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Sri lanka adventure & Maldives luxury xxx

A 21-day adventure by Racquelle travels. Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 29, 2026
  • Racquelle travelsSri lanka adventure & Maldives luxury xxxTraveler

    Day 1. Travelling to Sri Lanka

    August 29 in Sri Lanka ☁️ 28 °C

    She has arriv-ed in Sri Lanka!
    So I flew into Columbo airport but spending the night in Negombo.
    It seems I have my own guide and driver to myself as other people had to cancel so this could be interesting.
    It is 29 degrees but says feels 34 and they are right, it's so humid, I went for a walk to the beach, (I have a bedroom with a seaview) and my t shirt is wet.
    Also seems a very popular place to fly kites, one of the boys in the group offered his kite up to fly, we know I'd have crashed it so I politely said I'd better not 🤣.
    Very friendly people they all say hello, did already get asked for money by one child and stopped by a tuk tuk guy asking if he can give me a tour but we had a laugh.
    Look forward to what the next 2 weeks bring..oh and unbelievably my luggage was 19.1 kg huzzah xxx    Read more

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    Day 5. Part 2. Beautiful elephants

    August 30 in Sri Lanka ☁️ 33 °C

    So in the afternoon after having lunch, we ventured to Minneriya National Park to see the wild elephants and it certainly didn't disappoint.
    The elephants were magnificent I absolutely love them, and after seeing them in the wild there's nothing like it, they are living their best life.
    After a long day in extreme heat I was glad to get to my next hotel, Sigiri Asna resort and spa, I have my own little cabin as such, it's lovely yet again.
    The hotels on this trip have been really gd I'm impressed and what with the half board...even better value for money.
    Right I'm so tired now so it's just gone 9 and I'm ready for bed. Tmw a hike. Up lion rock 1,200 steps to be precise 🥵 xxx    Read more

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    Day 2. On way to Anuradhapura xx

    August 31 in Sri Lanka ☁️ 35 °C

    Day 2. On way to Anuradhapura for the night, well what can I say...what a birthday!
    Started the day with a huge breakfast and then the hotel surprised me by bringing out a birthday cake to happy birthday song.
    Then my guide bought me flowers..honestly yay.
    Then we went to munneswaram Hindu Temple, 2,500 years old and so beautiful as they all are.
    And a day of first things because today I had my first ever fresh king coconut and then scooped out the flesh..delicious!!!
    So then my guide said do u wanna do a safari I was like hell yeah I'm down for that , what an awesome couple of hours that was.
    I saw eagles and peacocks and other birds I can't remember the names of. Saw a big bull elephant but he was well hidden altho I could see the flapping of ears and the swish of his trunk. We saw mongoose, and water buffalo.
    The most wonderful thing was we were gonna be leaving and the driver of the jeep suddenly took off like a bat out of hell and I just thought ooh how exciting is this..he's ending by crashing..no more birthdays for me ha.
    Noooo he had word of a leopard I almost started crying and we hadn't seen the bloody thing!
    So we pulled up to a hundred other jeeps and could see it veryyyyy far away that it looked like the beast of Bodmin..not a leopard...but suddenly some deer decided to come out and the leopard before I could do anything with my camera caught one after a tussle and dragged it into the bush. Epic!!!!!!
    This evening I've just had a cocktail and a lager and a buffet meal with my guide and again....a birthday cake comes out and everyone sang happy birthday and shook my hand.
    So all in all I've had a wonderful 21st 😉.

    Thankyou to everyone who has wished me a happy birthday, what a day to be alive xxx    Read more

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    Day 3, Journey to Trincomalee xx

    September 1 in Sri Lanka ⛅ 28 °C

    Day 3 in Sri Lanka, started with a lovely brekkie followed by leaving the lovely Miridiya Lake Hotel to visit Ruwanweli Maha Seya a sacred Buddhist temple in Anuradhapura. It apparently houses Buddha's collarbone!

    There were so many people with offerings and saying prayers and it was very beautiful.

    After that we had quite a long drive to the next hotel and city of Trincomalee.
    Now of course on the journey some buffalo walked across the road and an elephant turned up for a drink and splash in a field!

