Leaving Matara was difficult. We’d both really enjoyed the relaxation of the sea, the yoga and I forgot to mention, on our last night, the best massage we’d experienced so far. It’s a type of massage called Ayurvedic and was available at our resort. Rob and I would have liked it to last forever but although it was the usual hour it felt like our masseurs had honestly found every single muscle in our bodies and relaxed them. I particularly could have stayed here longer but our flights home were now booked, we just had three more nights before our journey home.
After enjoying our last breakfast of fruit salad and curd we packed quickly and made our way to our waiting tuk tuk for our hour journey down the coast. Having been slightly nervous in tuk tuks to start with I now think they are the best form of transport ever. You’re under cover from the bright sun but still get to feel the warm breeze plus they’re small enough to still nip through the traffic but much more stable and roomy than a moped. I’d love to bring one home with me but am not sure whether they’d be so attractive in cold and rainy England?
Our next two nights were spent at The Waves in Unawatuna, my favourite place name since Luang Prabang.🤣 Rob’s favourite thing here was that it was the first bed, since our arrival in Sri Lanka, to have a quilt. Even though we arrived just after midday he wasted no time at all in luxuriating under his preferred bed covering
I had to drag him out or he could well have stayed there all afternoon.
The Waves was a lovely room above an ice cream shop just a quiet lane back from the beach with a little sun filled balcony overlooking the lane and the sea.
We spent that first afternoon exploring the little town, walking the length of the beach and enjoying the sun and sea as we knew our sunshine days were numbered. 
The main reason we had come to Unawatuna was due to its proximity to Galle. On our final Saturday morning we got up early and took a tuk tuk for the twenty minute ride to Galle fort. Our selection of an unusual purple one confirmed that we are definitely not the best at choosing appropriate tuk tuks. We probably should have found another when the driver struggled to start ours but as it spluttered to life we sat tight. All seemed fairly well until an extremely loud bang alerted us to a definite problem. With just enough momentum to carry us to the kerb we pulled over and the driver jumped out. We closely followed and were soon hurriedly bundled into an alternative tuk tuk for the remainder of our journey. 
Galle was undoubtedly my favourite town in Sri Lanka. Walking around the fairly peaceful ramparts in the gorgeous sunshine with the sea below us was beautiful. It reminded me slightly of Dubrovnik but without the same sense of order or cost.
We were able to watch another wedding photo shoot, our first on the beach.
As we completed our circuit of the ramparts we were able to sit in our elevated position and watch some cricket at Galle international cricket ground.
Apparently, during internationals, these ramparts are extremely popular for local people to get an excellent view of the game without any financial outlay. As it was only a local clash there were just a handful of others enjoying the competition and due to the extreme heat no tourist spectator seemed to last very long. We were soon drawn to a nearby cafe for some shade, air conditioning, a very cold drink and a relaxed and leisurely lunch.
The whole of Galle Fort had an unhurried, relaxing vibe with a strong sense of history. 
It’s position overlooking the Indian Ocean is spectacular 
and although we only had a day here we passed numerous museums, churches and little shops
that, had we had more time, we could have explored further. As we enjoyed a post lunch stroll we became aware that the interesting array of vehicles 
did not punctuate their journeys quite so heavily with constant beeping. This was a mighty relief and further added to our feelings of calm and delight that we had included this beautiful, historical wonder in the final days of our busy itinerary.
The next morning we left by tuk tuk straight after breakfast to go to Galle train station. The train we were hoping to catch to Colombo was due at ten thirty but as we had no ticket we arrived early to try to secure a place. No reserved tickets were available but we were very happy with our 75p unreserved tickets, especially as we had so enjoyed our last train journey and this one was only a couple of hours long. 
When the train arrived it was already fairly full, we all squashed on
and Rob was absolutely delighted when he secured the best seat in the house.
For a large part of the journey Rob and I sat side by side in the open doorway watching the coast line, more beautiful countryside and some fleeting glimpses of remaining Tsunami damage pass by.
Once we arrived at Mount Lavinia 
it was just a short tuk tuk ride to Penthouse above sea to be reunited with our abandoned luggage before a taxi ride to Negombo for our final hotel.
Natasha’s boutique resort was a little disappointing but was probably always going to be. Neither of us were feeling particularly positive after the day’s travels so after walking to Negombo beach to find a restaurant for dinner and saying a final goodbye to the Indian Ocean 
we were in bed, back to just a sheet for our cover, by 8pm.
The next morning after a really good, though slightly unusual breakfastwe set off for our final airport and our final flight. Bandaranaike international airport was very busy and fairly inefficient, consequently it took us a large proportion of our two and a half hours at the airport to get through various security checks and customs.
At last we were through all the checks and settled on our eleven hour flight with Sri Lankan airways. As soon as the safety instructions were over and the aircraft began its ascent all of my misgivings about finishing our travels slightly early disappeared. All I could focus on was arriving home, whom we would see and when and what we needed to do back in the real world. Rob seemed totally relaxed and happy with our decision and after some discussion of the most pressing jobs needing doing on our return we sat back to enjoy the in flight entertainment, starting with Christopher Robin.
Between a couple of films, regular meals and drinks, finishing reading my book and chatting to my lovely neighbour Jess the flight flew by.🤣 In no time at all we were arriving at Heathrow and being met by the gorgeous trio of Noelle, Ruby and Mabel
After lots of cuddles and buying some much missed chocolates and sweets for the journey home we were driven safely back to Blunsdon amid plenty of chatter.
The main reason I was particularly vague about our return date was because I wanted to surprise my sisters. These were four of the people I was most looking forward to seeing and as I knew that they were gathering Monday evening for Anna’s birthday we decided to drop in and surprise them at the Blunsdon house. This worked wonderfully, it was unbelievably great to see them and although we’d only planned on staying five minutes, this was impossible when there was so much to say. 
After over an hour, having been up for at least eighteen hours we admitted defeat and headed home at last to bed.
Nearly a week has passed since we arrived home and it almost feels like we’ve never been away. It is amazing being back in the bosom of our family and friends, reunited with our dogs and Rob with his bikes. Everyone asks, ‘How does it feel to be back?’ but words are slightly inadequate in conveying the immense love and sense of truly belonging somewhere that we’ve felt in this one week. Despite this very special feeling, my sense of adventure and wanderlust has definitely not been truly satiated. I know for definite that there are still a million places that I want, maybe need, to visit and explore so, in the slightly adjusted words of the Terminator, ‘We’ll be back.’ 
Rob & Emma's Trip 
Thank you it has been a joy to read your posts. All the very best to you both.
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