A Bungalow in Bali Wondered where the two of you were bound and now we know...Bali. Sounds beautiful. Hope you find the diving to be amazing. Speaking of amazing, your description of the birthday party during your final hours in Sri Lanka was glorious. Bink and I both smiled and laughed out loud while reading about the preparations for and your arrival to the celebration. What a great finale to your stay in Weligama. And, now the adventure continues. Have fun. Love you.
So far I'm having a great time..... Hi Matt and Roberta,
I'm sitting on my lazy-boy with my casted leg elevated, looking out at damp day with very dense fog. Not a common thing in Kelowna. so your blog is a "ray of sunshine". As I said before you left, your blog is allowing me to travel along - your entries are very entertaining and I'm happy that you are evidently meeting some very good people and enjoying your time with them. I look forward to further updates....TD
Hi guys,
We are definitely enjoying keeping up with your adventures! I\'m really excited that you ended up in Bali. We have a ton of people that work with that are from Indonesia. They are great people.
Off topic--On the way to school yesterday I was giving the kids a music history lesson about Reggae and Bob. Matt-I was telling them about your addiction to the 4 disc Marley box set when we lived together. I spent the day thinking about you a ton.
You guys are doing a great job on this blog thanks for sharing your adventure with everyone!
JPP
Woohoo! Wow! You guys are hardcore globetrotters, jumping from one spot to another in a pinch. Thanks for your latest post. If I could've closed my eyes while reading, I'm sure I would've felt just like if I was there. Very interesting! As nothing can stop you guys, I'm looking forward to hear about your swim across the Java Sea on a peaceful afternoon. You could have a drink in Malaysia and swim back to Bali with wonderful sunset in the background. This would make a great story. Anyway, if ever you end up in Malaysia, don't forget to say thanks for me to your friend (about the freediving suit).
Take care and have fun!
Denis
Woohoo! Wow! You guys are hardcore globetrotters, jumping from one spot to another in a pinch. Thanks for your latest post. If I could've closed my eyes while reading, I'm sure I would've felt just like if I was there. Very interesting! As nothing can stop you guys, I'm looking forward to hear about your swim across the Java Sea on a peaceful afternoon. You could have a drink in Malaysia and swim back to Bali with wonderful sunset in the background. This would make a great story. Anyway, if ever you end up in Malaysia, don't forget to say thanks for me to your friend (about the freediving suit).
Take care and have fun!
Denis
What an awesome experience You to do look beautiful! What an amazing end to your time in Sri Lanka. Brought tears to my eyes. I would have paid to see my brother Bollywood dancing! I bet it looked very similar to his happy dance or lawn chair dance.
Matt dancing Kristin, you would have been proud! Ashan showed him how to tie up his sarong the way Sri Lankan men do when they get ready to fight. This allowed him more freedom of movement and he went for it. It was beautiful.
Ummm yes please... Ya not much to expect, no big deal, just saw leopards, elephants, deer, jackals, water buffalo, monitor lizards, mongoose, more elephants, oh look another leopard, 300 species of birds...if this is the result of being told not to expect much, I would love to be there when its busy...and good on ya Matt for toting a hardcover bird book around, any self-respecting bird nerd would...keep these blogs-a-flowin...I am planning my next trip via your route....be safe, Shane
I know, right? We were told Yala Park was overcrowded with tourists and were thinking of going to Uda Walawe Park instead, but Roberta said "there's probably a reason why everyone goes to Yala", and she was right! We had an awesome guide which helped a lot. We got him from where we were staying (La Safari Inn), his name was Sandobar (sp?), and he looked like he was about 14 years old. And he was absolutely obsessed with birds. He was both driver and guide, and would be bouncing down a dirt road, cigarette in one hand, cell-phone in the other, then suddenly screech to a halt, reverse, and point out a hoopoe in a tree 30m away. Awesome! He has a network of other like-minded guides who call and text each other all day, which is how we managed to see 2 leopards when many others saw none. Or maybe it was my amazing naturalist skills.
you guys look fabulous Your posts and photos make me feel so happy for you. Although we miss you in the chilly waters here, we are so thrilled that you're having such fun and wonderful adventures. May you be happy and healthy and may all your travels be with ease. Love H
Thanks Heather! We have definitely been thinking of the Sea Hiker team when out swimming, I hear each of your individual voices telling me to keep my elbows up, kick harder, or just talking about the scenery. We're both enjoying our swim family photo and thinking of you guys in the skookum new suits!
