The end of our trip brought waves waves waves, and 6 hour sessions in the water became commonplace, and confirmed sri lanka as an awesome surfing holiday destination. It never gets over double-overhead high waves, but there are still days with some hefty size. The crowds too around Hikkaduwa are insane, and it was fairly common for there to be 25 people in the line-up. However, if you are a good hustler there were good waves to be had, and if you are a good searcher there are places down the coast which can escape the crowds. Sri Lanka gets the thumbs up.

One year on and Sri Lanka still bears the scars of the devastating Tsunami that hit on boxing day 2004. Many people have rebuilt their homes and businesses, especially in tourist hotspots like Hikkaduwa. Locals' relationships with people overseas meant aid was quickly and directly received. In fact, the tragedy of the tsunami spurred rebuilding and community development projects by the international community which were long long overdue.

Well we've reached the end of the trip - and in the last couple of weeks we've continued some great work at the orphanage and scored some epic waves. The work at the boys home became more frustrating for us as time wore on. the more we visited, the more apparent was the neglect of the management over the kids, despite a number of different charities trying to work with them to improve the health of the boys. The problems faced at this orphanage are similiar to problems faced throughout Sri Lanka by aid agencies. There is no lack of charities, what is lacking is a just and fair structure through which aid can be directed where it is really needed.

Surf wasn't looking too hot so we took off on a trip to the hills - checking out the cool city of Kandy and the even cooler-sounding Temple of the Tooth - home of Buddha's tooth!!!

We're experiencing a very unusual flat spell for the time of year here - and the surf is only making about two ft at best.

Hey guys
So the trip down south was a good adventure, and although there wasn't much surf there are heaps of bays, reefs and points with lots of potential. We'll be going back when there's surf for sure.

Hey dudes I'm still alive and so is Clare - we've been in this farkin internet cafe for hours the connection is slow so email you properly laters - suffice to say the surf is S*$T HOUSE and has been for a week, but we've not beeen idle and we escaped out to the hill country to chekc out a seriously cool elephant orphanage, rode and elephant bare back and took an elephant shower (gave me a cold) checked out some awesome ancient ruins and avoided getting blown up by any terrorists (always a bonus).

Hi all

We've returned to Hikaduwa after a mini-adventure down the coast. I have been surfing main reef in Hikkaduwa for 5 days so I was thankful for a rest - plus my nipple went manky and I had to keep it dry for a few days!!! We took a tuktuk up in to the mountains on an epic 4 hour tuktuk journey. We were heading for a national park to go on safari, and it just so happened that our driver's uncle lived near the entrance. We had become firm friends after several near-death experiences on our long journey, so he invited us to stay with the family. They took us in and we were treated to some incredible sri lankan hospitality - including the best curry we've ever eaten and a lesson on how to eat rice with your hands without looking like a retard.

Hello

We are in a town called Hikkadduwa - it's hot and the surf is pumping. Long journey not without hitches - we've already suffered one airplane inflicted broken board, but apart from that sri lanka is cool if a little loco... - beautiful beaches and water, and the people here are super friendly. There is still alot of evidence of the tsunami on this section of coastline - many people are living in temporary wooden accomodation camps, and there are shells of houses lining the coast road, with a sprinkling of boats lodged way inland.