We haven’t had been out from home
for a long time. We kept running hither and thither in same schedule throughout
last couple of months. It was Saturday
the 22nd of March 2014, decided to have a home away. This was not pre-planned.
We had a look on travel related webs to find a location on West coast, but
couldn’t….so then got packed to the car and headed towards Negambo…the popular
Sandy beach on the west coast…which is around 30 Km’s away from Ganemulla.
We got into the Colombo-Katunayake
Expressway from Ja-Ela and drove to Katunayakaye and then to Negambo on A3. The
left-hand side of the Expressway opens to Muthurajawela Marshes and Negambo
lagoon. The glimpse of the beauty of the nature is amazing and wonderful. If
you are on Katunayake expressway keep your heads on left (from Colombo side)
between Katunayake and Ja-Ela, It will be eye-catching scenery.
It was around 6 in the evening, we
were in Negambo, headed to Poruthota Road; towards hotels area in Kudapaduwa
and Eththukala. There was a 3 storied building, looked like a budget hotel. We
stayed on B&B basis and rate was also reasonable. It’s “Dream Sea Garden
Hotel”. Since it was out of the season, hotel was not occupied much.
We all were in hurry to get into
the beach even-though it was dark. Our elder doni was excited, because of the
darkness in the beach. We all ran to the beach, nobody was nearby but there was
a musical show on the sands few meters away. Netha wanted to build a castle in
sands, doni and myself build something similar, which needed a name tack. It
was really enjoyable. Then what to do was the question on all our minds, one
came up to go for the musical show….all walking in the sinking sands pushed
hard….saw few small gangs enjoy with drinks on the beach. We had “Vade” and
enjoyed few dancing tracks and came back to the hotel.
Dinner was out of the hotel, came
out to find a restaurant, what a party mode on the road; there are all and most
were restaurants and pubs…music was all over…tourists were enjoying the night. Our
place was “Honkey Tonkey Two Restaurant”. We had a great dine. Menu was delicious;
fried rice, hamburger, grilled mallet and grilled tuna together with vegetable
soup and beer. This restaurant provides personal service by the owner itself;
it’s friendly and a welcome place. 
Next day, early in the morning we
were again in the beach. Sand castle was again built somewhat bigger but not in
the ordinary shape, I walked in the beach to the north and took photographs,
listen wave crash on to shore and enjoyed the hard hits of heavy waves. We all
enjoyed, specially our 2 donis were trilled. We didn’t get into the sea and not
dive. But there were lot had baths, swims, fishing and sailing with fishermen
and more people (tourists) on the beach getting sun.
Negombo offers some of the better beaches on the west coast. Since it draws tourists who stop over for a day on their way to or from the airport, city and the beach side is full of hotels and restaurants. The stretch of the beach; where we were, is maintained by hotels. There are fishermen and fishing boats on the shore in other parts. Beach park is one of the interesting places among visitors (where had the musical show).
The Dream Sea Garden hotel, we stayed is a budget hotel. Rooms are clean and staff is friendly. It is on the beach and can enjoy the scenery of the ocean and the beach from the room. As I said rates are reasonable. Honkey Tonkey Two Restaurant is also provides delicious foods at a reasonable rate and you can have a personalize menu. They are family based and friendly too, but you don’t find liquor at the restaurant and beer is brought from the outside on request. But it’s a very good place to enjoy the meal.
We had the breakfast from the
hotel, it was very basic, fresh juices, toasted bread with butter and egg
together tea or coffee. This may be due the fewer
crowds at the hotel in the off season. We checked-out from the hotel around
11.30 in the morning and on the way back visited Negambo Dutch Fort. It was in
a narrow strip between sea and the lagoon. It is ruined and only clock tower
and entrance is left.
This was very enjoyed
outing…relaxed, tasted, viewed, felt and learned lot in the stay at Negambo and
the way in and out from the beach city.
