We were able to have a bit of a lie-in again this morning because we didn’t need to meet the bus until 10 AM. We are staying at the Le Grand Hotel which was opened in 2018. The hotel has great views of the Dutch Fort and the Indian Ocean and is the best of the hotels we’ve stayed in this trip. Breakfast was not the usual buffet, but a ‘set-menu’. We both had omelettes and fresh fruit platters as we took in the views.
Our first stop today was a woodcarving factory. One thing I’ve learnt on this trip is that Sri Lanka has a lot of ‘home-based’ industry. In reality, we went to a private home that had a number of people performing specific tasks in different areas of the home. It was interesting to understand the different skills that are needed in operations like this. The result is some amazing wood carvings, both objects and frames. They also produce tribal masks which feature some particularly detailed painting . Some of the tour group bought items, but for us, wood products are difficult to import to Australia and New Zealand.
Then it was onto exploring the Dutch Fort which is a significant historical site that dominates the cityscape. Originally constructed by the Portuguese in 1588, it underwent extensive fortification by the Dutch in the 17th century after they captured it in 1640. This transformation established Galle Fort as a prominent military and administrative center for the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in the region. In 1796, the British took over Sri Lanka in return for harbouring the Dutch King.
Galle Fort has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 due to its historical and architectural significance. Today, Galle Fort is a tourist attraction where visitors can explore its historic architecture and views of the Indian Ocean. The fort also features shops and restaurants, for both history enthusiasts and casual tourists alike.
One fascinating fact was the the Dutch Fort escaped the impact of the 2004 Tsunami while much of the surrounding city was severely damaged. The Galle Fort was able to withstand the devastating 2004 tsunami of because of its elevated location and its massive ramparts. The fort’s resilience in the face of this natural disaster underscores the effectiveness of its historical design and construction.
After we toured the ramparts, we were left on our own to discover the rest of the fort. There are lots of interesting shops and the Deborahs and I had a delicious lunch before returning to our explorations. As a cricket fan no visit to Galle would be complete without a snap of the Galle International Cricket Stadium. The stadium which really only has stands on one side can hold 25,000 people. Sri Lanka are a formidable side at this ground. The ground was severely damaged in the 2004 tsunami and the cricket community, spearheaded by Shane Warne raised funds to restore it. On our way to the ground we passed a game of park cricket. The enthusiasm for the game here is something else.
Our last order of business today was to visit St Marys Catholic Church. The humidity had been around 90% all day, so our legs were tiring. Added to this was that it has been parliamentary elections today, so there have been armed police and and military personel on many corners, all hoping there won’t be any trouble. The church itself is currently being renovated, but we managed a few photos anyway.
We returned to the hotel for a nice swim to cool off and had drinks with some of the other tour members in our group. We decided to stay at the hotel for quick bite before bed.
Until tomorrow.
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