Colombo

So, I never updated this blog about Colombo. Mostly because well, I didn't like Colombo.  It was just a big city with pushy people from my experience, but my hotel was really comfortable.  So, I curled up in the hotel room and enjoyed TV and AC at the end of my trip.  This Lotus blossom tower is pretty fun though.

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.

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