We arrived into Colombo at midnight with one piece of luggage missing. So we headed to Negombo, a little beach town near the airport. We waited a few days until the bag arrived safe and sound. Waiting was quite frustrating as we wanted to go and explore the Island but couldn't until the bag was found.
As soon as it arrived we headed straight down south! We took 2 buses for about 7 hours. It wasn't supposed to take so long but the second bus conked out on the motorway!
Finally we arrived into Galle. A beautiful Dutch style town. From there we got into a Sri Lankan Rickshaw (which are quite a bit posher than Indian ones!) and headed to Unawatuna. Unawatuna was a small sleepy fishing village. Now its a very popular beach town for tourists. It surrounds a beautiful bay, so the swimming is perfect and in the middle of the village is a small road full of lovely restaurants and shops.
We found a lovely basic room for about 6 pounds and stayed for over a week. We also found a perfect little dive shop, full of local dive masters that knew the waters like the back of their hands. We dived 4 times with them. The conditions weren't perfect as there was a strong current but it was still brilliant!
When we weren't diving and swimming we explored the local area. There was so much to see. One afternoon we visited a Spice Garden, it was great, a lovely man gave us the grand tour. It was fascinating to see all the different spices and plants. Although we have been to many of these in Asia, we were still seeing new things that only grow in Sri Lanka!
Just off the beach was a small turtle farm. We spent some time having a tour around the small hut. There were so many turtles. They even kept the eggs. They take them from the beach so the fisherman can't take them and sell them on for lots of money. And when their big enough they set them free.
They also keep big turtles that are too ill or weak to survive in the sea. Once they are strong and fit they release them.
On the way home in a Tuk Tuk we saw the local fishermen fishing in true Sri Lankan style! Perched on tiny poles waiting to catch a fish or 2!
After spending lots of time by the beach we decided we had to move on and explore otherwise we would run out of time.
So we headed up to Ella, on another very long hot and sweaty bus journey. Ella is a very sweet little town up in the hills of Sri Lanka. The temperature was so refreshing. The days were still quite warm but the nights were freezing!!
The next day we got up early and headed up the hills to Mini Adams Peak. This had been recommended to us by everyone in the town. It was a beautiful walk up the hills. Surrounded by tea and coffee plantations we slowly climbed to the very top. The views were breath taking.
We left Ella the next as they wasn't much more for us to see. But it was so worth it..even for the day. From Ella we got a very popular train Journey to Kandy. The train looked like an old fashioned toy train. Similar to the train we took in Ooty. The journey was perfect. We meandered through the Sri Lankan countryside...seeing some of the best views of the travels.
7 hours later we arrived into Kandy. The train was worth the 7 hours, however if we had taken the bus it would have only taken 3!
Kandy is the second largest city in Sri Lanka. The traffic was heavy and loud, a big contrast to peaceful Ella. We stayed one night. We made sure we visited the famous Temple of the Tooth (Buddha's) which was fairly impressive; although many criticise that it is in fact a buffalo's tooth and not Buddha's! Who's ever it is, it was a very impressive Temple which since had been reconstructed since it was blown up in a terrorist attack a few years ago.
From Kandy we bartered for a cheap Rickshaw to drive us to Sigiriya. This rather small town is very quiet and empty except of one huge rock! Many travel far and wide to see the fascinating Sirigya Rock.
However our main reason the travel so far North was to visit my grandparents who were doing a cultural tour of Sri Lanka. We surprised them by meeting them at their hotel 20 minutes after they had arrived. It was so lovely to see them after so long. We spent lots of time with them and around their beautiful posh hotel. In the days they went off to explore temples and we made the most of their pool!
From their we headed off to Pinnewala. I have been wanting to visit here for at least 10 years! Only because of one thing....the Elephant Orphanage!! We pre booked a hotel online to ensure we could definitely stay over looking the river, as that's where the Elephants have their 'free time'! We arrived to Elephant Bay Hotel and we so happy! It was perfect. The restaurant and bedroom were overlooking the elephants. We sat for hours watching and taking beautiful photographs.
After lunch we headed to the Orphanage. It was perfect! At the top field over 20 Elephants were roaming free, and just below was a Elephant friendly hut where you could go and feed them fruit. So of course I was there in a flash!
Berwyn was ready with the camera to film the amazing moment. I put the bottle to the baby elephants mouth and literally 2 seconds later it was empty!! All that fuss and it was over! One gulp and empty! But it was worth every one of those 2 seconds!!
It was such a special day for me. I loved it. Seeing so many of my favourite animals being treated so well it was lovely. Many elephants get badly treated by the farmer in Sri Lanka because they ruin the crops. So when they get injured the Orphanage takes them in and looks after them until they are fit again. They have one Elephant called Raga who is blind and other one who only has three legs and she stood on a land mind. So sad, but at least the orphanage exists to help the lovable giants!
We spent our last week in Sri Lanka at the Tangerine Beach Resort! It was wonderful. Our room was the nicest we'd had in Asia. My Nan and Grandad treated us to it, which was so kind. The pool was lovely and the hotel was right on the beach front.
