Tagged With "Ceylon"
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 1a) Colombo
Ah Galle Face Green! Many a delightful stroll taken with my folks on a Sunday afternoon in the 1960s, then home for tea at 42 Galle Face Court, the flats opposite the hotel. Ah sweet memories Ouch that seems a long time ago.....
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 1a) Colombo
DrFumblefinger your photos are amazing. I can see why you love the country so much.
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 1a) Colombo
Originally Posted by Mac: Ah Galle Face Green! Many a delightful stroll taken with my folks on a Sunday afternoon in the 1960s, then home for tea at 42 Galle Face Court, the flats opposite the hotel. Ah sweet memories Ouch that seems a long time ago..... I was told the Galle Face Green was actually green until the pope showed up and a massive crowd destroyed the grass. After that it became the Galle Face Brown. The green is slowly trying to make a comeback, though. I actually visited someone...
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 5) The Elephants of Pinnawala
These elephants are great. Would be a good movie location, what with the jungle and elephants and stuff!
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 5) The Elephants of Pinnawala
I'm becoming more intrigued by the day. On the practical side of things, specifically how to get there, what's your usual route, DrF, or is there a best way. From the US west coast. I'm thinking about using miles and I haven't found a cheap way yet for an onward flight from, say, BKK or HKG to Colombo. India is the obvious closest but costs more miles to get to than BKK. Any ideas? AA miles if have any experience with that alliance.
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 5) The Elephants of Pinnawala
Thanks, PortMoresby! And we've not even been to the sacred tooth relic in Kandy, the medieval ruins of Polonnaruwa, the beautiful hill country filled with tea plantations and "The World's End", a wildlife safari at Yala National Park, nor any of the nice beaches (but keep reading -- reports on these are coming). Sri Lanka is a great destination, especially now that the civil war is over. I was doubly lucky to not only be able to visit a dear friend there but to have time to leisurely explore...
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 5) The Elephants of Pinnawala
Lots to consider. I can't go through Thailand without hanging out a few weeks so the 2 ticket plan may suit me better. I see Cathay Pacific also flies to Colombo, connecting in HKG. Will have to do more research to see if any of the low fare Asian airlines can facilitate a plan. What season is your favorite there? Is there an off-season when there are bargains to be had?
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 5) The Elephants of Pinnawala
Sri Lanka is almost on the equator so it has minimal seasonal variability in temperature or length of day and night. There is a monsoon season, but that generally translated to an hour or two of rain, often after dark, so don't let this worry you. I don't think there's a bad season. Imagine "high season" coincides with vacations in Europe as most travelers there are from Europe so would avoid the summer months especially.
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 5) The Elephants of Pinnawala
Thanks again, good DrF.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Dec. 30, 2013: Monk on a Ladder, Sri Lanka
His body language tells me that he knows his stuff. Thanks, Dr F, for this universal slice of life moment.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Dec. 30, 2013: Monk on a Ladder, Sri Lanka
It proves one of life's great truths, one I've thoroughly tested myself all over the world, that anything can be done in flip flops.
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 1b). Visiting Sir Arthur C. Clarke
Dr. F - A wonderful tribute to a man, a place, and a friendship. The sense of fun and of respect clearly rings from your writing. Thank you for sharing this.
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 1b). Visiting Sir Arthur C. Clarke
Thanks, TravelandNature! Arthur was a wonderfully kind and sweet man. He was probably the most intelligent person I've ever interacted with one-on-one, but always made me feel very welcome and comfortable with him. We had a nice chemistry between us that I believe we both enjoyed. He was the one who nicknamed me, "DrFumblefinger" and encouraged me to write about my adventures. So here I am now --DrFumblefinger writing about my passion for travel!
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 2). Dambulla
This is a remarkable place but the radiantly smiling kids make even the Golden Buddha look a little shabby. Great pics.
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 8) Hill Country
This is the chapter I've been waiting for, DrF. I 'm a lover of all things tea, which includes stays in tea growing places. I've made pilgrimages to the hill countries of various parts of India, China and Malaysia and now I believe "Ceylon" must be the next target. Many thanks for the fine introduction.
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 8) Hill Country
Thanks, PortMoresby! There's lots of interesting places to stay in the Hill Country, some in tea plantations themselves. My favorite place here was the Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya. A bit of historic elegance. Where else can you find a "cigar room" (where men gather to smoke) and a "billiards room" anymore?
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 9) Horton Plains
It is hard to absorb all of this information. This truly is a land like no other. Thanks for telling us about Sri Lanka.
