• We are Living the Dream
  • We are Living the Dream

Sri Lanka 2026

We will be going through jungles to hopefully see leopards, riding on a train through tea plantations, visiting a number of ruins, attending the Kandy Esala Perahera, exploring some exotic places and celebrating Carol's Birthday. Les mer
  • Wilpattu National Park

    19. august, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    Wilpattu National Park, spans 1317 square kilometers. It is a haven for elusive leopards, sloth bears, elephants, nearly 150 varieties of birds, and numerous other animals. The landscape of Wilpattu National Park features dry zone forests and thorny scrub, interspersed with expansive open plains, sand dunes, and the wetlands. Wilpattu National Park has gained a reputation as one of the premier locations for spotting leopards in Sri Lanka.Les mer

  • Big Game at Night

    19. august, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    After our safari it was time for drinks around the camp fire where we chatted with a Scottish family who currently live in London.

    It was then time for dinner, again food quite basic but edible. The surprise during dinner was that an elephant walked past, no photos but at least we did see an elephant.

    We then went on a guided night walk before shower and bed. Tomorrow is a very early 4.45am rise.
    Les mer

  • Wilpattu National Park

    20. august, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Up at 4.45 am for our full day of Safari.

    Wilpattu National Park is the largest park in Sri Lanka.

    Africa has the big 5. Sri Lanka has top 7: Asian Elephant, Leopard, Crocodile, Sloth Bear, Black Necked Stork, Leather Back Turtle and Blue Whale. The turtle and whale will be a no for today as they are in the ocean.Les mer

  • Leopard Found

    20. august, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    We had a great time today, our driver and guide both excellent during our 11 hour safari.

    Especially with the special treat of finding a leopard.

    Studies have shown that there are 144 leopards currently in the park, however, they a very elusive and hard to see hidden in all the undergrowth.Les mer

  • Dinner

    20. august, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    The food here is not the best. A cold very oily vegetable tempura, onion soup which tasted sort of ok but cold. 1 overcooked chicken drumstick covered in bottled BBQ sauce. Some weird looking vegetable thing. 1 very overcooked prawn with some white bits I think cuttlefish, but all tasted horrible. Bread pudding for dessert which I could not eat as it is not gluten free. The setting is very pretty but the chef really needs some cooking lessons.Les mer

  • Polonnaruwa Ancient City

    21. august, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C

    Polonnaruwa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and became the second capital of Sri Lanka after the fall of Anuradhapura in 993 AD. Initially under the South Indian Chola dynasty, it was later reclaimed by King Vijayabahu I in 1070, marking the beginning of a prosperous Sinhalese kingdom. Its golden age occurred under King Parakramabahu I (1153–1186), who developed extensive irrigation systems, including the Parakrama Samudra, and oversaw the construction of grand palaces, temples, and stupas, making the city a hub of trade, religion, and culture.Les mer

  • Kings Council Chamber

    21. august, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C

    The King's council chamber remains one of the most recognizable structures from the medieval era. It was commissioned by King Parakramabahu the Great, who reigned from 1153 to 1186 AD.

    An inscription found on a stone slab at the top of the entrance steps officially identifies the building. This specific identification has allowed archaeologists to distinguish its unique purpose from the surrounding palace complex.Les mer

  • Royal Palace

    21. august, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C

    Once towering at 7 stories, and believed to have around 1,000 chambers, the Palace of the great King Parakramabahu. Built in the 12th century AD, this unique palace was also shared with his ministers, generals and servants. The prosperous kingdom, however, was subjected to constant Chola invasions in the 14th century, which in turn resulted in the kingdom to shift to the region of Ruhuna in the south of the island. This unfortunate event resulted in the magnificent palace to be plundered and razed to the ground, never to be rebuilt again.Les mer

  • Polonnaruwa Vatadage

    21. august, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C

    When you visit the temples you must remove your shoes. We did this, however, John had socks on his feet which is allowed but on the other hand I had bare feet and I burnt the soles of my feet as the floor, which was made of rock, was outside and incredibly hot.Les mer

  • Polonnaruwa Vatadage

    21. august, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C

    The Polonnaruwa Vatadage is believed to have been built during the reign of Parakramabahu I to hold the Relic of the tooth of the Buddha or during the reign of Nissanka Malla of Polonnaruwa to hold the alms bowl used by the Buddha. Both these venerated relics would have given the structure a great significance and importance at the time. Located within the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, it is the best preserved example of a vatadage in the country and has been described as the "ultimate development" of this type of architecture. Abandoned for several centuries, excavation work at the Polonnaruwa Vatadage began in 1903.Les mer

  • Thuparama

    21. august, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C

    The survival of the roof of the Thuparama Image House, which is made of vaulted brickwork, is a minor miracle as the monument was wholly subsumed with vegetation and debris when discovered.

  • Rankoth Vehera or Gold Pinnacled Stupa

    21. august, Sri Lanka ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C

    The stupa was built by Nissanka Malla of Polonnaruwa, who ruled the country from 1187 to 1196. Rankoth Vehera is structure made entirely of brick and has a base circumference of 170 m and a height of 33 m. However, the original shape of the stupa, particularly its upper portion, has been changed during renovation work carried out by later rulers and it is estimated that the original height of Rankoth Vehera may have been almost 61 m. Despite this, it remains the largest stupa in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, and the fourth largest stupa in the country. The stupa has four large Vahalkadas, a structure used for offering flowers and also to support the weight of a stupa. These are also made of brick. The stupa is located in the center of a large square terrace, which is also surrounded by a brick wall. The terrace has four entrances oriented to the four cardinal points, with sand paths leading to them. A stone inscription near one of the entrances mention that King Nissanka Malla observed and supervised the construction of the stupa from there. It is also mentioned that he worshiped the stupa from a small platform, which is located in a corner of the terrace.Les mer