Blogs from Central Province, Sri Lanka, Asia - page 45

Asia » Sri Lanka » Central Province » Kandy August 5th 2006

Sri Lanka. Where to begin? The plane ride seems as good a place as any. I arrived at the Detroit airport at noon for my flight to Chicago, scheduled for an hour and forty five minutes later. I had my luggage packed into one suitcase - twenty pounds overweight - and a backpack with a frame which would prove to be rather cumbersome in the Chicago and London airports. In any case, I waited in the nonexistent line to check my bags and procure a boarding pass. I should have known then that there would be problems. “Did you know that your visa expires in thirty days?” The desk attendant starred quizzically up at me from the United Airlines computer. I had not known the visa would expire, but I was sure that it wouldn’t be ... read more

First weekend out

Asia » Sri Lanka » Central Province » Kandy August 5th 2006

Lily in Sri Lanka

hello!!! i only have a few mins so hi everyone! i still dont have my bag but i am just getting used to being the one who only has 2 outfits now. I am in Kandy this weekend up in the hills to see a big festival this evening with lots of dancers and elephants which i am really looking forward to! last night a whole load of us TPA vols met up and when for a meal which was good. I have started my placement which is really good lots of little kids shouting teacher teacher at me and just amazed because they have never even seen a white person before they think i am a different species which is sad. My new family are great very traditional which is taking some getting used to. ... read more

Sri Lanka, Kandy Perahera & Ella

Asia » Sri Lanka » Central Province » Kandy August 1st 2006

Clock Tower

Maggie Rees

Hi Everyone, we reached Sri Lanka late on the 29th July. One day in Colombo to organise our train out to Kandy and that was enough!! We wouldn't recommend this capitol city to anyone. It may have some redeeming features, but we certainly failed to find them!!!!! (I suppose having a civil war going on doesn't help the atmosphere but.............) We left Colombo the next day at 7am prompt (better than the UK train services!!) and reached Kandy by 9.30am. We travelled in 2nd class, 1st class and the observation car were fully booked but in 2nd class we had a very comfortable and scenic ride up into the mountains of Sri lanka that surround Kandy. Kandy is a little cooler than Colombo and usually quieter, however we arrived at the start of the Annual Perahera ... read more

Kandyan Dancing

Asia » Sri Lanka » Central Province » Kandy June 8th 2006

Kandyan Dancing

Dilini

That evening we managed to see a cultural dancing show and some fire eating... do not try at home :)... read more

Sigiriya

Asia » Sri Lanka » Central Province » Kandy June 8th 2006

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Dilini

Our next feat was to climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress. It was originally built around 477 AD as an impenetrable fortress by King Kasyapa of Sri Lanka, and much later (16th and 17th centuries history tells us) it was used as a monastery by Buddhist monks. It is the 8th Wonder of the Modern World... The rock stands over 200m tall and there are 1200 steps carved into the rock face, some easy and some not so easy, which takes us right to the top. Elsie and I started our climb around 9.30 in the morning, and it was nearly midday when we got up there. It was hot, it was sweaty, but once we reached the summit, it was such a sense of accomplishment :) ...and what a view we had from the top...... read more

Dalada Maligawa

Asia » Sri Lanka » Central Province » Kandy June 7th 2006

Temple of the Tooth

Dilini

The Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth in English) used to be a royal palace, and is now a Buddhist temple, where a tooth relic of the Lord Buddha is kept. The relic is stored inside a gold casket and kept under lock and key. Every evening, the room is opened for the public to view the golden casket - thousands of people gather here to get a glimpse... We went to the Temple at night, it was the first time i had seen it all lit up and it was beautiful.... read more

Nuwara Eliya to Kandy and the Ancient Cities

Asia » Sri Lanka » Central Province » Kandy May 1st 2006

Beware - Elephants crossing

SCandSC

So we arrive by taxi and not public bus as we once again wus out as we were offered a pretty cheap deal to our next destination - Kandy. A little while ago you may have read we were in the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean, and while we were there we met a great kiwi couple called Leigh and Gail from Auckland. As it turns out one of their good friends lives in Kandy - and also lives in a large house and had some spare room for a couple of wondering souls and very kindly offered us a roof over our heads while we were in Kandy - Danny you’re a star. So after we’re dropped off at the pub it’s not long until we meet our new host and then it’s a ... read more

Yala to Ella

Asia » Sri Lanka » Central Province » Ella April 23rd 2006

The road to Ella

SCandSC

So as we survived Jumbo's super charge at the 4x4 in Yala we then headed towards Ella and the Tea Plantations - cup of tea anyone...? The drive to Ella leaves you with no guesses as to why this area is called the "Hill Country" - it's hilly my friend - very hilly... and also green - very green... also has a few beautiful waterfalls thrown in for good measure. Apparently the hill country was first of all used to grow coffee rather than tea but to some unknown reason (there is only so much I can take in when listening about tea I'm afraid), so tea is now the major export of the area. And of course where there's tea there are tea factories and of course we were invited to see how tea is ... read more

Pradeep, his mini van and lots of ancient things

Asia » Sri Lanka » Central Province » Ella March 12th 2006

Tea picker

Franland

Our first stop in the Cultural triangle was Dambulla rock temple, which was up lots of steps. Sadly, the king who 1st used it, as a refuge in 1 B.C., didn't have the foresight to install an escalator, so we all got very hot and sweaty climbing up there. Next up, was Sigiriya rock fortress, which, just for variety was... up loads of steps. This time, the crazy king decided to build a fortress on top of a rock which stands in awesome, impressive isolation in the surrounding countryside. Sass and I decided to climb up to the top, which was a disgustingly hot and sticky experience. The views from the top were amazing though, and lessened the blow of losing half our body weight in sweat!! Driving from there to Polonnorauwa we were really excited ... read more

Sri Lanka la la la...

Asia » Sri Lanka » Central Province » Ella March 12th 2006

Sigiriya

Franland

Greetings hungry blog followers. Apologies for the lack of travel anecdotes to munch on recently. Where, oh where, have we disappeared to? The answer... Sri Lanka! We have been here for almost two weeks now and have covered most of the Island in that time. Sri Lanka is the same size as Ireland, so compared to travelling the length of India, it is a piece of cake! We flew into Colombo, having joyously played with our tv screens and eaten mystery Sri Lankan pastry things on the 50 minute flight from Trivandrum. Sass caused a scene at the airport by (she says accidentally...) trying to smuggle her penknife on board in her hand luggage, but was (miraculously, in my opinion) reunited with it on arrival in Sri Lanka, equipping her to continue her criminal ways on ... read more

Brief history of Sri Lanka

The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa...more history

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