’ve put a pic of their poster on the report.
After a hearty lunch and directions to shorten our journey we reached Settikulam and took a turn towards Oyamaduwa via Thanthirimale. Ultimately this joins the Nochchiyagama Junction on Puttalam-A’Pura Road. We stopped for a quick cup of tea at Pelpatha (Remember My Short Report with lots of birds). There is a giant squirrel there called “Nangi” and she’s a darling I can tell you. She’d been injured and treated by the hotel’s staff and now nestles in the Tamarind Tree inside the hotel itself. If you call her “Nangi”, she’ll come running and even let me stroke her fur. Such an adorable darling! She got frightened when Kasun tried to come near her (don’t ask me why) and Asitha managed to give her a cheese cracker. She grabbed and ran up the tree and settled onto eat it dearly.
Video 05 – Nangi having a Cheese Cracker
I could’ve spent the whole evening with her bus others were adamant on leaving. So we left for Colombo but managed to stop for another breathtaking sunset along the Puttalam-Colombo road.
Video 06 – Sunset on Puttalam-Colombo Road
After a heartfelt journey of 700+km and 48 hours of joy and fun we got back home while dropping Asitha at Wennappuwa and for the second time declining an offer for dinner.
50 Trip Reports!!! Who would’ve thought of this when I first sent in my first one in July 2012? Even I can’t believe I’ve written so much during the past 18+ months. Lakdasun has provided a great platform not only for travelers, but for writers too like me to horn their writing skills. I’ve seen so much of this paradise island in the past 18 months but compared to what’s more to do, it’s nothing.
Thank you all my friends who’d been there encouraging me to travel more and write more and more. Hopefully there’ll be more from me.
Will see you in the next episode and this is Sri signing off for now.
Take care
P.S. Numerous attempts by me to find how the Baththalangunduwa name came by went without success. Therefore I came up with my own conclusion in the end.
Baththalangunduwa could mean “Bathalayekuta Dun Gunduwa” which means Cheating a Rotund Fella. Just trying to add my mockery into this. Don’t get it serious folks.
![The lagoon along the causeway]() The lagoon along the causeway |
![Drinking milk from the mother]() Drinking milk from the mother |
![The last bridge joining the Mannar Island to the causeway]() The last bridge joining the Mannar Island to the causeway |
![The fort is just there]() The fort is just there |
![Signs of the moat]() Signs of the moat |
![The entrance is there]() The entrance is there |
![Still lagoon to the right. Wish we could take this boat and close in on the flamingoes]() Still lagoon to the right. Wish we could take this boat and close in on the flamingoes |
![One of the buildings inside]() One of the buildings inside |
![Massive rooms]() Massive rooms |
![Archaeological signs going rusty. This could be a symbol or a gravestone]() Archaeological signs going rusty. This could be a symbol or a gravestone |
![Huge courtyard too]() Huge courtyard too |
![One of the biggest forts in SL]() One of the biggest forts in SL |
![Initial thought was a dungeon or a tunnel]() Initial thought was a dungeon or a tunnel |
![But very abruptly ended here]() But very abruptly ended here |
![Going to the top where the guards roamed along the wall]() Going to the top where the guards roamed along the wall |
![Bell tower]() Bell tower |
![The entrance and part of the lagoon from the top]() The entrance and part of the lagoon from the top |
![Old church inside the fort]() Old church inside the fort |
![Signs of moat]() Signs of moat |
![Guard rooms]() Guard rooms |
![Must've been like a small village inside]() Must’ve been like a small village inside |
![Caught her inside]() Caught her inside |
![Here's that church we saw from the top]() Here’s that church we saw from the top |
![Gravestones]() Gravestones |
![Must've been a helluva thing to carve these on solid rocks]() Must’ve been a helluva thing to carve these on solid rocks |
![Must be some sort of a symbol]() Must be some sort of a symbol |
![Another grave]() Another grave |
![This was on a side wall]() This was on a side wall |
![Coming out of the fort]() Coming out of the fort |
![The front wall of the fort with gaps for the riflemen]() The front wall of the fort with gaps for the riflemen |
![The biggest in SL]() The biggest in SL |
![19.51m in circumference = 64 feet]() 19.51m in circumference = 64 feet |
![We're here]() We’re here |
![Like a huge elephant]() Like a huge elephant |
![Here's the foot of the elephant]() Here’s the foot of the elephant |
![The bark is very similar to the skin of an elephant]() The bark is very similar to the skin of an elephant |
![She was exhausted and resting her old bones]() She was exhausted and resting her old bones |
![Placid Giants' Tank]() Placid Giants’ Tank |
![Wonder if this is allowed.]() Wonder if this is allowed. |
![Where we had lunch]() Where we had lunch |
![You can check call the number given]() You can check call the number given |
![The giant Nuga Tree at the restaurant]() The giant Nuga Tree at the restaurant |
![Something was wrong with this fella coz he won't fly away. I took him to a leaf and kept by the Nuga tree]() Something was wrong with this fella coz he won’t fly away. I took him to a leaf and kept by the Nuga tree |
![Here's my sister and me patting her for being a good girl]() Here’s my sister and me patting her for being a good girl |
![She was very possessive of her biccie]() She was very possessive of her biccie |
![She's a darling]() She’s a darling |
![Close up of her]() Close up of her |
![Sunset is about to happen]() Sunset is about to happen |
![A flock of birds going home]() A flock of birds going home |
![Windmills looking gorgeous in the setting sun]() Windmills looking gorgeous in the setting sun |
![Wow]() Wow |
![He's gone home and so we are]() He’s gone home and so we are |
Enjoy the collection of Panos now.
![Pano 1]() Pano 1 |
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![Pano 2]() Pano 2 |
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![Pano 3]() Pano 3 |
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![Pano 4]() Pano 4 |
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![Pano 5]() Pano 5 |
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![Pano 6]() Pano 6 |
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![Pano 7]() Pano 7 |
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![Pano 8]() Pano 8 |
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![Pano 9]() Pano 9 |
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![Pano 10]() Pano 10 |
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![Pano 11]() Pano 11 |
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![Pano 12]() Pano 12 |
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![Pano 13]() Pano 13 |
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![Pano 14]() Pano 14 |
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![Pano 15]() Pano 15 |
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![Pano 16]() Pano 16 |
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![Pano 17]() Pano 17 |
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