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Page 8 of Vaj Travel Blog Posts

Asia » India » National Capital Territory » New Delhi January 13th 2006

Woke up at 6:45am, took an auto INR60/= and went to the Turkish Embassy by 8am. I wanted to be the first as I wanted to get my passport on the same day. The official issues tokens got in only around 9am. I was seated on a bench reading “Digital Fortress” when the official came. As soon as he came there were other travel agent representatives who hurried to the gate to get a token. What happened next is unbelievable in India or for that matter anywhere in the world. The travel agent representative who was in front told the rest of the people to back off and told them that “I as in VW” was here first and for them to allow me to get to the front of the queue and get the number ... read more

Painful Turkish Embassy in New Delhi

Asia » India » National Capital Territory » New Delhi January 12th 2006

Pahar Ganj Main Entrance

Vaj

It was pretty darn cold when I woke up around 6am….too many noises and most of the time the train was going at snail pace and I could hear people / vendors at the stations and nearby shouting… No toothbrush hence on finger mode…the hassles of train travel J ah well its part of the experience…. A bit of advice for people who might want to follow this trail: The Grand Trunk Express (GT Ex) was supposed to leave Chennai at 1630 on the 10th and get to Delhi at 0500am on the 12th. The Tamil Nadu Express (TN Ex) was supposed to leave at 2200 on the 10th and get to Delhi at 0700am. Even though GT was getting there earlier since it had a 2.5 hr delay it was getting to Delhi at 0730 ... read more

Chennai-Delhi by Train

Asia » India » Tamil Nadu » Chennai January 11th 2006

Sorroundings enroute Chennai-Delhi

Vaj

Woke up around 7:30am and I was told we were in an area called “Warangal”. Small hills and paddy fields everywhere; surrounding looked very dry. After brushing my teeth, yes I had to do “something” which I have not done in an Indian train or for that matter a train anywhere in the world…. now my ass is rated for Indian trains as well…hahahahah (alright will spare the details)…during the process however I did loose my toothbrush which was in my denim front pocket….don’t ask me how, you got to be a gymnast to obtain the Indian train rating… I had 2 “Masala Wade” (INR10/= for both) with “Sambal” for breakfast and I think my system was getting acclimatized to Indian food; I had to go again…alright that’s enough about my system issues… The train reached ... read more

Colombo-Chennai

Asia » India » Tamil Nadu » Chennai January 10th 2006

Tirusulam local train station

Vaj

Colombo - Chennai by Air Date: 10th January 2006 Time: 0800 Airline: Srilankan Airlines Distance: 386 nautical miles Time: 1 hour Cost: LKR20,200 Meal: Scramble eggs with masala potato (Breakfast) The trip to the airport was uneventful apart from random people trying to cross the road and oncoming traffic with headlights completely blinding you which is always the case. I am still amazed at the transformation that had taken place at the Colombo airport with aerobridges. My sister’s friend Ruvina at SriLankan ground handling checked me in. The flight to MAA left at 8:15am as usual a slight delay the aircraft A330 was completely packed. I couldn’t get a window or aisle seat. Only for an hour, I didn’t care. When the aircraft landed in MAA and came to a halt, I suddenly wondered if the ... read more

Inside local train from Tirusulam to Park

Cambodia's beaches

Asia » Cambodia » South » Sihanoukville December 11th 2005

Vaj

Didnt think much of the beach here....the beach is quite small and full of locals........ read more

S-21 Museum

Asia » Cambodia » South » Phnom Penh September 25th 2005

Vaj

This a great museum and the destruction caused are inhuman... The pictures when added would speak for itself....... read more

Temples of Angkor

Asia » Cambodia » North » Angkor September 21st 2005

Vaj

I was in Siam Reap from the 21st - 24th September 2005 The temples were in a very large area. I would recommend people to go cycling on Day 1 do the mini circuit and and take a tuk tuk on Day 2 and do the grand circuit. On the 3rd day the Roule temples and the Tonle Sap lake....the floating market....however I feel the USD10 they charge is a little outrageous.... Tha landmine museum is not so big but I feel its worth a visit for the cause...there are many kids whose legs have got blown off and its nice to sit with them and see how they make wrist bands...and do see how they are getting on with their lives. Overall the Angkor Wat temples are nice however I think the Ajanta and Ellora ... read more

Thar Desert

Asia » India » Rajasthan » Jaisalmer May 11th 2003

Vaj

Spent one night in the Thar desert and it was nice to look at the stars in a cloundless night.... First time in my life I had to make a toilet in the desert :) Small children in the villages come running upto you saying "Hello Rupees" which I thought was quite funny !!!... read more

Kidnapping in Colombo !!!!

Asia » Sri Lanka » Western Province » Colombo January 10th 2003

Vaj

The kidnapping in Colombo !!!!! On the 1st of January 2003, I was driving back from Negombo to Colombo with my mum, sisters and Maggie amma (a person who was employed by my parents when my sister Imara was one month old in 1984). I am writing this on the 24th of December 2007 and she still lives with us, she has been promoted to our 2nd mother status long time ago hence all of us refer to her as “Amma”. At about 1am on the 2nd of Jan, I was on Baseline road near the Borella junction. I had just passed the Dematagoda prison. I had the cycle bazaar on my left hand side and the Srina Palace (textile shop) along with another row of shops on my right. In the middle of the road ... read more

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Vajira Wijesuriya

Vaj

"Do not think about the past, wonder about the future, just concentrate your mind on the present moment" - Buddha Visit www.facebook.com/mylittleisland For all travel tips, blogs and pictures of Sri Lanka... full info