    When I arrived at the hotel I dumped my bags, grabbed a towel and headed for the beach wow.
    I mean where else would u have a cow just turn up and casually walk along the beach?
    My guide had said to meet at 3:30 because he was gonna take me to a beautiful temple.

    I arrived back at my room and then decided I needed to shake my shoes of sand outside, the problem was my door now wouldn't open I was locked inside.
    I had to call reception and the maintenance guy came to fix door lol it would happen to me.

    Anyways we went to the temple which is devoted to daisy Koneshwaran. A huge statue of him is built outside the temple. The temple and the statue are really colourful and ornate.

    The view over sea is amazing. King Rawana' s cut from his sword which is also called as "Lover's Leap" is also nearby.
    There are also ornate wooden boxes hanging with coins in ribbons. It's said if u can't get pregnant or want to marry or u have an exam or an interview u tie a ribbon with a coin and ask for help in these areas and if comes true u come back with a gift. I thought that was quite nice.
    The only thing is when I come home Im gonna have to book in with a foot doctor all this taking off your shoes and walking on searing hot uneven paths is killing me lol, I dunno how they do it I'm a soft westerner for sure!

    Anyways the heavens have opened here and it's thundering and somehow soon I have to make it to the restaurant which is over the other side of the building, it's not looking gd, but...I can use the new raincoat lol.

    Oh and the mozzies have been having a bite of my ankles today wow swollen city here xxx    Read more

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    Day 4. Sri Lanka

    September 2 in Sri Lanka ☀️ 30 °C

    Well today is a rest day, so basically after a big brekkie, i lay on the beach and did bugger all, I even had a small dip in the sea which was fairly warm.
    I look rather red this evening and aftersun has been applied lol.
    I'm going to bed which is the earliest on the trip so far (21:45), just had a biggggg dinner which was scrumptious but forgot to take all the pics.
    It's also been nice to be in the same hotel for 2 nights which is quite rare on these trips.
    Any ways tmw myself and my guide Ravi will be going to world heritage site and ancient city Polonnaruwa xx    Read more

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    Day 5 sri lanka part 1.

    September 3 in Sri Lanka ⛅ 32 °C

    So today myself and my guide Ravi left Trincomalee and first of all headed towards Polonnaruwa an ancient city and UNESCO world heritage sight.

    We first stopped at one of the very many lakes here in Sri Lanka called lake Agbo after king Agbo 2nd, then on to Polonnaruwa.

    It's amazing how they made these kingdoms with no machinery, and the beautiful carvings are so intricate.

    After visiting there we went to lunch at a traditional Sri Lankan restaurant, they first walked me around showing and telling me what each dish was.

    Then I was offered the lime juice drink which was very refreshing and well needed from the heat with was 36 but felt like 46!!! I honestly dont recall feeling so hot because it's so humid!
    Anyways, the food was delicious!!!!!! Oh and pudding was buffalo curds which u add honey to, it tasted of greek yoghurt, and pastries xx    Read more

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    Day 6 Full of fun xx

    September 4 in Sri Lanka ⛅ 30 °C

    Wow what a jam packed day.
    First off I climbed the 1,200 steps up Sigirya/lion rock and of course it was boiling hot but had amazing views.
    Again u think how did they build a palace up on top of a rock..it's crazy!

    After a couple hrs what goes up must come down, I would say it was easier but there were still a few precarious steps.
    Then I went to a traditional Sri Lankan village, starting off my cow and cart where they even let me take the reigns and we didn't crash. But that's probably because the cow (not this cow) but that one..knew where it was going so I actually didn't need to do anything 🤣.
    Then we got taken across a lake which was quite low as waiting for the rains to come and the guy paddling stopped and made a necklace out of a water lilly it was so cool.

