The Beach

My yep is almost over. Yesterday and today are in the South of the country at the beach. Susan and I got up and took a walk on the beach early this morning and saw the fisherman at work.

Quiet morning

Today was our first quiet morning we just have lunch out today. So I took my time at breakfast (the best so far) and am now catching up on my journal writing. I should go for a run but it's a little too hot for me and they don't have a gym at the hotel. So writing is what I am doing instead.

Train ride

Today was an exciting day. We were originally not going to be allowed but out guide talked to the company and we were able to take the train today from Kandy to Bandarawela. It is over of the most beautiful train rides in the world and I now understand why. You go through tea towels and through the heart of the country including over a mountain. So you see the trees and landscape change a lot. We were just one stop away when our train derailed which caused some excitement as we had to exit the train and then climbed up a hill to the road where our van was able to pick us up. It was a nice little treck.

Dambulla Cave Temple

This morning we walked up a large number of steps to see the 5 natural caves that make up the Dambulla Cave Temple. It was a wonderful experience and as a Buddhist temple you can feel the peace.

Afterwards we got to learn about the spices used in food as well as for medicine. It was really fascinating and I bought a couple of things to try. I am hoping the cinnamon oil will work for my tinnitus especially.

We made it to Kandy and visited a very popular temple the Temple of the golden tooth relic and got to walk around barefoot in the warm tiles. It was also interesting to see the national treasure of the elephant Raja the Tusker who was a part a festival for 50 years.

Ended to 12 hour day with drinks with my tourmates.

Elephants

Just wanted to update really fast. I got to see elephants in the wild today. We were in a national park in a Jeep Safari and they were just an amazing sight.

Sri Lanka - Dambulla

We are now on the tour. I am really happy to have these tour mates they are certainly making this a wonderful experience. 

Yesterday started with the fish market which was just disgusting I will not go back but I suppose it was good to see. Next we loaded into the van and headed to a middle class family home where we got to see how they turn coconut husk into rope as well as take the liquid from the coconut flowers to drink for alcohol or turn into trecel. We then got to cook prawn Curry with a woman and learn their style of cooking. It was a great experience.

Next we got to our hotel we were originally going to hike to the Dambulla came temple but our guide was concerned about rain so instead we went to a wholesale fruit and vegetable market and then got to sample fruit from a stand. It was quite fun.

We decided to go to dinner together but first a bar for a beer (rum and coke for me this time). We went upstairs for dinner and had a great time chatting.

This morning was an early start to Lion Rock which was a palace. It was not as difficult as I was expecting however we were there early and beat much of the heat later when it was warmer and more crowded I think it would be very difficult.

Busy day but made it to Sri Lanka

Today was half travel but I made it to Sri Lanka and joined my tour group. We are a nice group of 6. 2 couples and two single ladies. Had my first Sri Lankan food and it was tasty. Tomorrow we head to a fish market, cave temple and learn about coconut and it's importance.

Singapore

Yesterday was a wonderful full day filled with lots of humidity and some beautiful scenery. I had a long list and I made it through it all. :-)

I started on the MRT to Suntec Mall to board a hop on hop off bus tour. It was perfect for my single day. Gave me a last of the city and easy transportation from place to place with a little bit of info along the way.

My first real stop was Singapore Botanic Garden and the National Orchid. It was so beautiful with a rainforest, meadow, walking paths and so many flowers. A great way to explore a bit of the natural part of Singapore instead of just the city. It was well worth the time and I picked up a wonderful rose gold covered orchid necklace that I can't wait to wear.

Next I rode the bus a bit and changed to one to take me to the cultural areas soccer it was lunch time. I hopped off and had Vietnamese bahi mi which was perfect for lunch. Then it was time to concur the Marina Bay area.

It was huge. I started off with the Marina Bay Sands Skypark observation deck. It was high and have a wonderful view of the city as well as Gardens on the Bay. I didn't realize the size of the Gardens until then. They were my next stop, ok several stops. I started work the cool trees they were just as interesting as I expected a vertical garden with avatar style tree tops. Just fascinating. Then to the domes for the flower done which they were having a tulip exhibit in. Amazing how many people were seeing tulips for the first time. I enjoyed the little statues mixed in with the flowers/plants especially the Alice in Wonderland with the scculents. Then it was on to the Cloud Forest which was fascinating and you got to experience the levels of a mountain and the rare cloud forests. It also had a strong environmental twist which was heartbreaking at how bad we are to the planet.

Then I caught the bus back to my hotel for a break and to charge my camera. I had truffle fries and a beer and caught up on my journal a bit before heading back to Gardens on the Bay for the light show. I grabbed a great spot overlooking a fountain and across to the trees so I could see them light up very well from my place and hear the music.

I ended up having a late dinner at an Indian restaurant next to my hotel before turning in for the night.  I knew I had to be up early to fly to Sri Lanka.

Traveling

It was an early morning but it was better to be really then late for my flight. Got to the airport at about 5am and breezed right through. Got to grab some coffee which was just what I needed from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. The flight to San Francisco was easy but was slow to land. So we were a bit late taxiing to the gate. Luckily my flight out was also delayed giving me time to get food and eat it before boarding the plane for my 17 hour flight. Saddly we were even more delayed one on the plane for to weather so it was almost 2 hours before we actually took off extending our flight.

Overall the flight was good. It had very little leather so I ended up not taking any Benadryl which was nice and I watched a few movies. A dog's way home which of course made me cry, Instant Family which ended up making me cry, On the Basis of Sex, Nutcracker because the flight was getting long and I wanted to watch something pretty, Eighth Grade because I was tired and angsty apparently and I ended with a nap and then Bohemian Rhapsody at least part of it.

Once off in Singapore it was actually really easy to navigate and customs was quick. I got a MRT pass and hopped the two trains I needed. I got a bit turned around in the city but I found the river and followed it remembering my Google Maps picture. It was a bit farther than I expected but I am really tied so that would be part of it. My room is comfortable and I can't wait to explore tomorrow after a good night's sleep.

Next trip starts tomorrow.

I am starting to get excited for my next trip.  It starts tomorrow morning and I will be visiting three new countries.

• Singapore
• Sri Lanka
• Japan

Singapore and Japan are short but they count, the majority of my time is going to be in Sri Lanka on an Intrepid Food Tour.
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/sri-lanka/sri-lanka-real-food-adventure-117708