My Latest Posts
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- Belgium tanks and Titz – Day 2 – 331km.
Things I’ve learnt today. Damp morning as it had rained overnight and Tigger was wet. Starting to clear after breakfast so a later start than planned. First off I was in desperate need of fuel. Gladly my late start was… Read more: Belgium tanks and Titz – Day 2 – 331km. - Belgium tanks and Titz – Day 1 – 624km.Things I’ve learnt today. My summer mesh jacket is rubbish in 31c heat. The new Tiger overheat fans kick in when in traffic at boarder control and it’s like having a hairdryer on max on your inner thighs. The roads… Read more: Belgium tanks and Titz – Day 1 – 624km.
- We hired a Tuktuk and drove around Sri Lanka for 2 weeks!
We hired a Tuktuk for 2 weeks around Sri Lanka! - Nagar Kirtan Southall – 02/04/23Sikhs (turbaned bearded dudes that my son thought were Aladdin genie’s when he was 2) celebrate Vaisakhi as the creation of the Khalsa. It’s different from the Sikh new year or harvest festival. We happened to be going to Southall… Read more: Nagar Kirtan Southall – 02/04/23
- Mobile data abroad, e-SIMs, roaming and Airalo v Local SIM cards
Airalo eSIM instructions and review - Sri Lankan Parippu Vada – Dhal Cookies – Crispy Lentil Dhal FrittersOk, my favourite favourite food in Sri Lanka is Parippu Vada. Crispy lentil fritters. These are deep fried spiced lentil dhal cakes. OMG. Everywhere has them, find a bus or train station and there will be a vendor at 10SLR… Read more: Sri Lankan Parippu Vada – Dhal Cookies – Crispy Lentil Dhal Fritters
- Sri Lanka 12 – Life’s a beach, until the Russian’s invaded.
Day 12 – Marissa Today is a lazy rest day. Spent the morning sleeping and the afternoon exploring the town. There’s not a lot here except the beach and some beautiful people strutting their stuff on the sand. Lots of… Read more: Sri Lanka 12 – Life’s a beach, until the Russian’s invaded. - Sri Lanka 11 – Leopards and beaches
Day 11 – Udawalawe to Yala NP to Marissa Katagamuwa sanctuary is part of the Yala National Park in south east Sri Lanka. Alarms were set for 3:30am and 5 of us left in the dark, whilst the rest of… Read more: Sri Lanka 11 – Leopards and beaches - Sri Lanka 10 – Trains, Tobacco and Waterfalls
Day 10 – Hapatale to Udawalawe Left the hotel on foot and walked to the station. One crammed stop later we were at Isalgashinna station, 1615m above sea level. We met with Shiva and Dusha again for a walk down… Read more: Sri Lanka 10 – Trains, Tobacco and Waterfalls - Sri Lanka 9 – Tea plantations, smiling children and dreadlocks
Day 9 – Bandarawela to Haputale hike. We picked up our two local guides Shiva and Dusha, and took a short bus ride to the top of Bandarawela and the start of the tea plantations. Our trek was relatively easy… Read more: Sri Lanka 9 – Tea plantations, smiling children and dreadlocks - Sri Lanka 8 – Kandy to Ella train
Day 8 – Kandy to Bandarawela Morning coffee was had on the balcony with an Elvis monkey spying Mrs Dude’s fruit. Then a quick walk down the hill to the station. The 8:46 from Kandy was running late. Only by… Read more: Sri Lanka 8 – Kandy to Ella train - Sri Lanka 7 – Tea, Dead Mastercard and Fire Breathing
Day 7 – Kandy First stop a gem stone museum and jewellery shop. Learnt how precious stones are mined by hand and no hard hats. Lots of pretty stones, gold and silver and then the sales pitches. Mr MasterCard was… Read more: Sri Lanka 7 – Tea, Dead Mastercard and Fire Breathing - Sri Lanka 6 – Sigiriya Rock – Sacred Temple of the Tooth
Day 6 – Dambulla to Kandy Yesterdays steps played havoc with my knee (bit of arthritis), so I had a lay in whilst Mrs Dude climbed Sigiriya Rock (Lion Rock). She left at 5:30 in the morning to head over… Read more: Sri Lanka 6 – Sigiriya Rock – Sacred Temple of the Tooth - Sri Lanka 5 – Falooda – Dambulla – Elephant Safari
Day 5 – Polonnaruwa to Dambulla Breakfast was coffee and fruit. Could have been more but restless nights sleep with crazy rain overnight and Becky and I switching the aircon on and off constantly (her off, me on). Language lesson… Read more: Sri Lanka 5 – Falooda – Dambulla – Elephant Safari - Sri Lanka 4 – Heffalumps in the road!
Day 4 – Anrathapura to Polonnaruwa. ELEPHANTS IN THE ROAD!! Departed our hotel at 8am and headed south east climbing slowly into the highlands. Stopped on route at Athreya Ayurvedic Spa for a 2 hour massage. Fell asleep twice and… Read more: Sri Lanka 4 – Heffalumps in the road! - Sri Lanka 3 – Sore bums and Kotu.
Day 3 – Cycling around Ancient Anrathapura. Not a great nights sleep. Our aircon unit was clicking, zapping and sparking throughout the night, but it worked. Just dodgy wiring. Breakfast was a Western affair except fried slice cooked in coconut… Read more: Sri Lanka 3 – Sore bums and Kotu. - Sri Lanka 2 – Stupas and Buddha
Day 2 – Negombo to Anuradhupara After a breakfast of coffee, chicken curry and milk rice (sticky rice cooked in coconut milk and served in chunks), we loaded up to head to Anuradhupara, one of the ancient cities. On route… Read more: Sri Lanka 2 – Stupas and Buddha - Sri Lanka 1 – Bum Guns!
Day 1. Negombo. Ayubowan (hello in local lingo). Took off from Heathrow with the plane rocking from side to side and landed an hour late due to storm Eunice delaying our departure. Found a lovely taxi driver who ferried us… Read more: Sri Lanka 1 – Bum Guns! - Karol Bagh – New Delhi, India – 23/01/20Day 0 – New Delhi After clearing immigration at midnight, we finally arrived in a very busy and noisy New Delhi.Our half blind, half crazy taxi driver, part time rollercoaster driver took us to our hotel which, unsurprisingly was overbooked!… Read more: Karol Bagh – New Delhi, India – 23/01/20
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Travel Dude 