January 6th - 18th 2008

Dear Jith,

My wife and I considered coming here birding with a guide as somewhat of a risk. Previously we have always just booked a flight, to wherever, hired a car at the airport and travelled around with great freedom aiming at particular sites of interest and staying wherever possible. So to book a guide and driver for 2 weeks was somewhat questionable for us. Having to spend 2 weeks together with two strangers was not something we did lightly. We have always enjoyed the excitement of finding our own birds.

However, we should not have worried because we would have been completely lost with regard to finding and seeing the birds, as well as on the roads, driving ourselves. Our friend Jith is an undisputed expert at charming the birds out of the trees and covering all the important sites comfortably in two weeks. The two night stay at Sinharaja was from another world, and not to be missed by anyone who has the slightest interest in anything natural. Both myself and my wife were very impressed by the selection of sites of cultural & archeological interest and Jith's deep knowledge of the same.

Your knowledge of all aspects of Sri Lankan life is to be admired, along with the enthusiastic way you put it over to visitors, and we hope that many more people will benefit from your tours in future, particularly with regard to the birdlife. We hope you didn't find our few days on the beach too much of a bore. We must also mention your 71 year old driver, Silva, who has endless years of experience touring round the island. He did it with great confidence and composure in what we would describe as sometimes very trying circumstances. Well done Silva!
Many many thanks to both for a really great holiday. Hope to see you at the bird fair, 2008, and if you wish to see a red grause be sure to book you accommodation early!

Best wishes
John & Margret Corbett
Nottingham, UK.