Last day in Bentota

Mikey enjoying an elephant massage in the pool here at Villa 80.

We've had an amazing stay here at Villa 80 thanks to Henry (our host and surrogate Grandad for the kids) but, it hasn't all been paradise so far: just in case some of you were about to disown us for being smarmy smugger than smug things, we have had a few mishaps already...

​I attempted a walk to the bank yesterday and with my famously bad sense of direction, walked the wrong way for over an hour in the heat, too nervous to ask for directions (why? I have no idea) before a tuk tuk driver rescued me and brought me home.
Now, I know the Judge family believe me to be good at directions but on!y in a relative sense. That's like my husband's family thinking Mikey isn't clumsy (which he is incredibly). Anyway, the driver was someone who'd picked us all up before, so he was a bit concerned to see me so far out of town without the children. When I told him I was looking for a bank, he laughed before informing me that the closest one in the direction I was walking was 20km away!
Mikey, had mixed success later when he borrowed a bike and cycled to the bank (only to leave his bag, with the £500 he'd withdrawn in a biscuit shop). The shop owner chased after him to return the bag so all is good. Lucky for us there are always people to guide us and help when we need them. And these instances just seek to prove how good the vast majority of the people in the world are.  And if anyone is reading this thinking, they couldn't manage to do it, please believe me, if us two can, anyone can!

We move on tomorrow, although we are sad to leave Villa 80, our visas and passports are back so it's time to move slowly to Arugam Bay where we hope to stay for around a month.

But before then, we aim to hit Mirissa and Udawalawe on the way. 

​Wish us luck with the directions!