Sep – Oct 2019

Sri Lanka

September - October 2019 Read more

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Trip start
September 14, 2019
skip's retirement travel Sri Lanka
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- Day 3
- Monday, September 16, 2019 at 8:39 AM
- 🌧 28 °C
- Altitude: 8 m
- Sri Lanka Perukadi Kulam 8.98354, 79.910548°59’1” N 79°54’38” E
Mannar, Sri Lanka
September 16, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ 🌧 28 °C
First tour stop here in Sri Lanka. Mannar is located on an island just off the northwest coast of Sri Lanka. Being surrounded by water, first the Portuguese and the Dutch both had forts here to protect trade. The current fort, currently under restoration, is the Dutch fort built after they destroyed the Portuguese. The next 2 pictures are of a 17th century Hindu temple, also the under restoration. Next is a baobab tree brought by the Dutch and planted about the time as the fort was built. It is said to be the largest tree in Sri Lanka. The last 2 pics are of our Lady of Madhu church. Also founded in the 17th century by the Portuguese but destroyed by the Dutch. The current building is only a few years old.Read more
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- Day 4
- Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at 10:47 AM
- ☁️ 28 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Sri Lanka Maveliturai 9.52737, 79.713779°31’39” N 79°42’50” E
Delft Island, Sri Lanka
September 17, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
Small island off the northwest coast, about 30 km from Jaffna, accessible only by boat or helicopter. This was an important site to the Dutch and British as the waters around it are shallow, making it difficult to attack.
The pics are of the old Dutch hospital being restored, the Dutch fort, the ruins of one of the Dutch stables (this one was 150 meters long), a rock that is growing (rising out of the ground, probably a geologic process) located in front of a Hindu temple, a look at the coral field walls, unique in Sri Lanka, and finally the boat to the island.Read more
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- Day 5
- Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at 9:51 AM
- 🌧 28 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- Sri Lanka Palmyra Point 9.83515, 80.212529°50’7” N 80°12’45” E
Point Pedro
September 18, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ 🌧 28 °C
The extreme northern tip of Sri Lanka. The first pic is of a map that shows the water world that northern Sri Lanka is. Next is a look along the shore at a bit of the fishing community that lives here. Notice the rocks and coral. This is typical of the Palk Strait between here in India. The next picture is the beaches to the east along the Bay of Bengal. If you look closely at the last picture, you can just make out the limestone and coral extending out from coast by the overhanging palm. This marks the end of the Palk Strait and the change in the shoreline from rock/coral to sand beach.Read more
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- Day 6
- Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 1:43 PM
- ⛅ 31 °C
- Altitude: 96 m
- Sri Lanka Basawakkulama 8.34958, 80.39628°20’58” N 80°23’46” E
Anuradhapura
September 19, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
An ancient capital and religious center. This temple dates to around 600 AD. At o e tiñe, as many as 12,000 monks lived here. Most important is the tree in the first picture. This is said to be 2,000 years old and grown from a sapling taken from the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha meditated and received enlightenment. Next is the great stupa followed by a portion of the wall surrounding it. Scores of carved elephants are carved here, all the way around. Next are a couple of pics of the grounds including done of the many ruins from the time when this was a major center. Last are a couple of the permanent residents.Read more
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- Day 7
- Friday, September 20, 2019 at 9:12 AM
- ☁️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 171 m
- Sri Lanka Namallewa Wewa 8.35148, 80.51498°21’5” N 80°30’54” E
Mihintale
September 20, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
Sacred mountain to Buddhists. This is considered to be where Buddhism began in Sri Lanka. It is said that a disciple from India was meditating in one of the caves when a king came along. He called the disciple down to talk, and the rest is history.
