Travels of my eBid Tee & Cap - to Sri Lanka

[Oldandintheway]

The Hotels Experience


Unhappy breakfast at guesthouse in Dambulla
(the aforementioned home of 15 pieces of toast & cold fried eggs)

Wondering if Basil Fawlty resides here?

High praise for a wonderful dinner at the Sevana guesthouse Kandy

The "Happy Breakfasts" aren't bad either!

Sils Happy Breakfast

With new found French friends at the Sevana

Check out those Anthuriums in the foyer

Noyice - but what is it? at Benthota restaurant Dambulla

Oh! it's a fish, & don't eat the big leaf on the bottom.

Meanwhile, Sil tucks into a tropical dessert

Next stop Nuwara Eliya shortly

[sucadot]

More great pics - loving the happy breakfast

[tonyreddevil]

good pictures

[tonyreddevil]

Sigiriya rock cont.-


Celebrating on step #1,200

The Lions Paws from above

Stairs,stairs,stairs!

View part way up

Vertigo anyone?

A few more steps - aaarrrhh!!!

Our first Sri Lankan Elephant with Rock in background

Hope everyone's OK after that climb

my mum road on an elephant when she was 75 in india

[Oldandintheway]

Hi all, have just received the latest news from Bro & Sil, plus another batch of pix.
Again, I'll split them over several posts & hope you enjoy same!
Below is bros' explanation of what they've been up to of late & news of the next move! PS. eBid Tee was having monkey urine removed when these shots were taken.

The last two days have ranged from reading / snoozing through to very busy chasing down train tickets & accommodation at our next stop, Nuwara Eliya (pronounced as one word, like New-ray-lee-a).

Yesterday we went with our new friend Ravi by Tuk Tuk to three different temples located in villages north of Town. Pretty interesting for us but whoever reads this nonsense is possibly sick of the accompanying photos of temples by now - sorry.

We are spending a bit more of the kid's inheritance tomorrow by hiring a car & driver to take us the 77 kilometres to Nuwara Eliya (local lingo for 'City of Light'). It's also called "Little England" by some due to its verdant appearance and Colonial background. It is also likely to get down to 10 degrees overnight so we finally get to use the top quality Chairman Mao jackets we have been carrying since we got to Sri Lanka.
Only one night there and then a Train at 3.00 pm to Ella for more cool temperatures and greenery.
The train ticket is for a First Class A/C carriage - or "Sahib Class" as I calls it - oh the decadence.

The Great Fascinating Temple Door Hunt


Door detail at Gadaladeniya Temple north of Kandy

Bros interest more to do with structural integrity than ornateness

Wood carving at Embekke Devale Temple decorating the Digge (Drummers Pavilion)

The front door at Embekke Devale (not bad for about a squillion years old)

Not a temple but guest room warning sign at the Sevana hotel (get permssion & check monkeys)

Another door at Gadaladeniya Temple

And another

No more doors next (promise)

[Oldandintheway]

The Temples Trip


Sil at Devalaya (image house) - Sri Lankathilaka Rajamaha Viharaya (circa 1344)

And at Gadaladeniya Temple

Inside the image house at Lankatilake

An important delivery at Lankatilake (temple closed to non Buddhists)

Footwear in temple areas is verboten (rock inscription describes the Lankatilake construction circa 1300)

Digge (drummers pavilion) at Embakke Devale

Inside Embekke Devale

Housing the relic at Sri Lankatilaka Viharaya

Gadaladeniya Temple

Inside Gadaladeniya

to next post-

[Oldandintheway]

Kandy & Surrounds - Out & About


A Kandy shop (not a candy shop)

Offerings for Buddha

Bro & Ravi take some Tea, literally

On their way to the temples

Sil buys a new weekender cheap! but the commute is a killer.

Former England football Captain's new job - guarding rice! (who was #9?)

I think this shop is owned by Sandeep Woolworth!

Traffic jam at peak hour - downtown Kandy style

And after a big day - sustenance is required. Plus BEER/s

[suesjools]

Oh wow, just amazing! Love the photos and the descriptions, too, feel like I'm there, (though I'd hate to run into that large lizard without a few dozen hotdogs to toss at him).

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[kreativebargains]

Brings back happy memories for me. Visited Sri Lanka in the early 90's. The climb up Sigiriya looks a lot safer now, far more actual steps. When we got above the lions paws you had guide ropes that you hung onto as you climbed the last part. Another thing not shown on the pictures (might not be there now) is the sealed cage on the level with the paws. It was to hide in if the bees that nested near the top attacked.

I also rode an elephant there. Like an idiot, or the wise one out of the bunch I volunteered and was rewarded with a trip into the stream where I scrubbed it with a coconut husk and was rewarded with a trunk full of water for my troubles.

[Oldandintheway]

Well our travellers have made it to Nunwara Eliya (New-rail-e-ah) & despite continuing Wi Fi issues we have another report with the latest pix.
The luxury coach train ride from Kandy is described thus: "that was a minor nightmare"
Again I'll split this report into several posts, with comments below the pix.

First - Like something out of a Bob Hope movie!

"On the Road to Nuwara Eliya"

Outside an entrance to a Tea plantation

Good idea!

Sil starting to gain some elevation on the road

Bro overlooking one of the many tea plantations in this area (notice our Tee has returned)

As are shrines along the way

Talk about gaining elevation! Here Sil meets a local & feels suddenly very tall.

next post a plantation visit:-