It has taken me a few weeks to get back to blogging. I saw I had over 1,800 photos from our Sri Lanka trip - but it was worth it.
I am splitting the trip into 2 blogs - here goes #1
We loved Sri Lanka and would highly recommend it. This will be long - You read it all, or you can skim and look a the pretty pictures. I would not be offended.
We started the trip meeting our friends in Negombo - We took one night to collect ourselves before heading out (and getting some of the jet lag out of the way for those who traveled farther).
For dinner the 1st night we jumped right in with local cuisine. Below are string hoppers - we all got excited for them and did not realize how much we would be eating these over the next 2 weeks. They are rice, flour, and coconut milk - which can be cooked to get different forms - strings below or a pancake.
A beautiful garnish with dinner.
The next morning (Christmas Eve) we headed south to Mirissa, where we would spend the next 3 nights. We took our time and stopped to check out Galle and a turtle sanctuary along the way.
A street sign along the way - not sure what we would run into.
Our first stop was Galle - It's known for a fort, and it was founded by the Portuguese in the 16th century. It transitioned through the rules of the Dutch and British.The fort is surrounded by a beautiful stone wall overlooking the ocean. We walked along the wall and took some beautiful photos.
Lunch was another local treat at Coconut Sambol. They had 6 clay pots with a different Kotta in each. We equated the kotta here to be similar to curry. It was a buffet, and we filled our banana leaves. Looking back it was one of the best meals we had, and that's saying something...
Leaving Galle on our way to Mirissa we stopped at a Sea Turtle hatchery. We toured the location and learned about all the different types of local turtles. We then saw, petted and held some who were injured and living their lives here.
Christmas Eve was at Lantern Ubunta Villa. We took part in Christmas festivities including local carols, Santa arriving, sparklers (which would have have been able to be sold in the US - safety concerns), crackers, winning the Christmas hamper and setting off Chinese lanterns.
Christmas day was a day of relaxing and eating.
Toes in different locations.
The Christmas Hamper winnings the night before was a bottle of Coconut Arrack (local liquor fermented from the sap of coconut flowers). It made for some good drinks.
And Christmas dinner was some amazing seafood.
Next day was Whale Watching - and we saw some whales.
Here is a pod of pilot whales - from above the water they actually looked like dolphins.
And we saw about 15 Blue Whales - here are a few highlights. I did miss getting a photo of the one who nudged the boat as it was coming up.
After the whale we stopped at a local roadside stand for curry:
We spent the rest of the day resting and packing for an early start to Yala the next day, because we had a safari leaving at 2:30.
Last breakfast in Mirissa was a Sri Lankan version of Eggs Benedict - they tasted as good as they photographed.
In Yala we stayed at Wild Cost Tented Lodge which opened ~2 months prior to our arrival.
It was an authentic wild experience. Unfortunately we did not see any of the animals they warned us about in camp (rumor was there was an elephant one more morning, but we missed him). But we did see a big long snake, wild boar, and cows.
We checked out our "tent" before heading out for our 1st safari:
On our way to the safari we saw our 1st elephant grazing. It crossed the road in front of our jeep.
On this safari we saw:
Monkeys:
Deer:
And peacocks:
Next morning we had a very early safari - departure at 4:30am.
On the way into the park:
And in case we did not see an actual big cat I took a photo of the welcome sign:
One inside we saw:
Water Buffalo
Large boulders
A ton of beautiful birds (and more peacocks)
Then word got out to the guides a leopard was spotted. And off we went with every other jeep - in queue we sat
But the queue was worth it - we saw the leopard lounging in a tree about 50 yards from us (safe distance). She was difficult to see - but her spots stood out.
Back home to relax for the rest of the day. Here are some photos of the walk up to our "tent"
One of a few Christmas decorations - no Douglas fir trees.
Next morning was again relaxing before the drive to Nuwara Eiya. We had a few animal sightings in camp.
Cows grazing by the oceanfront
Boar at breakfast
Cows not wanting us to leave by blocking the walk.
And a few more ocean photos
Along the 7 hour drive to Nuwara Eliya, we made a few stops. First was a stop at Ravana Waterfalls. It gave us a chance to get out, stretch our legs, take some beautiful photos and explore a little.
After lunch we stopped to view the Nine Arch Bridge - we missed seeing a train crossing it.
The drive to Nuwara Eliya was a climb of over 6,000 feet over about 100 miles in about 7 hours with rain and lots of switchback turns - glad we had an experienced driver. This sign was very common.
The next day was a vehicle free day (ours went to the shop with a few broken parts. It was replaced with a new van the next day - with stronger A/C). So we checked out the town known for tea. Before heading to tea we checked out some Kottu Roti - They chop up the Roti and add what you what - veg, chicken. It is very tasty, and very reasonably price. Locals essentially use it to get a good base started for a night of drinking...
Then we found out way to Pedro's tea plantation via tuk-tuks. We toured, tasted and purchased.
Here are a few photos from the rooftop of our villa showing the beautiful mountains and town.
Next day was New Years Eve and we found out way to Kandy via train through a lot of tea.
Before getting on the train we checked out some more of the tea areas around Nuwara Eliya
This is the station we left from.
And here comes our train. Our driver made sure we got to our seats and was waiting for us when we got off after 3 1/2 hours.
Here is some of the beautiful scenery we passed through as we descended from the mountains.
And a train snack of roasted nuts in someones homework paper.
We started out Kandy experience with a Kandyan Dance experience at Kandyan Cultural Centre. Here we saw 11 types of traditional dance and some fire walking (missed getting good photos of the fire walking).
Then off to Temple of the Tooth. A Buddhist temple which holds the relics of the tooth of Buddha. It was a very beautiful and ornate temple. Because of the holiday, it was incredibly busy.