Sri Lanka was one of my favourite countries in Asia. The people are very friendly and relaxed. It still has all the wonderful colours and culture of India but without the chaos!
As soon as it arrived we headed straight down south! We took 2 buses for about 7 hours. It wasn't supposed to take so long but the second bus conked out on the motorway!
Finally we arrived into Galle. A beautiful Dutch style town. From there we got into a Sri Lankan Rickshaw (which are quite a bit posher than Indian ones!) and headed to Unawatuna. Unawatuna was a small sleepy fishing village. Now its a very popular beach town for tourists. It surrounds a beautiful bay, so the swimming is perfect and in the middle of the village is a small road full of lovely restaurants and shops.
We found a lovely basic room for about 6 pounds and stayed for over a week. We also found a perfect little dive shop, full of local dive masters that knew the waters like the back of their hands. We dived 4 times with them. The conditions weren't perfect as there was a strong current but it was still brilliant!
When we weren't diving and swimming we explored the local area. There was so much to see. One afternoon we visited a Spice Garden, it was great, a lovely man gave us the grand tour. It was fascinating to see all the different spices and plants. Although we have been to many of these in Asia, we were still seeing new things that only grow in Sri Lanka!
Just off the beach was a small turtle farm. We spent some time having a tour around the small hut. There were so many turtles. They even kept the eggs. They take them from the beach so the fisherman can't take them and sell them on for lots of money. And when their big enough they set them free.
They also keep big turtles that are too ill or weak to survive in the sea. Once they are strong and fit they release them.
On the way home in a Tuk Tuk we saw the local fishermen fishing in true Sri Lankan style! Perched on tiny poles waiting to catch a fish or 2!
After spending lots of time by the beach we decided we had to move on and explore otherwise we would run out of time.
So we headed up to Ella, on another very long hot and sweaty bus journey. Ella is a very sweet little town up in the hills of Sri Lanka. The temperature was so refreshing. The days were still quite warm but the nights were freezing!!
The next day we got up early and headed up the hills to Mini Adams Peak. This had been recommended to us by everyone in the town. It was a beautiful walk up the hills. Surrounded by tea and coffee plantations we slowly climbed to the very top. The views were breath taking.
We left Ella the next as they wasn't much more for us to see. But it was so worth it..even for the day. From Ella we got a very popular train Journey to Kandy. The train looked like an old fashioned toy train. Similar to the train we took in Ooty. The journey was perfect. We meandered through the Sri Lankan countryside...seeing some of the best views of the travels.
7 hours later we arrived into Kandy. The train was worth the 7 hours, however if we had taken the bus it would have only taken 3!
Kandy is the second largest city in Sri Lanka. The traffic was heavy and loud, a big contrast to peaceful Ella. We stayed one night. We made sure we visited the famous Temple of the Tooth (Buddha's) which was fairly impressive; although many criticise that it is in fact a buffalo's tooth and not Buddha's! Who's ever it is, it was a very impressive Temple which since had been reconstructed since it was blown up in a terrorist attack a few years ago.
From Kandy we bartered for a cheap Rickshaw to drive us to Sigiriya. This rather small town is very quiet and empty except of one huge rock! Many travel far and wide to see the fascinating Sirigya Rock.
However our main reason the travel so far North was to visit my grandparents who were doing a cultural tour of Sri Lanka. We surprised them by meeting them at their hotel 20 minutes after they had arrived. It was so lovely to see them after so long. We spent lots of time with them and around their beautiful posh hotel. In the days they went off to explore temples and we made the most of their pool!
From their we headed off to Pinnewala. I have been wanting to visit here for at least 10 years! Only because of one thing....the Elephant Orphanage!! We pre booked a hotel online to ensure we could definitely stay over looking the river, as that's where the Elephants have their 'free time'! We arrived to Elephant Bay Hotel and we so happy! It was perfect. The restaurant and bedroom were overlooking the elephants. We sat for hours watching and taking beautiful photographs.
Berwyn was ready with the camera to film the amazing moment. I put the bottle to the baby elephants mouth and literally 2 seconds later it was empty!! All that fuss and it was over! One gulp and empty! But it was worth every one of those 2 seconds!!
It was such a special day for me. I loved it. Seeing so many of my favourite animals being treated so well it was lovely. Many elephants get badly treated by the farmer in Sri Lanka because they ruin the crops. So when they get injured the Orphanage takes them in and looks after them until they are fit again. They have one Elephant called Raga who is blind and other one who only has three legs and she stood on a land mind. So sad, but at least the orphanage exists to help the lovable giants!
We spent our last week in Sri Lanka at the Tangerine Beach Resort! It was wonderful. Our room was the nicest we'd had in Asia. My Nan and Grandad treated us to it, which was so kind. The pool was lovely and the hotel was right on the beach front.
Sri Lanka was one of my favourite countries in Asia. The people are very friendly and relaxed. It still has all the wonderful colours and culture of India but without the chaos!