    Then I went to a hut where a lovely lady did lots of demonstrations on how to crush millet seeds and how she dehusks a coconut and shreds it and cuts it open, all very hard work. How to make coconut sambal which was very tasty (I told her I like mild) lol.
    Also how she cooks Sri lankan sweets, how to separate rice and many more demonstrations where she gave me a go too.
    Then we sat down and ate all of the delicious food.
    Her name was Guneya but Im not sure of the spelling and as a woman in the village works extremely hard and she is very strong.
    After jumping in a tuk tuk back to the car, I next went to a silk shop where I tried on a traditional sari and bought a scarf with elephants on..I couldn't resist it.
    Then as if that wasn't enough for the day I then went and had 2 fabulous treatments at an Ayurvedic spa.
    1 was a hot oil head treatment with massage and the other was reflexology (I mean i felt sorry for her seeing my hobbit feet) but that was epic.
    Now I've ordered room service as I can't be arsed to go to dinner it's been a long day. And I also had to wash my hair a lot and still smell of herbs lol xxx    Read more

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    Mish mash of sri lanka pics

    September 5 in Sri Lanka ☁️ 28 °C

    What guide has taken of me and that I can't be bothered to go thru and individually add on the certain days lol xxx

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    Day 7. On route to kandy part 1.

    September 5 in Sri Lanka ⛅ 29 °C

    This will have to be in a few bits because it's been a right busy one today.
    I started the day by visiting the Dambulla cave temple which of course had what felt like thousands id steps, of which there were only 300.

    Then I went to a wood carving shop/workshop, it was pretty cool how they make the colours of the paint.
    I didn't know was from the wood of a tree called the Pangala Tree.
    I could have bought so much in there..the craftsmanship that goes into each piece is incredible.    Read more

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    Day 7. On route to Kandy part 2.

    September 5 in Sri Lanka ⛅ 28 °C

    So after the morning temple visit and the wood carving/shop tour.
    I then had a guide show me around a spice garden, it was so interesting to know what every spice helps with and what goes together, the guide was very informative and then shop could have been very deadly as I wanted everything lol.
    After a check in at the next hotel and an hr stop, it was then on to the very sacred Temple Of The Tooth Relic which is said to house the left canine of Buddha, found after he was cremated, it's kept under very tight security.
    And as if that wasn't enough I then went and saw some traditional dancing which was beautiful. Also one of the guys twirled around 63 times, I'd have been sick! Followed at the end by walking on hot coals, was very gd.
    Now I'm knackered so I've had dinner and am showering then bed as we move on again in the morning xxx    Read more

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    Day 8. Kandy to Nuriya Eliya

    September 6 in Sri Lanka ☁️ 26 °C

    Okey dokey fellow travellers, it's been a busy one again.
    Today started off with a batik shop where they demonstrated what they do, followed by myself buying things, this is usually how my day goes 🤣.

    Then a quick pit stop for pics of lake Kandy before heading towards the most beautiful jewellery shop.
    They are especially famous for sapphire mining in Sri Lanka so what with it being mums birthday and September being sapphire the stone of the month, I bought a gorgeous ring.
    After this a quick stop at the Royal Botanical Gardens which was beautiful and hot.
    Some school girls wanted to know my name and to write it in their notebooks lol bless em.
    Then it was onto Nuriya Eliya land of tea where my hotel is situated for one night.
    I tried a red banana (cheeky) and a mangosteen which was actully quite nice. Then before reaching the hotel which is really high up and cold and rainy lol I visited a tea factory.
    Here I got to learn all about the process of making tea and got to try some samples after.
    I've now got a jumper on for the first time since I arrived lol and can't wait for my soup for dinner 🤣.
    A gd day has been had as usual..even if it is mums birthday and she's not here 😭❤️💍💙 xxx    Read more

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    Day 9. Sri Lanka. Train to Ella xx

    September 7 in Sri Lanka ☁️ 22 °C

    Well it's getting quicker now before I leave but still a few days to have an adventure.
    After a mahusive breakfast this morning that coulda fed 4...I was taken to the train station called Nanuoya in Nuwara Eliya.
    This was to go to Ella and supposed to be a really lovely journey.
    I really enjoyed this because another guide that mine knows bought 2 people to join me on the train.
    Kathleen and Paul from Australia joined me and we sat in 1st class and chatted and had a laugh the whole way, it honestly was nice to have company of fellow travellers.
    After we said our goodbyes I went and trekked to see 9 Arch Bridge which is made of stone bricks and cement, no steel in it whatsoever and was finished in 1921 by the British.

