Mirissa and Weligama

We had so much fun on our bus adventure to Hikkaduwa yesterday, we decided to take the bus west to Weligama and Mirissa beaches. We were such pros this time around! We didn't even have to ask for help at the bus depot... luckily we got on the right bus. The best part of this bus ride was a man who got up front and started singing. I think he was singing for his bus fare, but he sounded like a cat stuck in a dishwasher as he paced up and down the aisle. Awful.

Fishing boat at Weligama. 

Since we were on the express bus (though I'm pretty sure every bus in Sri Lanka is an express bus) we got to Weligama in just 45 minutes. Weligama is on the south coast and it's a cute little town without a whole lot of tourism, mostly a fishing town. But there is one standout of Weligama- Taprobane Island. On this small little island just off the shore, there is a red-roofed colonial villa that used to be owned by some Count and then an American novelist (can't remember who) and now you can rent out the entire villa for $1750 a night. You can walk out to the island at low tide, but come high tide, you're secluded on your own little land. Kinda neat! But other than that, there is not much to do in Weligama. We got off the bus here thinking we'd see some good little shops or restaurants, but nope. Just a whole lot of fishing boats anchored on shore, waiting for their turn to go back out. But they were pretty, so I took pictures.

Taprobane Island

So we headed back to the road to catch the bus a few more miles to Mirissa Beach. Mirissa is sleepy little beach town that hasn't been corrupted by pollution, extreme tourist traffic, or those awful people walking up and down the beach asking you to buy their junk. Hopefully this doesn't change now that word is getting out about the cheap whale watching excursions from here. Mirissa is laid-back and beautiful. Just what we needed on this Sunday.

Fresh catch for sale.
Squid, red snapper, butter fish, and I don't know what else.

 

We hung out in the sun, swam in the ocean and watched the fishermen set up their fresh catches along the shoreline. You could pick out your fish or prawn or crab, whatever, and have the restaurant cook it to your liking. Those were honestly the largest prawns I've ever seen! They don't call them jumbo for nothing! I actually thought they were lobster but I was corrected by the fisherman. I've never seen some of those fish and I'm really hoping none of them were swimming around me when I was in the water. Dinner time came and surprise surprise, I went for the curry! It was SO good and once again, so cheap. While watching the sun go down, we saw a group of cows wander onto the beach. I have no clue where they came from- cows are everywhere here- but they just walked on down to the water and hung out for about a half hour. Never seen that before!

Cows chillin on Mirissa Beach

Ginormous prawns and pretty colorful crab.

Overall a great day in Mirissa. I wish we had more time to spend at this peaceful little spot, but alas, we must head back to Galle for our OB/Gyn rotation!