We did the resort thing We went to the Maldives a few years ago and stayed in a resort. I totally understand why you opted for the boat trip. I would have done the same in your situation. It was nice to read a story from the Maldives from a different point of view. Thanks for sharing. And that jelly fish is awesome btw /Ake
Love your rich and descriptive word pictures.The silence is deafening. Always love following your travels. Love the title of the blog and how you got there. We want to travel with you and your spirit. Your are the intrepid traveler! Nothing better than a Canuck on the road. Wrapping things in plastic is always the best way to go. Experience rules. M&M's have so many uses. Love your life. Keep these blogs coming.
Word pictures! I value your opinion Binkleys. Thanks for reading. I do hope you can find your way to this lovely part of the world after your safari! It was so fantastic, I know you would appreciate the culture and the rich history, and the food!
Wow! Wow! What another amazing read, I really admire your style of travel writing. Deeply inspiring, and wonderfully evocative. What an amazing and varied country Sri Lanka appears to be. Thank you for writing :)
Thanks again for the feedback Alex! I do like to tell a story. Me thinks your next trip might be Sri Lanka??? I hope so. Best wishes and happy travels to you!
Brilliant! "one lady with a hijab blew chunks"... all talk of vomit makes my stomach flip, but in this case I have some practicality questions; but they'll keep ;) Excellent work for keeping your spirits up during what sounds like a hiking nightmare! I would really love to do those hikes in the hill country, but minus the leeches and sodden socks :)
Second read for me.... Andrea, ha... Just been sitting around a fire with beers and Ali who was reading your last two - 'Rookie" - entries aloud.... I had personally already enjoyed them, but on regaling your tales of the rookie/M&Ms to her she wanted the whole story. Sounds a great trip and Asanga an amazing guide. Need to recommend that you learn Yaniv to complement the Bullshit - immediately earns you kudos with Israelis and is an even better card game. And have to say you did make me laugh - unintentionally? this time - as the baby elephants were "emancipated"... guessing this might have been the spell-checker adding in two extra letters? Great blogs as always, Andy.
Gah! Damn you autocorrect!!!! Well, maybe I meant to say the baby Ellies were liberated from their political restrictions?? Ha. I think I’ll leave it. Thanks so much for your great comments, I’d love to be sitting around a campfire right about now playing yaniv and drinking beers but alas, I am staring at knuckledragging cons as they use the exercise yard. Sigh. Not quite the same. Cheers Andy & Ali!
Wow!! Andrea, these blogs have been amazing. You have such a gift in how you can tell a story and draw your readers in to it. I laughed at times and wished I was there with you throughout. Travel on and have fun.
Aw thanks Brendan, you are too kind! I write these blogs to inspire myself, and it's a huge bonus if others feel like they are along for the ride. The countdown is almost upon you, a wonderful journey through Aussie-land awaits! I will all be following along. Cheers mate!
Beautiful Sri Lanka! What a wonderful read, thank you! I can sense your love of the country and its people, and feel very much inspired to visit myself from this. You have a lovely style of travel writing, and I love the way your travel companions really come alive through your characterful descriptions. Thank you again for such an enjoyable and inspiring read :)
Hi Alex! So glad I inspired you, I hope you too go to Sri Lanka, it is so worth it. A little something for everyone. And thank you, I always hope my sarcastic enthusiasm translates properly. Your kind comment verified it has.
Comedy thinly disguised as travel writing This is so funny! I went on a guided tour without my husband in the summer and didn't really enjoy it, too much time on the bus. The people were nice enough but I didn't feel comfortable. Probably had something to do that I was the only single on a trip advertised as romantic :) Anyway, I don't think that I will be doing it again. Sri Lanka sounds wonderful.
Entertaining... Excellent, well written stories of travels in an exotic country! We love your writing style, Andrea. You make us want to chuck the independent life and take the easy way, if only our fellow travelers were as interesting as you make yours. Sri Lanka is eventually out there for us. We have been wanting to get there for years and you have lit the fire again with your great stories. Can't wait for the next episode!
Why thank you Nanci and David! I so enjoy meeting fellow quirky travelers and seeing culturally things. I'm glad my travels translate well onto paper. Hope you are well and I was just about to sit down and read your latest installment on Asia myself. I know the pictures will be amazing.
Sigariya Sigariya has been on my Places-I-Have-To-Visit-list for many years. We were in Sri Lanka a few years ago but only visited a small part. We will go back one day and see more of the country for sure. /Ake
Oh I hope you get back there Ake. Sigariya felt very magical and the whole region is steeped with culture and ancient ruins, I still wished I had more time, and went farther northeast to places like Trincomalee and Jaffna. Guess I’ll be going back too!
This Canadian girl's passion for travel comes from my adventurous parents. My brother and I spent most of our youth traveling all over North America in the family’s camper van, airplane, and boat - going as far west as the Hawaiian islands, as far north as Tuktoyaktuk, and as far south as Mexico doing lots of adventurous stuff...canoeing, surfing, fishing, camping, hiking, skiing, exploring, jellyfish poking...it was the best childhood ever!
That same adventurous spirit fueled my travel passion for over 30 years. I’ve been all over the shop. Now that I'm newly retired, I split my lif... full info
Ake Och Emma
Ake Dahllof and Emma Holmbro
We did the resort thing
We went to the Maldives a few years ago and stayed in a resort. I totally understand why you opted for the boat trip. I would have done the same in your situation. It was nice to read a story from the Maldives from a different point of view. Thanks for sharing. And that jelly fish is awesome btw /Ake