Crows on Galle Fort beach

This morning we got on the train to Galle. Most trains here have second and third class although there's not much difference between the two except second costs almost double and you're marginally more likely to get a seat. There are some routes that have first class which are well used tourist routes and they are either observation carriages or sleepers and these are the only ones you can book in advance.  We went for second class for less then a quid each and boarded the train which was hot and busy ... no seat for us but at least they have good luggage rails so we could get rid of the packs. The journey was fine and we eventually get a seat which we shared and arrived in about three hours.

Galle is a fairly large city and the main attraction is a huge fort area which was originally but by the Portuguese in the 15th century then developed by the Dutch. It has a very colonial feel to it and you feel as though you could be anywhere in Europe as you wander through the streets. It's a lovely place and even has a small city beach. We spend the afternoon exploring. There are absolutely loads of crows everywhere which gives it a kind or eerie feel. These are not indigenous to Sri Lanka and apparently really affect lots of wildlife here ... they have been attracted by the litter humans leave behind!

John, Denise's hubby, has emailed back and he thinks the its the video card on the computer and that our data can be backed up. We decide to sent it home when we get back to Kuala Lumpur and do it from there - he says it should be fine not being powered up for a few months. Just have to lug it around for another month.