Page 2 of Carolehowson Travel Blog Posts


Asia » Sri Lanka » Central Province March 7th 2018

After breakfast, looking out over the pool and river, Upul took us to The Temple of the Tooth. Again because of his hernia opp. he found us another guide to show us round. We arrived just in time to see the ceremony. After buying flowers and taking off our shoes we were ushered into the temple past all the other waiting people until we were in front of the little door where the Buddha’s Tooth is kept. I have no idea why we were prioritized over everyone else. Men dressed in red and white were walking round the structure where the Tooth is housed banging drums and playing a flute. The guide pushed me between two Indian women and instructed me to work my way forward. It was such a squash. Everyone was waiting to see ... read more
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Asia » Sri Lanka » Central Province March 6th 2018

We said goodbye to Dambulla and set off for Kandy the second largest city in Sri Lanka and the cultural capital. The lush scenery is lovely and we passed amazing Rain Trees that are hundreds of years old. I’ve never heard of them before and I loved them. We also saw Kapok Trees with their cottonwool flowers drifting through the air making a white carpet on the ground. On the way we stopped at some spice gardens where a sweet guy showed us all the different spices and how they grow. He told us how they could be used in cookery and medicine, all quite fascinating. He gave us a head massage with one of the creams they sell. Their shop was filled with so many tempting things and we all came out with brown paper ... read more
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Asia » Sri Lanka » Central Province March 5th 2018

We set off early to avoid the heat of the day and drove past people sweeping up leaves and making little bonfires on the verge and then drove alongside the lake with stalls selling salted fish from the blue waters. We met our guide who took us in a tuk tuk around the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and told us about the 800 year old history. It must have been an amazing city in its day. The palace walls were very thick with large holes to hold wooden beams to support the upper floors. The top two floors would have been made of wood but were burnt down in the demise of the city. The temples there were built by three of the kings that ruled there each king trying to out do the previous one ... read more
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Asia » Sri Lanka » Central Province March 4th 2018

This morning I felt the need for some down time so the girls went off to see how people lived in Sri Lanka. They went on a boat on the lake, on an ox drawn cart and to a home where they saw how they cook and they tasted some food They told me all about it when they got back. They enjoyed their morning while I just pottered and chilled out. In the afternoon we drove through Dambullas busy market town full of warehouses piled high with fruit and vegetables that were to be exported and saw many lorries being loaded up. Upul took us to the caves at Dambulla Golden Temple. Sri Lanka seems to be full of clouds of white butterflies. He drove us half way up the hill where we met the ... read more
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MISSING March 3rd 2018

Upul bought 2 crates of water to keep in the mini bus - so much cheaper than the hotel- and we popped back to our rooms for a cuppa and 30 minutes rest. For lunch Upul took us to a little Sri Lankan restaurant tucked away down a leafy pathway. We would never have found it on our own. We just had a sandwich and some chips, very nice?Our next adventure was about to begin. We climbed into a large Jeep and set off for Kaudulla National Park. On the way there we saw in the road a baby turtle with a star pattern on its shell. Our Jeep driver stopped and put it in the grass. Then we spotted its mother so we stopped again and the driver put them together. Such a sweet man. ... read more
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MISSING March 3rd 2018

I didn’t want to get up for our 7.00 breakfast but as we walked out of our cabin we were welcomed by a Grizzeled Giant Squirrel which is the national animal of Sri Lanka so that made us smile. There were monkeys chattering and swinging through the trees near our breakfast table too.Upul picked us up at 7.30 and took us to Sigiriya Rock where we were introduced to our cheeky guide Lala. We had our photo taken under a Banyan Tree and headed through the ruins of what must have been an amazing water garden with sunken pools and fountains. No one is sure if the ruins are of a palace and fort or a monastery but it was built 1600 years ago. We started our climb - 1202 steps? - up passed the boulder ... read more
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MISSING March 2nd 2018

After a superb breakfast we met our driver, Upul, who drove us out of the shabby metropolis of Colombo, on a rather overcast Friday morning, in his mini bus. The lush green Sri Lankan countryside is beautiful and we stopped at a roadside stall selling pineapples and sat eating the sweet delicious fruit. We also stopped at a stall selling cashew nuts and bought big bags that were really cheap.On the way we passed through mahogany forests, coconut plantations, paddy fields and past Buddhist temples and stupas and lakes cover in lily pads. We saw a tut tut bakery speeding along full of delicious cakes and bread. Children were coming out of school the girls in white dresses with their long black plated hair. At a lakeside restaurant we stopped and had tea with our packed ... read more
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Asia » Sri Lanka » Central Province February 28th 2018

Alan and Maggi drove me across the snow covered South Downs to Caroline’s in Emsworth. We had coffee and biscuits while we waited for Trish to arrive with the taxi that would take us to Heathrow. Because of the snowy weather warning we got there in plenty of time and because we are going with Kuoni (posh trip?) we had access to the very comfortable lounge where we had delicious salad and cake. There was a slight hiccup because we went to the wrong lounge but we sorted it out. As we boarded our flight there was a blizzard blowing and the snow was half way up the window. We were delayed about an hour and a half as our plane had to be de-iced but we were lucky to get away as many flights were ... read more
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Europe » Spain » Andalusia » Estepona February 11th 2018

It’s fast approaching, our trip to Sri Lanka, and I have made no preparations at all which is so unlike me. Caroline has arranged everything so, all being well, I just have to arrange my visa and pack my bag. I’m finding it hard to get enthusiastic as we are all waiting for Ginis test results but hopefully I’ll be able to go with relative peace of mind. Roll on 28th February. ... read more

Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok August 31st 2017

Last day in Bangkok We took it easy in the morning, had a great breakfast then took a taxi to Wat Po. The kids weren't that interested probably because they are tired. Then we shopped for bags for Mollie to give her friends and they also bought t shirts. We took a tuk tuk back to the hotel and had a late lunch across the road which was so good, then went back to pack and have a last swim on the roof. Tomorrow we are up at 5.0 to make the long journey home to Spain via Dubai. It has been such an amazing holiday. We have done so much and seen such wonderful things. I feel so fortunate and grateful that Georgie and the kids invited me, it's been so good spending so much ... read more
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