Mirissa & Galle – A Quick Glimpse Of The Coast

Fortified Walls, Colonial City of Galle, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is famous for its stunning, partly secluded beaches and its world famous surf spots. With hardly enough time to discover the country, beaches were immediately out of focus. We solely dedicated 2 days to the south of the country. Needless to say that it is not enough…

1. Mirissa

No, the beach in Mirissa is nothing to tell home about but… The atmosphere is very relaxed, and the public is a pleasant and funny mix of everything: surfers, hippies, families, elderly visitors, individual travelers, you name it… peacefully cohabitating on this small stretch of sand.

Beach of Mirissa, Sri Lanka

But the best part is definitely having diner on the beach with your feet almost in the water, enjoying the catch of the day (fish or lobster or squid) grilled with a cold beer. This was really nice and all in all a very cheap treat, one we tremendously enjoyed both evenings there!

On the beach in Mirissa, Sri Lanka

The coast around Mirissa is very pleasant and abounds with beautiful and quiet beaches. If you decide to use Mirissa as a base for a few days, rent a scooter! Traffic is extremely quiet and safe for Asia. This is the best, cheapest and most flexible way to discover the coastal area and:

• Access deserted beaches (check if you can swim, the current on some beaches can be extremely dangerous),
• Observe those fishermen on stilts (you have to pay to take pictures),
• Meet fishermen coming back in the morning, carrying their boats on the beach,
• Join surfers on the best spots, …

A final word: as we have already written, DO NOT GO Whale Watching! (http://grandescapades.net/wildlife-watching-in-sri-lanka/). This was the most disturbing and anti-ecologic experience we made in years…

One of 30 boats that went “Blue Whale Watching” that morning in Mirissa, Sri Lanka

2. Galle

There is something really special about this very well restored Colonial City that invites you for long strolls in the small streets lined with beautiful, low colonial buildings. The flair is absolutely unique, and we truly regret that we did not stay there overnight and did not experience the city at sunset or sunrise, when all those tour groups are gone… The walk suggested by the Lonely Planet offers a very nice first approach of the city. However, you should then just wander around and get lost in those small streets…

Amangalla Hotel, Galle, Sri Lanka

Meeran Mosque, Galle, Sri Lanka

Colonial House, Galle, Sri Lanka

If you are not ready to dish out the 500+ USD necessary to stay at one of the beautiful colonial houses turned into luxury hotels, you can still have a refreshing iced-tea there, for instance at the Amangalla Hotel, a moment of quietness in a purely luxurious environment. We loved it…

Indulging a refreshment in the luxurious Amangalla Hotel, Galle, Sri Lanka

The small fish market is also definitely worth the visit. Check the big resident lizard (Bengal Monitor), the biggest one we have seen on the island…

Fish Market in Galle, Sri Lanka

Fish Market in Galle, Sri Lanka

Fish Market in Galle, Sri Lanka

Bengal Monitor or Common Indian Monitor (Varanus Bengalensis), Fish Market in Galle, Sri Lanka

3. Unexpected Highlight – School Olympia

The least expected is always the best… Driving through a village on the way down south, we located a uniformed fanfare about to play, stopped, and were invited to join the opening ceremony of a “School Olympia”, some kind of sportive competition between local schools.

We were the only tourists there, and teachers immediately spotted us, invited us to join the VIP tent to enjoy the ceremony in the shade. We politely declined the invitation, asking permission wander around to take pictures, which was immediately granted.

One speech official followed the next, and after approx. 1 hour we decided to move on since we had another 2-3 hours drive to Mirissa…