In the museum was a taxidermy of Raja, the elephant. It carried the tooth in an annual parade around Kandy for 50 years. We weren't expecting to see this.
That brings 2017 to an end - what a year.
I am splitting the trip into 2 blogs - here goes #1
We loved Sri Lanka and would highly recommend it. This will be long - You read it all, or you can skim and look a the pretty pictures. I would not be offended.
We started the trip meeting our friends in Negombo - We took one night to collect ourselves before heading out (and getting some of the jet lag out of the way for those who traveled farther).
For dinner the 1st night we jumped right in with local cuisine. Below are string hoppers - we all got excited for them and did not realize how much we would be eating these over the next 2 weeks. They are rice, flour, and coconut milk - which can be cooked to get different forms - strings below or a pancake.
A beautiful garnish with dinner.
The next morning (Christmas Eve) we headed south to Mirissa, where we would spend the next 3 nights. We took our time and stopped to check out Galle and a turtle sanctuary along the way.
A street sign along the way - not sure what we would run into.
Our first stop was Galle - It's known for a fort, and it was founded by the Portuguese in the 16th century. It transitioned through the rules of the Dutch and British.The fort is surrounded by a beautiful stone wall overlooking the ocean. We walked along the wall and took some beautiful photos.
Lunch was another local treat at Coconut Sambol. They had 6 clay pots with a different Kotta in each. We equated the kotta here to be similar to curry. It was a buffet, and we filled our banana leaves. Looking back it was one of the best meals we had, and that's saying something...
Leaving Galle on our way to Mirissa we stopped at a Sea Turtle hatchery. We toured the location and learned about all the different types of local turtles. We then saw, petted and held some who were injured and living their lives here.
Christmas Eve was at Lantern Ubunta Villa. We took part in Christmas festivities including local carols, Santa arriving, sparklers (which would have have been able to be sold in the US - safety concerns), crackers, winning the Christmas hamper and setting off Chinese lanterns.
Christmas day was a day of relaxing and eating.
Toes in different locations.
The Christmas Hamper winnings the night before was a bottle of Coconut Arrack (local liquor fermented from the sap of coconut flowers). It made for some good drinks.
And Christmas dinner was some amazing seafood.
Next day was Whale Watching - and we saw some whales.
Here is a pod of pilot whales - from above the water they actually looked like dolphins.
And we saw about 15 Blue Whales - here are a few highlights. I did miss getting a photo of the one who nudged the boat as it was coming up.
After the whale we stopped at a local roadside stand for curry:
We spent the rest of the day resting and packing for an early start to Yala the next day, because we had a safari leaving at 2:30.
Last breakfast in Mirissa was a Sri Lankan version of Eggs Benedict - they tasted as good as they photographed.
In Yala we stayed at Wild Cost Tented Lodge which opened ~2 months prior to our arrival.
It was an authentic wild experience. Unfortunately we did not see any of the animals they warned us about in camp (rumor was there was an elephant one more morning, but we missed him). But we did see a big long snake, wild boar, and cows.
We checked out our "tent" before heading out for our 1st safari:
On our way to the safari we saw our 1st elephant grazing. It crossed the road in front of our jeep.
On this safari we saw:
Monkeys:
And peacocks:
Next morning we had a very early safari - departure at 4:30am.
On the way into the park:
And in case we did not see an actual big cat I took a photo of the welcome sign:
One inside we saw:
Water Buffalo
Large boulders
A ton of beautiful birds (and more peacocks)
Then word got out to the guides a leopard was spotted. And off we went with every other jeep - in queue we sat
But the queue was worth it - we saw the leopard lounging in a tree about 50 yards from us (safe distance). She was difficult to see - but her spots stood out.
Back home to relax for the rest of the day. Here are some photos of the walk up to our "tent"
One of a few Christmas decorations - no Douglas fir trees.
Next morning was again relaxing before the drive to Nuwara Eiya. We had a few animal sightings in camp.
Cows grazing by the oceanfront
And a few more ocean photos
Along the 7 hour drive to Nuwara Eliya, we made a few stops. First was a stop at Ravana Waterfalls. It gave us a chance to get out, stretch our legs, take some beautiful photos and explore a little.
After lunch we stopped to view the Nine Arch Bridge - we missed seeing a train crossing it.
The drive to Nuwara Eliya was a climb of over 6,000 feet over about 100 miles in about 7 hours with rain and lots of switchback turns - glad we had an experienced driver. This sign was very common.
The next day was a vehicle free day (ours went to the shop with a few broken parts. It was replaced with a new van the next day - with stronger A/C). So we checked out the town known for tea. Before heading to tea we checked out some Kottu Roti - They chop up the Roti and add what you what - veg, chicken. It is very tasty, and very reasonably price. Locals essentially use it to get a good base started for a night of drinking...
Then we found out way to Pedro's tea plantation via tuk-tuks. We toured, tasted and purchased.
Here are a few photos from the rooftop of our villa showing the beautiful mountains and town.
Next day was New Years Eve and we found out way to Kandy via train through a lot of tea.
Before getting on the train we checked out some more of the tea areas around Nuwara Eliya
In our exploration, we found a bridge over a waterfall - that we would be riding over on the train in an hour.
This is the station we left from.
And here comes our train. Our driver made sure we got to our seats and was waiting for us when we got off after 3 1/2 hours.
Here is some of the beautiful scenery we passed through as we descended from the mountains.
And a train snack of roasted nuts in someones homework paper.
In the museum was a taxidermy of Raja, the elephant. It carried the tooth in an annual parade around Kandy for 50 years. We weren't expecting to see this.
That brings 2017 to an end - what a year.
