Blogs from Eastern Province, Sri Lanka, Asia - page 3

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Asia » Sri Lanka » Eastern Province » Batticaloa January 15th 2014

I have Traveled to many parts of Sri Lanka over and over again. Before the war was over, then after. Last December holidays, i thought, i was going to do something unique which most Sri Lankans would not do. That is to travel on MY own in Sri Lanka (on a holiday to discover new places) for a couple of days, no itinerary, no prior hotel bookings and only rest houses. If push came to shove and i had no accommodation for the night, then i was going to shack up in the back of my car for the nights shelter. So i was going to go with the flow. But i had to make sure i had all my gear with me so that there was nothing lacking. Especially, my lap top with dongle, my ... read more
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Asia » Sri Lanka » Eastern Province » Batticaloa October 10th 2013

Batticaloa! Riding through the countryside approaching Batticaloa was like the approach to Jaffna. Destroyed buildings all along the way. Who was there when that roof collapsed? Did the people at this farm get out alive? Though the war officially ended in 2009, there are reminders of it everywhere. As with the tsunami, the people of "Batti" took a very big hit. And as everywhere else in Sri Lanka, building is going on apace. I was very keen to get to Batticaloa because of knowing several people in Australia who came from there. I hope you enjoy seeing these updated pictures! One interesting feature of Batticaloa was the Muslim market area and also the fishermen selling their wares from the ground along a bridge. The Hindus and Christians were also very evident. It's definitely a multi-ethnic area. ... read more
Ghandi Waterside Park
Ghandi walking the walk
Channel by Ghandi Park

Asia » Sri Lanka » Eastern Province » Arugam Bay July 15th 2013

‘’The lust for comfort murders the passion of the soul’’ – Kahlil Gibram, Sri Lanka was to be our relaxation destination. One that would help us fit back into the way of life in Asia, but one that would do so gently, and one that eased you in to a full sense of security to show that Asia is not always the crazy, intense circus of a place it’s made out to be. This is a requirement of ours as after just one month here, we will be heading into one of the craziest of all places in Asia….India. Not only will we be heading there, but we plan to stay for around 3 months or so. Therefore, Sri Lanka should be our calm before the inevitable storm! Everything we had heard thus far about Sri ... read more
Mother and baby
Young Monks, Galle
Tea Plantation, Ella

Asia » Sri Lanka » Eastern Province » Trincomalee July 9th 2013

We arrived at Nilaveli Beach Resort after a long and bumpy drive from the ancient capital city of Anuradhapura. The resort is situated on the Indian Ocean with white sand beaches and crystal clear water. It over looked Pigeon Island, a small nature reserve. We took a boat to Pigeon Island for a couple hours of snorkeling. On the east side of the island is a bay filled with many different kinds of colourful tropical fish...no nemos (clown fish) but angel fish the size of your hand, eels and striped and spotted fish of every colour. On the west side of the island are coral reefs. It was like swimming in an aquarium and the water was even warm enough for me!! After returning back to the main land, we spent a couple of hours lounging ... read more
Indian Ocean
Pigeon Island from the boat
Pigeon Island National Park

Asia » Sri Lanka » Eastern Province » Trincomalee April 11th 2013

Phuket, Thailand is also a developing area working hard to attract tourists. Our bus drive for an hour takes us the length of Phuket Island, across a new bridge replacing a very ornate one, and on to a rustic pier to board a narrow, simplistic covered wooden motorized craft with movable benches. Our goal is to visit the monoliths just off shore, rising from the ocean in Phang Nga Bay, similar to the ones we saw in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. These limestone mini islands have an additional attraction of grottos dug out by the ocean that you can go into or pass through. Many kayakers ride aboard larger vessels out to these grottos and then paddle themselves through. We also see James Bond Island, so named because scenes from Man with the Golden Gun were ... read more

Asia » Sri Lanka » Eastern Province » Arugam Bay August 12th 2012

Llevamos poco mas de 10 dias y ya llevamos recorrido medio pais, la costa sur y oeste la dejamos para el ultimo momento porque ahora es alli el monzon y estamos disfrutando de las playas de la costa este, despues de dejar el centro, los templos budistas y los escalones para subir a las ruinas. Ya parece que llevamos meses en este sitio, al poco de estar aqui nos sentiamos de nuevo como en los otros viajes, y es que una vez que se empieza es facil volver a coger el camino. Preferimos no contar mucho, para eso estan las fotos, deciros que en la costa este las playas son increibles y hermosas si olvidas por un momento las indicaciones en el norte de prohibido el paso, de vallas militares y bases, debido a que todavia ... read more
Mercado de Pettah en Colombo
Carroza de festival budista
Bananos decorativos

Asia » Sri Lanka » Eastern Province » Arugam Bay July 2nd 2012

Geo: 6.8589, 81.8304This is the ‘surfers' paradise' in Sri Lanka, the beach here is full of fit guys and girls who really know how to surf! Arugambay is highly rated amongst them and they come from all over to surf here, there are a few bays, one of which is used for learning and others are for the really experienced, they are amazing to watch. I'm staying with Sulfi at Another World Guest House which is the best place I've stayed in all my travel ling so far, it's got a great atmosphere and I meet many new friends. Sulfi is the most amazing cook and the first night I'm delighted that there are ten of us for dinner, we all eat together rice and curries, fresh prawns, avocado salads, delicious… it's nice to eat with ... read more
Arugambay
Wild Elephants
Arugambay

Asia » Sri Lanka » Eastern Province » Batticaloa June 30th 2012

Geo: 7.70483, 81.6771This was my first experience of couch surfing on a social level, although I booked into my accommodation I then met up with Pushpa on the beach, who delighted me with meeting his family first of all before taking me round to his friends house for dinner then to the beach for beers with them all! I was invited into his home and introduced to his mother, sister and cousins and his mum makes me tea while we all sit in the hall. Although they do have a couch available if I need it, I'm already booked into hotel and he needs to leave tomorrow anyway for work so I thank him but opt to stay where I am. After tea we walk round to one of his friends houses and I meet a ... read more
School class I visited
Balloons
Running from the waves

Asia » Sri Lanka » Eastern Province » Batticaloa June 26th 2012

Geo: 7.70483, 81.6771... read more

Asia » Sri Lanka » Eastern Province » Trincomalee June 24th 2012

Geo: 8.56915, 81.2329I arrive in Trincomalee via Sigiriya which is the Sri Lanka equivalent to Ayers Rock in Australia, although after some disappointment I can't climb to the top of it, I didn't realise it was so expensive to get in (3700 Rs, around 18 GBP) and I didn't have enough cash on me. Their card machine is broken, there are no banks and they won't take travelers cheques so guess it wasn't meant to be, at least I suppose I can see it, I just can't climb to the top of it so instead I go into the museum and read the history of Sigiriya after taking some photos.I meet Wright from Taiwan on the bus and we end up exploring Sigiriya and the museum together before heading onto Trincomalee and the bus gets us ... read more
In temple... very dashing
Sigiriya
Locals at Marble Beach




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