The pictures are taken from the top, looking at the two lesser peaks with a stupa and a Buddha statue. Then looks at the viewRead more
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- Day 8
- Saturday, September 21, 2019 at 8:51 AM
- ☁️ 29 °C
- Altitude: 296 m
- Sri Lanka Sigiri Rock 7.95739, 80.759917°57’27” N 80°45’36” E
Sigiriya
September 21, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
Former capital of Sri Lanka in the 5th Century. The site was also a Buddhist monastery, both before and after its use as a capital. The larger rock to the right in the first pic is Sigiriya. It was developed in a lion shape and called Lion (not Pride) Rock. This picture was taken from a paddled catanarn "cruise" to Hirawadunna (see another post). The main palace was at the top and is shown in pics 2&3. The 4th pic looks at the final stairway to the top as it is today. This is taken from Lion's Paw Terrace, and if you look to the left of the stairs, you will see what's left of one of the original paws. 5th is one of the natural boulder arches around the main rock that is used as part of the accesway to the site. The last pic looks down on the western part of the city from the top. This was originally an extensive water garden, one of the oldest of it's type in existence.Read more
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- Day 8
- Saturday, September 21, 2019 at 12:08 PM
- ⛅ 33 °C
- Altitude: 170 m
- Sri Lanka Hiriwadunna Wewa 8.01958, 80.733438°1’10” N 80°44’0” E
Traditional village life at Hirawadunna
September 21, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C
Visited a family in a traditional house where the hostess demonstrated weaving palm fronds into a mat, threshing rice (both shown), grinding dried chilis and hand grinding rice flour ((both not shown). All the implements used are hand made right there. The highlight of the visit was being treated to a local lunch. The 5th picture is the "buffet," while the last is my lunch on a lotus leaf. No utensils--eat with fingers. Most wonderfully, everything was from their garden or fish caught in the lake. Nothing store bought. An incredible treat.Read more
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- Day 9
- Sunday, September 22, 2019 at 9:34 AM
- ⛅ 30 °C
- Altitude: 266 m
- Sri Lanka Dambulla Rock 7.85652, 80.648757°51’23” N 80°38’56” E
Dambulla cave temples
September 22, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Sat by back 2,000 years and more, this temple is a series of 5 caves together about 150 meters above the valley where the town of Dambulla is located. The first pic is of the courtyard where all the temples face. Second is flower petals art in the courtyard. All the rest are in the caves. There are innumerables Buddhas, reck b ng, seated and standing. Much of the ceiling and walls art is original. They're starting to restore some now. It is an interesting feeling by seeing the art work as old as thisRead more
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- Day 9
- Sunday, September 22, 2019 at 9:53 AM
- ⛅ 31 °C
- Altitude: 173 m
- Sri Lanka Dambulla Rajamaha Viharaya 7.85563, 80.652077°51’20” N 80°39’7” E
Dambulla views
September 22, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
The Golden Temple is an important religious and pilgrimage site located at the foot of the ridge beneath the cave temples. The Golden Buddha and golden stupa are the two best known features here. The rest of the pictures are views of the central highlands where all this is locatedRead more
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- Day 10
- Monday, September 23, 2019 at 9:02 AM
- ☁️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 515 m
- Sri Lanka Temple of the Tooth 7.29312, 80.641387°17’35” N 80°38’29” E
Kandy
September 23, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
Main city in the central part of Sri Lanka. The first pic looks over the city from a viewpoint on a hill. The second is the main structure at Kandy's most important shrine. Behind the golden doors is a reliquary that is said to house a tooth of the Buddha, taken from his funeral pyre. Third is in the second part of the temple, housing this worship space with a series of paintings showing how the tooth came to be where it is. Another important spot is the Royal Botanical Garden. One picture looks at the garden while the last is in the orchid house.Read more
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- Day 12
- Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 7:22 AM
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitude: 2,103 m
- Sri Lanka Leg of Mutton Pool 6.79844, 80.805666°47’54” N 80°48’20” E
Horton's Plains National Park
September 25, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
