We had an easy start to the day today with a nice breakfast. Our initial plan was to take the train to Colombo and then continue onwards to Mirissa. However, our hotel had a car going to pick up some guests in Colombo, so we were able to get a good deal to go along with them from Kandy.
On the way, we also stopped for an elephant bathing experience at one of the elephant centers near Kandy. We were taken down to a shallow jungle river where a mahout was ready with his elephant. The routine was simple: you wade in, grab a coconut husk, and scrub. The elephant obliges by rolling over, raising its trunk, and generally making the whole exercise feel like it is doing you a favor rather than the other way around. The elephant was very calm and gentle throughout, clearly very used to visitors.
The car dropped us off in Colombo, and we boarded a very crowded train bound for Matara. We had to stand in the passageway until Galle, then we were able to get seats for the short distance to Mirissa. It is not the most comfortable way to travel, but it is certainly the most authentic.
It was dark by the time we reached Morning Star Mirissa, where we would be staying for two nights. We relaxed for a while on the nice colonial-style veranda right outside our room. The place was clean and comfortable.