    Next when I was dropped off at the hotel, I got changed into shorts as it was sooo hot and dumped the raincoat.
    Of course I went and had lunch and it was beautiful weather, it suddenly without warning changed and rained like I've never seen it rain before.
    I sheltered for a while with a Spanish couple but after realising it wasn't gonna stop, I said right I'm off.
    I ran to the hotel and got drenched, everything is still so wet and that was a few hours ago lol.
    I made a cuppa and sat on the balcony with that and some lemon wafers.
    Not too crazy a day today xx    Read more

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    Day 10. Ella to Yala National Park xxx

    September 8 in Sri Lanka 🌬 31 °C

    Day 10. Sri Lanka...I just had to look that up as I've completely lost where I am on this journey lol.
    So today I've left Ella and made my way down very awful steep windy mountain roads that I couldn't look at as I didn't wanna contemplate the car falling off a cliff.
    Some Sri lankan drivers naming no names are slightly crazy if ya know what I mean.

    Anyways a quick stop off at Ravana waterfall on the way was beautiful, today is the final safari day in the famous Yala National Park.
    Before that myself and my guide stopped for lunch where there was even shark on the menu, which I didn't have!
    The guide recommended kottu roti which is made from shredded flatbread and stir fried with egg, chicken vegetables and cheese.
    It was very nice but I couldn't eat much as on the way down we stopped at 2 different street vendors and had bananas and a huge mango which wasn't long after a huge brekkie too.

    Before we could hit Yala I checked into Tamarind Tree Hotel.
    This place is lush I can't believe it's a 3 star.
    Anyways before long it was time to head to Yala and our jeep came and picked us up, it was a really nice one this time with big open windows.
    Sadly I didn't see a leopard, haven't seen a leopard here, (not counting the one far in the distance as I wanna see it close up) haven't seen a leopard in Africa and haven't seen a tiger in India...one day,!!!

    Alas it was still great fun and I saw elephants, mongoose, monkeys, deer, crocodile and lotsa birds.

    We didn't get back to the hotel till 6:45 and I had booked dinner for 7:30 so a quick shower and change and down for an amazing dinner where I was joined mostly by the hotel cat which they kept chasing away from me.

    Then a couple of beachy days I think next with a couple of excursions and I really need to get my washing done lol.

    God I am sooooo full up!!! Xxx    Read more

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    Day 11. Yala to Hikkaduwa xx

    September 9 in Sri Lanka ☁️ 29 °C

    Day 11. Sri Lanka

    What a beautiful scenic and long travel day from a town near Yala to Hikkaduwa.

    We left at 09:30 and after stopping briefly for some photos and a bit longer to look at Galle Fort, I have reached my hotel called Coral Rock at 15:00.

    I've had lovely views of the sea, seen the famous stick fishermen, tsunami sites, lots of towns and villages and am now sat on my balcony with the sea literally coming right up to the hotel.

    Oh and a dog on a motorbike was so funny but cool to see.

    The sounds of the sea 😘 perfect.

    Tonight I've watched the sun set from my balcony, just beautiful ❤️🌄 xxx    Read more

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    Day 12. A. Day of nothingness xx

    September 10 in Sri Lanka ⛅ 29 °C

    Well what have I done today?
    That's right...absolutely nothing, zilch, bugger all, nada!
    I've eaten alot and somehow got a red face one side!
    Gave someone my washing to do.
    Drank some cocktails, finished a book ...oh actually I've been quite busy 🤣.
    But seriously it's been nice relaxing here at hikkaduwa beach.
    On a serious note, quite alot of people died here on the day of that fateful boxing day tsunami in 2004, its a beautiful place so it's hard to imagine the tragedy xxx    Read more

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    Day 13. Journey to Columbo xxx

    September 11 in Sri Lanka ☁️ 29 °C

    Ok so last day in Sri Lanka, and I started off by going to a moonstone mine, I didn't realise u can get blue ones as well as the white, even yellow.
    I may have bought some earrings 😬🤔, honestly I need to get back to work to earn me some dollar!!!
    They were also cinnamon trees all around, I chewed on the stalk of a leaf and was apprehensive at first when told to do so..but yep cinnamon flavour.

