The beginning of the end
Sri Lanka day twenty five
22.02.2026 - 22.02.2026
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Doha and Sri Lanka 2026
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Lizard at Cape Weligama
Today felt like the beginning of the end, as we were to complete the circle with a drive back to Negombo and the Swanee Grand. But there was time for a lovely leisurely breakfast overlooking the sea which was gleaming silver in the morning sunlight.
Breakfast at Cape Weligama
After that we packed our bags, making sure that the smaller one had everything we would need for our overnight stop in Doha, as the main bag would be checked through to Heathrow.
We'd arranged a buggy for the drive up to reception and another one for our bags. Both arrived early so we were there in good time. We paid our bill for the meals etc., left some money in the tip box, and were given a parting gift of assorted Ceylon tea bags.
We were picked up by another driver from the local tour company Butterfly Tours, Prasad. He was polite and drove well, but wasn't as friendly as Champi. I tried to take a few photos along the way, but we were on the Expressway for a large part of the journey.
Expressway between Galle and Colombo
Taken from the road
We arrived at the Swanee Grand around 1.30 and received a friendly welcome. And we were given the same room as we'd stayed in previously (so I didn't take any photos!) We had some mango juices on the terrace by the pool and sat out there for much of the afternoon reading, sorting photos and catching up on emails etc. I also had a stroll around the garden and discovered a lovely pool at the back with some beautiful waterlilies and tall lotuses, which of course I photographed.
At the Swanee Grand
Waterlilies
Later, on my way back to our room, I bumped into the owner/manager? who saw my camera and asked if I'd been taking photos of the hotel. I told him I'd been admiring and photographing the water lilies, and he insisted on escorting me back to the pool to point out the lotus buds mainly hidden from view at the back. So of course I took more photos!
Lotus flower
Lotus bud
In the evening we had a very good dinner of yellow rice with dahl, potato curry and more. We ate on the terrace with pretty strings of lights in the bushes. And unlike on our previous stay here, on our first night in the country, we were able to wash it down with beer!
Posted by ToonSarah 08:11 Archived in Sri Lanka Tagged lizards food flowers hotel roads