High plateau above Nurawa Eliya (see another post). The park is a mix of cloud forest and open savanna. The first pic is taken at World's End, the top of an escarpment 880 meters straight down. For you metric challenged types, that's a bit over a half mile. The second pic looks over the edge from as close as this height challenged guy could get. Third is Baker's Falls. The rest are pictures of the park and it's diversity.Read more
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- Day 13
- Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 10:22 AM
- ☁️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 1,874 m
- Sri Lanka Gregory Lake 6.95436, 80.77936°57’16” N 80°46’45” E
Nuwara Eliya
September 26, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Also known as "Little England," as this was a favorite location during the colonial ers due to its higher elevation and mild climate. There are many features here reminiscent of the English. First is the old Windsor Hotel, dating from the period. Next is a former colonial administration building, now a bank. Next is the Turf Club, aka horse racing facility. Next is part of the golf club. Then one of the buildings reminiscent of European architecture. Last, of course, is tea. This is a major center of the Sri Lankan tea industry. This is one of the organic plantations.Read more
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- Day 13
- Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 6:15 PM
- ☁️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 1,010 m
- Sri Lanka Ella 6.87442, 81.048786°52’28” N 81°2’56” E
Ella
September 26, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Outdoors town. Lots of hikers and many walks. The first pic is from Ella Rock above the town. The next 2 are local waterfalls. Next is a restaurant called Chill that was a very nice place, ambiance and food, both. Upul was my waiter and was excellent. Last is the view from the deck outside my room here. BTW, the high point to the right is Ella Rock where the first picture was taken from. Don't miss Ella if you get to Sri Lanka.Read more
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- Day 15
- Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 3:03 PM
- 🌧 22 °C
- Altitude: 104 m
- Sri Lanka Migaha Ara 6.44034, 80.89076°26’25” N 80°53’27” E
Udawalawa National Park
September 28, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ 🌧 22 °C
My first wildlife safari in Asia. First is a look over the main lake. We are just entering the monsoon season. So the water level is low. The main stars here are elephants. I'm told tuskers are rare. Lucky to see an elephant with tusks. Next is a buffalo, then parrots hidden among the flowers. A peacock and an eagleRead more
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- Day 16
- Sunday, September 29, 2019 at 9:10 AM
- ⛅ 25 °C
- Altitude: 90 m
- Sri Lanka Rathkarawwa 6.42662, 80.816956°25’36” N 80°49’1” E
Elephant Transit Home, Udawalawa
September 29, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Orphan and injured elephants are cared for/raised here for eventual release into the wild. They say there are as many as 50 elephants being cared for here, mostly young. At feeding time, the young ones come up to a rail where they take a hose in the mouth. The other end has a funnel milk is poured into. Some of the littlest are bottled fed. After milk, they gather where vegetation has been left for them.Read more
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- Day 17
- Monday, September 30, 2019 at 7:01 AM
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 98 m
- Sri Lanka Veheragala 6.5473, 81.292376°32’50” N 81°17’33” E
Yala National Park
September 30, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Second safari in Sri Lanka. I did see a leopard, but it was in the trees and moving. So no picture, much to my chagrin. However, the other rare critter in the park is the sloth bear, in the first picture. Next is the jungle cock, the national bird of Sri Lanka. Then a herd of sambal deer. Note the males with antlers. Next is an unidentified monkey species, a water monitor and last, a couple birds. One is a grey heron. The other I don't knowRead more
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- Day 17
- Monday, September 30, 2019 at 4:33 PM
- ☀️ 28 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- Sri Lanka Deumba Gala 6.00726, 80.252286°0’26” N 80°15’8” E
Unawatuna
September 30, 2019 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Lovely small beach town on the South coast of Sri Lanka. Had the best massage in years at a place called Sanctuary.
The first pic looks down the beach from my hotel patio. The second looks in the same direction at sunset. Third is a typical restaurant. Lots of great seafood here.Read more
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Trip end
October 3, 2019