However, as with most things in Daisy's world, the next part of our adventure was not without mishap. Arriving at our newly built hotel we could see graphically just how newly built it was as our suite - stunning in design - was already occupied by an awful lot of construction dust. Our views of the ocean obliterated by a thick red coating. This wasn't the only time we were to have a problem with ocean views - more of which later!
However as neither of us are precious, and both well travelled enough to recognise that travelling in a third world country is very different to a jaunt around Europe, we let this go and went for lunch. The waiting staff were pure comedy - a young man with eye brows to rival Dennis Healy - proudly delivered our lunch with a flourish! Sadly it was something entirely different to what we had ordered! Again letting it go, he asked if we would like some of the chefs special 'gravy' with the biryani he had just served. Yes please. He managed to deliver that when the biryani had been eaten. I'm not entirely sure what he imagined we would do with it? Drink it, perhaps!
Afterwards it was time to venture into the National Park; safaris here are somewhat different to those we've both experienced in Africa. No armed guide - I rather hoped we didn't meet a leopard when I discovered this - just Lakey in a different t-shirt labelled 'safari guide'. Our chauffeur was clearly multi-talented!
The roads in the national park were the worst either of us had ever seen; pretty impressive considering LP had grown up in the Diaspora so, by definition, had seen some appalling roads. However, bad they might have been they did not deter literally hundreds of 4 x 4 careering at speed along them, as mobile phone networks jammed announcing the siting of an ellie culminating in pile ups of trucks worthy of the M25!
After 4 hours of being violently thrown around, LP put his back out and could only laugh as he announced he hoped I was wearing a sports bra! An interesting tumble in the jungle nonetheless less and then it was back to Sri Lanka's answer to Fawlty Towers and the evenings entertainment.
Having showered I was wearing little, aside from a sarong which left little to the imagination when standing. LP hadn't quite appreciated just how little I was wearing when there was a knock at the door. He opened it to the room boy, whilst I grabbed a cushion to protect my modesty as he went about his business of preparing the room.
I imagined he'd switch on the lights, turn the sheets back, we'd handover the requiste tip and be gone within a couple of minutes. Oh no! Fifteen minutes later he was still there creating hearts and swans on the bed and adorning his towel sculptures with carefully placed flowers and leaves, finished with my necklace around the swan's neck.
In the midst of all this creativity, he realised the bedside light bulb needed changing so called the maintenance man along too. It was turning into quite a party! Such a shame I had no option but to remain glued to the sofa unless I wanted to flash at the entire hotel staff.
Just give them some rupees so they go, I hissed at LP who was finding the whole episode hilarious. After he managed to stop laughing he did so, only to have the room boy insist that 'Madame' come and look at his towel origami.
Grabbing the cushion in front of me, as a burlesque dancer may use a fan, I went over as LP barely contained his mirth. Wonderful I said through gritted teeth as the boy, inanely pleased with himself, backed out of the room practically bowing and saying 'Its for you; you are a pilot!'
God knows how he knew that but at least he didn't get to see my knickers! Onwards and upwards and LP and I so far, so very good!
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