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 1b). Visiting Sir Arthur C. Clarke
Hi Dr. Fumblefinter, I was wondering if you knew the location of Arthur Clarke's former residence, or perhaps his grave? I'll be visiting Colombo for work next month and I'd like to make a visit, even if just outside of the walls of the house.
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 1b). Visiting Sir Arthur C. Clarke
Hi Nevin, Nice to hear from you and thanks for your interest in Sir Arthur. Arthur's home is at 25 Barnes Place in Colombo, which is near the popular shopping store Odels. A taxi or even tuk-tuk should be able to get you there. His former business partner and best friend, a SriLankan, still lives at this home. You won't see too much from the outside as it is a walled compound. If you contact the home and come during business hours, it is likely that someone will take you to see Arthur's...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Feb 24, 2014: Taprobane, Sri Lanka
DrF, if I wanted to look for one of those inexpensive options you mention, what is the name of the area along the shore? I looked on g-maps and it was hard to tell.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Feb 24, 2014: Taprobane, Sri Lanka
You'd want to look along the stretch extending from Hikkaduwa (southwest corner, north of Galle) all the way past Matara. But one of the loveliest beaches in the world is Unawatuna, maybe 5-10 km east of Galle. You can't go wrong staying there, PortMoresby.
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 11). On safari in Yala Park, with a stop in Kirinda
Thanks, TravelandNature! And how about that Junglefowl. Looks like a fancy chicken but apparently a wild species.
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Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 4). The Rock Fortress of Sigiriya
“You absolutely must go to Sigiriya!”, Arthur C. Clarke insisted to me during my first visit to Sri Lanka. “There are other countries with beautiful weather and beaches, but there’s only one Sigiriya.
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Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 7). Kandy
The Sinhalese name for this city is Maha Nuvara (Senkadagalapura), impossible for the British colonialists to pronounce so they just called it Kandy.
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Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 8) Hill Country
The coastal regions of Sri Lanka are fairly flat. Given that and the relatively small size of the island, I was surprised to find impressive peaks (over 2500 m high) at its center. This is where the country's tea is grown.
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Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 3) The Ancient City of Anuradhapura
A great opportunity available to any traveler to Ceylon is the chance to explore the country’s rich history and extensive archaeology. This post describes my visit to the oldest ancient site in Sri Lanka.
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Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 6). Polonnaruwa
The eastern most point visited when touring Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle is Polonnaruwa. The ruins in this ancient capitol are the best preserved and most varied in Ceylon and it’s well worth the effort to visit them.
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Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 9) Horton Plains
My first introduction to Horton Plains National Park was in Hans Mohemius’ photo room at his home in Colombo. It is a beautiful high altitude plateau, with dramatic scenery.
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Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 11). On safari in Yala Park, with a stop in Kirinda
Yala is the most visited National Park in Sri Lanka. It’s remotely situated in the southeast corner of the country, a long day’s drive from Colombo and even from the central Hill Country, and covers almost 1000 square kilometers.
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Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 5) The Elephants of Pinnawala
One of the highlights of any trip to Sri Lanka is a visit to the Pinnawala elephant orphanage. Pinnawala is small town just north of Kegalle, east of Colombo and west of Kandy.
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Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 1a) Colombo
This is the first in a series of posts featuring my travels to Sri Lanka. My visits to this island centered around seeing my favorite author and dear friend, futurist Sir Arthur C. Clarke.
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Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 1b). Visiting Sir Arthur C. Clarke
Part 1a of this blog series discussed the city of Colombo. This post focuses on my visits with its most famous resident, Sir Arthur C. Clark.
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Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 2). Dambulla
Dambulla is known for its Cave Temples which predate Christ. Legend has it that a Sri Lankan King, driven out of Anuradhapura, found a hiding place in these caves.
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Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 12) The Beaches
Sri Lanka is intimately tied to the sea. As a tropical island, only a few degrees north latitude of the equator, there are dozens of lovely warm beaches by which you can relax.
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A Ramble through Colombo's Fort District
DrFumblefinger likes to walk through historic areas in cities. Today he shares a visit to Colombo's Fort District.
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Dec. 30, 2013: Monk on a Ladder, Sri Lanka
I must admit doing a double take when I saw this robust young monk working at repairing something by the roof of the Temple of the Tooth complex in Kandy.
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Feb 24, 2014: Taprobane, Sri Lanka
An unusual sight for visitors to Sri Lanka's beautiful south coast is Taprobane Island. A small private island, to which you must wade through shallow surf to gain access, Taprobane sits about 200 yards off the shore of Weligama Bay.