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Sri Lanka

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. Read more
  • On the Road

    August 19 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Left Negombo for a 3hr drive to Wilpattu Big game Park which is in the National Park.

    We drove through many small towns and stopping occasionally for snacks, taking photos of rice paddies and water buffalo. Including a stop for a speeding fine. Our driver was 14km over the speed limit and copped a 500 rupee fine which is a $2.
    Every so often we passed rice being dried on the road. Motorists were careful not to drive through the rice.
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  • St Marys Cathedral

    August 18 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Last stop today was St Mary's Church where a Wedding Ceremony was happening.

    Construction of St Mary's Church, the 5th on this site began in 1874 and completed in 1922. The first Church was established in 1544.

    The features of this Church are painted ceilings and numerous sculptures of religious saints adorning the walls.
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  • Afternoon with Waterviews

    August 18 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    After motoring up the canal for 45 min we stopped on a sand bar and the driver unexpectedly asked us to get out of the boat. As we waded in the water he produced table and stools and placed cut fresh fruit on the table for us to enjoy.Read more

  • Hamilton Dutch Canal

    August 18 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    At the start we thought what a waste of money at $100, but the tour was quite good. We still feel expensive and would have been worth $50.

    We started going through very dirty smelly water for 10 to 15 minutes then the area opened up to a beautiful waterway.

    The Hamilton Canal is 14.5 km and during the 15th century served as the principal seaport for the cinnamon trade.

    Between 1802 and 1804 Gavin Hamilton rebuilt the Canal to run a straighter course.
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  • Lunch

    August 18 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Very yummy lunch. John tried Chicken Fried Rice and I had Thai Peanut Chicken Salad. A little spicy but yummy. My usual iced long black coffee was also possible.

  • Negombo Dried Fish Markets

    August 18 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    The Negombo Fish markets are locally known as Lellama. This was a very interesting experience as we had one of the fishermen show and explain the process of drying the fish. The fishermen use the traditional open air method which involves cleaning, heavily salting and sun drying for 3 days. The workers must flip and turn the fish by hand every day so they dry on both sides. Once all the moisture has gone the workers pack the dried fish to be sold in the local markets or shipped across Sri Lanka.Read more

  • Negombo Dutch Fort

    August 18 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    This fort is a historical colonial fort located on the circular road in Negombo town. The fort was originally built by the Portuguese in the early 17th century as a small square defensive post. Then captured and rebuilt by the Dutch India Company in 1672 into a pentagon shape. It was then taken by the British in 1796 without heavy resistance. In the late 1800's the British demolished most of the fort walls to build a prison.Read more

  • Breakfast

    August 18 in Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Ready day as Angelina used to say when she was little. Breakfast was lovely heaps to select from but we just had a basic meal on day 1, cereal, fruit and chilli omelet.

  • Ready Set Go

    August 17 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    All packed and ready to go.

    Packing for this trip as been harder than other trips due to only having a 1-hour layover in Singapore. We have split our clothes over 2 checked bags and our carry on just in case our bags go astray. At least we will know as we have apple air tags. Fingers crossed this does not happen. As the scout motto goes " Be Prepared"

    This trip has required lots of planning and many emails to and from our travel consultant Subodini Wijethunga at Orlanka Travel.

    Our usual lift to the airport certainly takes the stress out driving.

    Time to go on holiday's.
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  • Sri Lanka

    August 17 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon. It is located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, and is separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. Sri Lanka shares a maritime border with the Maldives to the southwest and India to the northwest and lies across the Bay of Bengal from Bangladesh and Myanmar to the northeast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India to the east.Read more

    Trip start
    August 17, 2026