Departure Time: 1000hours
Departure Venue: Mount Lavinia
Travel mode: Colombo-Matara Bus
Adventurers: Avanti & Anushan Selvarajah
Our Second adventure/review away from home was to Jetwing Kurulubedda. Also helped by the Gehan’s links with the organisation, we set off one morning to sunny Galle
Although the bus ride was long, dready and dusty, the AC Colombo-Matara bus and our music kept us awake until we reached Galle Galle town, we retraced steps back to Jetwing Lighthouse (by the side of Galle
Manoj was a jolly man, who had just as much verbal diarrhoea as the two of us! Excited as he was to have us at Kurulubedda, nothing could top the mode of transport to the resort. The route to the hotel was a 5 minute boat ride down the Kepu Ela in Mahamodera, taking in the sights and sounds of creatures all around you… Although it was raining during our time of travel, we were able to see many birds resting on the tree stumps that poked out of the water; but the sight that captured out eyes was the large (pregnant) monitor lizard that perched on a nearby shore. Following this sighting, we spotted 2-3 smaller monitor lizards on the opposite shore as well, no doubt a part of one family… it was beautiful!As we reached the resort, a small strip of a pier was seen coming out through thick shrubbery, with a smiling butler standing at the end of it holding a Nelum flower, and of course, a few umbrellas. Manoj then led us along a wider stretch of bridge, over a pond and onto land, into the hotel’s main dining area.
Consisting only of two chalets, Jetwing Kurulubedda is the ultimate getaway for couples. With only two couples being able to reside at the hotel at one time, peace and serenity are of paramount importance here.
After a refreshing drink of Mangrove Apple, Manoj led us to our chalet for the weekend. Fully cement and wood, the bottom floor of the chalet was our very own plunge pool, which overflowed into a drain and recycled back into the pool. The cement cooled the water, and gave a sense of coolness to the whole chalet as well… Up the cement stairs, and onto a wooden deck, the fully-glass chalet consisted only of a bedroom and washroom, and of course a balcony area.The bedroom was shielded from the prying eyes of monkeys by tats, as was the washroom. Although you couldn’t help by feel ‘exposed’, you also felt securely hidden at the same time (perhaps due to the forest area that surrounded each chalet)!
The bed, to say the least, was heavenly! The softest pillows you can imagine, and clean, white and crisp sheets made me just want to curl up and fall asleep!
Waking up a while later on, and after Anushan returned from his "adventures", we sat while on the balcony, just taking in the outdoorsy feeling that overwhelmed us. You could literally hear the birds humming, in mid-afternoon!
After while, we decided to explore further and went down to the dining pavilion. While Anushan walked around snapping pictures of every living and breathing creature (and there were many of them!), I sat and chatted with Manoj (who was quite the chatterbox, as mentioned earlier). It was also decided that we go on a ‘Sea Shore Trail’ the next morning with the Jetwing Lighthouse nature guide. While Manoj then tended to the vegetables (grown in their own land!), Anushan and I walked back over the bridge and down the pier, to see what other animals we could spot…
We saw many kingfishers, other tiny fish and more monitor lizards. We then wiled away the hours by relaxing in the lounge area, watching the flora and fauna all around us… frogs were content sitting on leaves just mere inches away from us, and squirrels scampered around our heels as we walked over the bridge.
Meals at Kurulubedda were simple Sri Lankan meals, yet cooked with the perfection of a star-class buffet. At night-time we dug into pittu and curries, which melted in our mouths, and spent the rest of the night on our balcony area, starring into ‘nature’.
The bedrooms were complete with cable TV, DVD facilities and even a stereo system, which was too much for our nerves! The toilet was also homely and comfortable, with big wooden (unlockable!!) doors, and cooling cement floors.
We would have spent a grand total of 5 minutes in the pool because of the cold water… which was even colder at night-time!The next morning, Manoj took us around the back entrance of the hotel – a shortcut to Jetwing Lighthouse. We had to make our way through a village area, complete with a school and temple. As it was a Sunday, the temple grounds were swarmed with children adorning white clothes, and carrying flowers. Cows grazed the huge lawn near the temple, and we even came across with a cow with a heart-shaped white mark on its forehead.
We enjoyed breakfast that day at Jetwing Lighthouse (which most Kurulubedda guests opt for)… watching the sea crash onto the rocks nearby. After filling out stomeachs to the brim, we joined another couple and Jetwing Kighthouse’s naturalist Anoma Alagiyawadu, as he led us on a ‘Sea Shore Trail’. He pointed out the various sea creatures, from crabs to fish to sea urchins. Walking further down the shore, we even came across a dead turtle, washed on the shore! On its back, apparently something had pierced its side, killing it instantly… Once Anoma called the hotel staff to arrange a burial/preservation, we went back on our way so as not to make a scene. Dead turtles were a common find in those parts, but this cruel deed is being fined for, so as to prevent it…
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