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

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Asia » Sri Lanka » Western Province » Negombo February 23rd 2019

Arrived very late into Colombo (5 am by Qld clock) and transferred to our nearby costal starting point at the Lavinia Hotel Negombo. Negombo is a low key fishing village and a popular beach alternative to the bustling capital city of Colombo. Had a short but sound sleep but then lay awake waiting for the late winter sun to rise with the muezzin’s call to prayer announcing a new day. Next day was a casual adjustment for time & travel with a long morning walk to a thriving fish market taking in the local scene and atmosphere before returning by a beautiful beach front. Middle of the day is incredibly hot. We finished the day with an evening briefing and meet-up with the rest of the group. The tour has 15 riders supported by a guide, ... read more
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Asia » Sri Lanka » Western Province » Negombo September 18th 2018

We were up and out of the hotel by the crack of dawn (I’m talking 6am) and at Ella train station. We were finally going to sample the world famous Sri Lankan railway system. We were travelling from Ella to Nuno Oya, which we were told was he most beautiful part of the journey, and the early time meant that whilst there were lots of tourists, there were substantially less than there would have been at half 9 which was the next available train. It may have been the early start coupled with the colossus of yesterdays expedition, but the train journey itself was a mixed bag. I will sum it up like so. The Good: 1. I know it’s a repetitive thing for Sri Lanka but again the journey itself is beautiful, it doesn’t really ... read more

Asia » Sri Lanka » Western Province » Negombo September 18th 2018

I’ve been a bit grumpy today, the swimming pool has done my ears in (I’m long suffering with ear troubles, as family and friends will well know, but I wasn’t not going to go in the pool on the beach. Simple as.) I also managed to hit myself in the head with the shower door and now have a small mark on the top right of my forehead, hidden just beneath the hair line. Excellent. When I woke at 8.30am Meg was already up, and out for a jog and a swim, returning shortly after. After our packing and ensuring that our baggage was aeroplane friendly, we put our luggage in the hotel hold and went out to source breakfast. A “Full English Breakast” consists of 2 grilled mini hot dogs, 2 pieces of grilled toast, ... read more

Asia » Sri Lanka » Western Province » Colombo September 11th 2018

We got off the plane at half 11 Sri Lankan time, it was only a very small flight. Free wi-fi in the airport allowed us to book a taxi through “PickMe” which is the Sri Lankan equivalent of Ola. We changed our money (everywhere in the airport does the exact same conversion rate, however they only accept cash, as one stereotypically rude brit abroad found out (not us)). Immediately from the airport to the hotel, a half an hour drive, the roads seemed cleaner, palm trees scattered everywhere matched only in number by the large bodies of water. I’ve already had the talk with meg about staying 5 metres from the waters edge, as the island hosts thousands of Marsh Crocodiles along with a few saltwater crocodiles too. No thanks. We stayed in the Star Anise ... read more

Asia » Sri Lanka » Western Province » Negombo August 23rd 2018

So here ends my 17 night stay at the Cinnamon Grand. Now I have one night up the coast in Negombo, then back here for 3 nights over the weekend before heading off into the Up Country. Last night I made the slight intestinal error of eating in the food court in the basement of the Crescat Mall, a set plate of prawns (tiny and unshelled, just had to crunch my way through them), rice, vegetables, omelette and other stuff for 350r. It was tasty but maybe unwise. I thought I’d risk it as I wasn't working today. At least the price wasn’t inflated by 25 per cent as it is in the hotel, for tax and service charge. At breakfast the Fly Man materialised. He’s the blurry one in the photo carrying a tennis racket. ... read more
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Asia » Sri Lanka » Western Province » Colombo August 19th 2018

After researching the many ways to see the sights of Colombo, from the budget version of the negotiated tuktuk to the super expensive jeep, we all decided to do the City Sightseeing tour, in the red open top bus. It seemed quite pricey for where we are, 30USD, but it picked us up from right in front of the hotel and dropped us back here 4 hours later. We had to go to breakfast at 7am and it wasn’t even a school day. It arrived at 7.45 and drove up to the Galle Face Hotel where we had to wait 20 minutes for some Aussies who’d been given the wrong pick up time. 2 more got on at the next hotel and that was it, 7 of us. We first went round the Fort area and ... read more
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Asia » Sri Lanka » Western Province » Colombo August 18th 2018

Hurrah for a free day to explore, and not having to be at breakfast at 7am, I had a plan today to walk around the lake at the back of the hotel, visit the Gangaramaya Temple and go to the Independence Square Mall. It was surprising on a number of fronts, but was a lovely day. The road at the side of the Crescat Mall leads down to a big lake with a temple on a tiny island. There’s a path around the edge, a few men hanging around or working cleaning and sweeping. Perfectly OK for walking around in the daytime. There was a scratchy noise which turned out to be a 3 foot monitor lizard, and a few birds. At the entrance to the temple on the island a man was sitting on the ... read more
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Asia » Sri Lanka » Western Province August 16th 2018

We'd booked a walking tour of the old part of Colombo which started at 11. So we thought we'd go via the train station to book our tickets for a train ride to Kandy tomorrow. Little did we know there had been a train strike last week and that the trains were now completely booked out - except you could rock up tomorrow and just pay to get on the 3rd class carriage and stand the whole way - it would be cheap but the thought of spending three hours or more wedged in to a steaming hot train was just a bit unappealing, especially as we had luggage. So we needed a plan B,....... We met our lovely guide Harold at a smashing little precinct called the Old Dutch Hospital - close to the World ... read more
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Asia » Sri Lanka » Western Province » Colombo August 16th 2018

So every day has been off to work by taxi and back by tuktuk, or today, as I finished early, it was time to give the local bus a go. My colleagues were finishing ,after and prefer the far more relaxing option of a taxi home too. I am determined to try every transport option going. The taxi this morning took a detour over to the beach road, as it was rammed on the one way system. The train line runs between the road and the sea, and a commuter train came by, literally with people hanging out of the doorways. It was amazing to see. The sea has been very rough the whole time I’ve been here so far and now is the start of the rainy season. I’ve been practising the head wobbling (ear ... read more
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Asia » Sri Lanka » Western Province » Colombo August 15th 2018

Following a fairly uneventful flight from Abu Dhabi to Colombo - yes we did doze and I watched Kinky Boots film, dad watched shape of water! We were pretty rapid off the plane and surprisingly quick through immigration - luckily we'd got visas beforehand - luggage collected and a nice man from the hotel picked us up so before we knew it we were in the hotel - and there was a roof top bar - rather grainy picture below - selfie and flash don't go together After a drink and some tapas it was definitely time for bed!... read more
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