Jan 4, 2013 - Sri Lanka The First Two Weeks

Now for Sri Lanka. Because Air Asia cancelled flights from Bangkok and re-routed through KL, had to do a bit of plane hopping but got here safe and sound. Sri Lanka is about the size of Tasmania but with 20 million people rather than 500,000. Mostly Buddhist. Very humid, green and jungly. Been here for 2 weeks, almost circumnavigating the whole island from war-torn Jaffna in the north to the touristy beaches at Unawatuna in the south, all by local bus or train. Boy – where to start…… First thing we noticed was the friendliness of the...

Nov 5, 2012 - Colombo, busy industrial city

We've enjoyed our time in Sri Lanka's busy capital, mainly due to the fab accommodation at the lovely Cinnamon Grand. Really lovely hotel with charm in the original quarters (which we are lucky to be in). This pub has two beautiful pools to choose from and fourteen restaurants. Three of Colombo's top 10 rated restaurants are here, so you could say we've made the most of the facilities. Colombo itself is busy, bustling and does have some interesting sights and of course a fascinating history. But right now, it's struggling to maintain the...

Nov 4, 2012 - Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple, Colombo

We visited this temple / ecumenical worship place almost by accident. It's real attraction is the museum-like quality of the relics and antiquities stored here. A very educational display which encompasses Buddhism from every predominantly Buddhist nation. On this location it is believed that Buddha preached here 2000 years ago. To firm up the sanctity, a gift from Nepal was a sapling from the banyan tree of original meditation and enlightenment. This is a questionable place, with a poor history of elephant housing - thankfully this...

May 26, 2012 - SriLanka, May 2006

My first international trip, Thanks to CADD Centre. Flew to Colombo on 10 May 2006 from Chennai by SriLankan. Spent that night in Colombo, don't remember the hotel, it has got a private beach. Moved down to Bentotta on 11. Two nights there in a beach resort. Flew back to Chennai on 13 May 2006

Mar 24, 2012 - Colombo, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) is famous for tea production and ranks third in world exports. This is the crop that this tear-drop shaped island nation depends on for employment, recognition and refreshment. Today we travel to the Rayigam Tea and Rubber Plantation to see how tea is picked, processed and bagged. Our adventure begins with our travel through the streets of Columbo. Although Saturday morning, the streets are full of local buses, tour minivans, 3-wheel tuk-tuks, cars, trucks, motorbikes and bicycles. There are a few...

Feb 14, 2012 - Colombo

Arrived in Sri Lanka all OK. Had a group of Chinese business men try and steal our driver by pretending to be me. After a 2 hour drive from the airport to our hotel, we finally made it and straight down to dinner for a Sri Lanken curry and beer. Very nice. Our hotel was very modern and clean and quite close to the city. We went out for an explore and to get out bearings a bit and to found how we could get to our next hotel in Unawatuna. Colombo is very busy, noisy and smelly. We got conned out of 4300rupee ($35AUD) by a man, so we did not...

Feb 1, 2012 - All the Tea in Sri Lanka

Joan and John didn't know anyone who had ever been to Sri Lanka. But this did not dissuade us from visiting 'The Pearl of the Indian Ocean'. Rather, it piqued our interest. After a short flight from Male in The Maldives, we landed at Colombo's sparkling new airport. We quickly cleared Immigration and were met by a short, stocky man in his late forties. He clasped his hands in front of his chest, a traditional Buddhist greeting, and introduced himself as Jayantha (pronounced like 'Jontha'). He would be our driver during our nine day visit to...

Jun 24, 2011 - Getting out of dodge

Finally, after all the planning, debate, job quitting, leaving do's and stuff shipping and generally shedding of all the stuff that has clung to us over the last few year we have left Kuwait!! Colombo is a hot dusty place and can appreciate why all the guide books suggest you dont spend much time there but we have the joy of applying for the Indian visas to get through. Still the accommodation in Mt Lavinia is nice, the bed comfy (this will become important over the next few days) and a lovely beach is just down the road. We arranged to...

Apr 25, 2011 - La fin d'une epoque...

Le voyage. Ce voyage que nous entreprenons depuis maintenant 960 jours et que nous partageons avec vous par le biais de ce blog arrive a un tournant sans précédent! Nous avons vécu les 31 derniers mois de notre vie plutôt originalement car ce temps a été dépensé pour visiter 23 pays de cette terre. Nous n'avons a aucun moment durant cette aventure renoncé a l'oportunité que nous nous donnions de découvrir l'inconnu devant nous. C'est ainsi que nous sommes rentrés dans une dynamique et un rythme de vie pour créer cette expérience qui est...

Mar 14, 2011 - Columbo

We left work early one day and took a bus to Columbo. Tried to do all my Christmas Shopping there, but as you can see from the pictures - I don't know if anything there would be on anybodies list. Fun on the bus, tried not to lose anyone on the streets Taylor bought a Sari, Thomas did too! I think Taylor will look better in hers. Ha Ha Thomas' Sari is for his better half. Lunch in a food court - HOT Curry! Back to Paradise Beach and a swim.

Jan 20, 2011 - Sri Lanka's World Heritage Sites

Sri Lanka is about the size of West Virginia, but it proudly owns seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These places have emerged as the hub for tourists from across the globe fascinating them at the very first glimpse of their beauty and mystery. I have to admit that when I decided to visit the country I was drawn by the raw beauty of Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress and palace ruin situated in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka. Bandaranaike International Airport is 22 miles north of Colombo. It cost $20 for a taxi to the city. Or...

Dec 17, 2009 - Sri Lanka

@@@@@@@ Sri Lanka at last! We have been waiting to come to this beautiful country for many, many years. However, our three-week trips to India, over the years that we have been married, never allowed enough time to fly here. We planned to come when we first retired, in fact we bought the 2006 edition of Lonely Planet Sri Lanka, because there was a lull in the civil war that had been raging for over 25 years. However, while we were in India, the hostilities surged with several bomb attacks in Colombo and we decided to play it safe and give...