    Then I went to Ahungalla sea turtle sanctuary, also there were some sharks and eels and few other fish too.
    Oh my god the turtles are gorgeous and hopefully most of them will be released back into the wild.
    Mostly the baby ones yes, this has to be done at night so less predators to catch em and eat em.
    There were some turtles that are too badly injured there without limbs that will never be released.
    And because some have eaten so much plastic, they float and are unable to dive ever again to eat 😭, so people clean up after yourselves!!!
    I got to hold a baby and as sn as the guide gave me it I burst into tears, typical me lmao.
    It felt very special to hold one of these beauties, I'm so happy I have been able to.

    Next a long drive to Columbo where I got a small tour and visited mall which was huge and would need hrs to look around.

    Before heading to my last hotel here in Sri Lanka where I have a very posh suite lmao it's rather lush xxx    Read more

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    Day 14. Maldives relaxation xxx

    September 12 on the Maldives 🌧 27 °C

    Well, just when they think it's all over...a new adventure begins the most stunning Maldives.
    It didn't start so well as was pouring it down on landing from Sri Lanka and on waiting in the seaplane lounge and on the journey to my island resort.
    This place is pure paradise I tell you, we flew over so many islands, it's so funny as the pilots wear flip flops.
    When I got to the island with other passengers, the sun came out as we were welcomed by staff and taken by buggy to reception by our villa hosts who will all look after us during our stay, mine is called Thaarif.
    The villa is amazingggggg!!!!! Even have a bath outside and my own pool on the beach.
    There may be photo spam these next few days I'm just in heaven xxx    Read more

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    Maldives Day 1. Day and night xx

    September 12 on the Maldives 🌧 28 °C

    These are pics I've taken from earlier today and this evening.
    Various pics of me posing around the villa of course, a walk along the jetty and saw a few fish.
    Had lunch at the beach club restaurant.
    Then going to Eclipse bar for a few drinks and to be social In the evening where chatted with a lovely couple still waiting on their luggage after 4 days 😬.
    And dinner in Aqua restaurant which of course was delicious xxx    Read more

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    Waking up in the Maldives xxx

    September 13 on the Maldives 🌧 28 °C

    Well what a lovely start to the day, waking up showering then having a cuppa outside watching the water.
    Next on to brekkie where I had the special.of the day, scrambled eggs with parmesan and pesto (best eggs I've ever had) , of course I had waffles and other stuff too 🤣.
    Then I came back to the villa to sort myself out before heading to the spa, of course I got lost and reception called me a buggy.
    The spa was most excellent, I had the lime and ginger scrub it was divine, I had to shower after and then she moisturised me lol.
    It was nearly lunch when I left so I headed straight to the beach club to scoff my fave once more.
    I had chicken satay skewers which were divine followed by a mahoosive pizza which I couldn't finish.
    After heading back to the villa again via a walk.on the beach, I donned my bikini for some time in the sea before it pissed it down for the last couple hrs.
    So I've sat outside with my book and now I'm feeling sleepy lol but as I'm writing this it's finally stopped raining...for now xxx    Read more

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    Lovely afternoon/evening

    September 13 on the Maldives 🌧 27 °C

    So this afternoon I sat on the veranda for quite some time because of the rain.
    Then I thought bugger it I'm gonna go out on my bike, I was very wobbly at first I haven't been on a bike in like nearly 15 years or maybe slightly less.

    Was going past a couple and said ooh mind yourselves I haven't been on a bike in 20 years, they looked at me like I was a right freak 🤣, that just made me laugh even more.
    Anyways I stopped at the pool bar for a couple of cocktails, my new fave called a lady butterfly.
    I rode back to the villa even more wobbly 🤣 got showered and went to dinner.
    Whilst I was dishing up, a lady who was on the same seaplane as me here , asked if I'd like to join her and her husband for dinner?! She said are u alone?
    Anyways I said yes I am and if Ur sure that would be soooo nice of you both.

    How nice is that!!!!!!! They are Sven and Jana from Germany but live in Switzerland and I had a right lovely evening with them.
    We talked about travelling and Sven likes to dive with sharks, he's dived all over the world.
    Then on the way out I met Linda and Rick who said I'm very welcome to join them at any time too and we also talked about travelling.
    I've had a lovely afternoon and evening here in the Maldives xxx    Read more