Spending some time with the largest creature to ever inhabit the earth

So where were we? Oh yes in the lovely Mirissa but slightly perturbed by the very particular staff. Well after a great nights sleep at the palm, the 5.45 wake up is easier than expected. I had a certain spring in my step - we were off to see some Whales. It was over 10 years ago that I had an amazing experience seeing some humpbacks up close and personal. I then swam with whale sharks in Western Australia but since then things have been a bit quiet on the whale front. Unless you are my good brother that is who's managed to swim with a humpback family in Tonga and get one inked all over his right shoulder ( much to Hartley Senior's delight). 

Anyway back to Sri Lanka. From Sept to April the mightiest of all mammals the blue whale swims past these shores as part of their migration between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. We were probably pushing it given it was mid April but decided to give it a go. So at 6am we arrived at the harbour hunting for one of the most environmentally friendly of the operators - jet wing. After a fairly painful hour walking past shit loads of fisherman with their tuna hauls we are hooked up with our boat. Sea sickness tablet swallowed and we were good to go. A couple of hours later our first blue whale was spotted - a 20m long female. We then had a lucky hour watching in the end 3 adults. Nothing prepares you for the size of them. I was also really pleased  that our boat was very respectful of the whales and kept their distance.

I'm now ready for some whale tickling in Baja California.....