So the last few days have been static. We always seem to start out with a chill few days recovering from both the flight and the year.

We arrived at 2am on the 30th, sorted Sim cards and the (expensive) local driver permits at the airport, getting to the hotel at 2am. We’d booked a very nice local restaurant, Salt, for dinner, but there was no way we were seeing the new year in.

The next days were a blur of beachside restaurants, wandering, and trying to adjust to the local time zone. We did walk into town and wandered around the fish market with its range of salt fish drying in the sun.

Salted fish
Beer by the sea
Seaside dinner

Right now though we’re more worried about the bikes. We’d booked them on the 1st, figuring a day or two for short rides and adjusting them a little. The rental place told us they’d be ready on the second. Ok.  We turned up on the second and they said here are your bikes. Two models we hadn’t booked. Ok, they said, if you want those ones we’ll deliver them at 9am on the third. They have been in touch saying they’re ready and they’ll be here at 9 and it’s 8.30. but still, it makes you a little cautious.

We’re now ready to be on our way. Negombo is fine, but a holiday of sitting by the pool isn’t quite what we do. We want to hit the road.