Randomly stumbled across your blog... Hey Matt (and Roberta), Shane from DFO here...too funny I was checking my travelblog and who do i see as a featured blogger of the week, none other than you two...looks like Sri Lanka is awesome and treating you well...Teri and I just got back from an impromptu 3 week trip to Colombia (look our blog up we are called BUCKALYN)...anyhow, keep livin the dream and can you add me to your subscriber list please, thanks guys. shane_kalyn@hotmail.com
Swimming in Sri Lanka Sounds like you are still having a great time in the Sun and surf - yes even I was astonished over the ferocity of the Sun after decades of Vancouver living. Willigama Bay is a bout 1km across, but I found the taste of diesel unpleasant and gave-up on finding a better place for protect long swims - also the fishing vessels could be hassle as they try and come too close to see who is mad enough to swim so far out. Anyway don't give up and let us know if you find anything great - for next time.
Love
Joe
Yup Hi Joe,
We have been swimming out to rocks and back to give ourselves a bit more distance but only managed 2km. Yes, the fishermen are really interested but they haven't been too bad - maybe you broke the ice for us : ) The one time Matt & I did go out on a boat the smell was so bad I ended up getting sick. Our friend told us its because their outboards run on kerosene!!
Getting under the skin of a new place... It's so lovely when you begin to feel comfortable in a place that was 'strange' not that long ago. I understand a little Sinhalese, and when I read that you can count to ten, I mentally attempted to do so, but only got to seven. I'll have to get a refresher course from my parents before we travel to SL. Safe travels to your next destination, looking forward to reading all about it!
Ahhh... What a lovely entry. I will be anticipating your next move (literally). I hope you locate the dive spot you are hoping to find with the dream home to accompany it. We all wait in eager anticipation. Love, love...
Thanks! Thanks Dawn, and we hope you are feeling better after the flu. We were both down with a pretty bad cold for a couple of days, we figure it was all the train travel. It's never fun being sick. Hope the weather in Colorado isn't as bad as what we're reading about the Midwest.
wow! Your photos are magnificent Matt. I'm wondering how many you have taken so far. Your shutter must be constantly clicking! My favorite bird is the bee-eater. It's gorgeous. I'd be thrilled to see that beauty in my backyard. Roberta, your description of the cormorant reminds us of Decker and how he plays with his toys. He tosses them so mightily that they wind up on table tops and chairs. His neck will be in traction one day. Happy home hunting. As you said, the search continues. Love you.
OH MY GOODNESS! I've been down with the flu and haven't been online for awhile so I had the joy of catching up on your blogs. Your description of the climb was wonderful. Bink and I were taking deep breaths with every step and every word until you joyfully reached the summit. And, the park...oh, my goodness!!! It's a nature lover's high. Matt must have been in Heaven; I know I would have been. You two must be on sensory overload. We're like Kristin. We are excited when we see you have posted a new blog. Keep 'em coming! Love you both SO much.
Yala's Leopards We also spent 3-days in Yala searching in vain for a leopard. We left convinced that there were none. Great to see that you found one on day 1.
Happy New Year.
Joe and Caroline
Wow! Holy crap guys! I've been impatiently waiting for these pics and they are amazing! I can only imagine how excited Matt must have been. What a cool way to start the year!! Love you and miss you!
Matt and I met while we were both traveling in Puerto Rico in 1998. He worked on a research site in El Yunque Rainforest on the main island and I worked as a divemaster on Vieques.
After 10 years living a settled existence in Vancouver, Canada, we felt a real need to get back to traveling. So we sold our house, put our stuff in storage and set off in search of great places to freedive and new adventures.
Right now plans are to explore SE Asia until we feel the call to move on...... full info
Dawn
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A Bungalow in Bali
Wondered where the two of you were bound and now we know...Bali. Sounds beautiful. Hope you find the diving to be amazing. Speaking of amazing, your description of the birthday party during your final hours in Sri Lanka was glorious. Bink and I both smiled and laughed out loud while reading about the preparations for and your arrival to the celebration. What a great finale to your stay in Weligama. And, now the adventure continues. Have fun. Love you.