Singapore

We are sitting at Singapore airport (drinking gin and tonics actually in the airport lounge) waiting for our flight home.
It's been a fun 6 months, and we are still ( mostly) talking to each other.
Some lessons learned
- after 6 weeks constant travel you need to just stop for a while.
- eat the local food, it will be better than the tourist menu.
- catching up with friends and family in strange and not so strange countries is great.
more piccies to come.
Alison and Kirk signing out.

Goodbye to Sri Lanka

Currently sitting in the bar at the airport, testing the quality of the gin.
So far, so good, but we shall make sure they maintain the standards.
This is an arduous task we take on, but very important.
It is a happy/sad time, returning home to family & friends, but the 6 month journey is ending.
Tomorrow is Singapore for lunch with family (just luck they are there) and then returning to Sydney.
Things we have learnt from Sri Lanka:
1. All bus drivers are mad idiots and try and run you off the road
2. Lunch time is the time to experience the real Sri Lankan food with a selection of curries and rice
3. Pharmaceutical drugs are cheap and can be obtained without a prescription
4.like most developing countries, vendors never have change and you always need the right money (they will somehow find the right change :-( )
5. The people are happy to talk about the cricket even if they are losing.

Anuradhapura

We are now in Anuradhapura the ancient capital of Sri Lanka.
Saw the beautiful cave temple at Dambulla then spent the afternoon exploring the sprawling ruins at Anuraphapura.
Tomorrow we catch the train to Negombo for a last day on teh beach before heading home via Singapore.

Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa

The weather was fine today so we went to Sigiriya and climbed the rock.  Its a magnificent place, with frescoes of half nude ladies painted on the rock and a great view f room the top.
In the afternoon we went to Polonnaruwa, another ancient city with gorgeous buddas carved in granite.
Today marks 6 months on holidays together.  Fortunately Kirk and I have not killed each other.  Kirk has had a couple of princess moments lately but fortunately he is now manning up after a good talking to.

Sigiriya

We arrived in Sigiriya this afternoon.  It was quite wet today so hopefully we can climb the rock tomorrow.

Kandy

We are now in Kandy and the weather is much warmer.
On the drive from Nuwara Eliya we stopped at a tea plantation for a short tour and a nice cuppa.

Sipping tea in Nuwara Eliya

Today we caught the train from Ella to Nuwara Eliya in the heart of the tea country.
We had seats in the observation car at the back of the train so had a great view of the countryside and the tea plantations.
Nuwara Eliya is filled with colonial buildings from a bygone era.  We are staying at an old colonial house that has seen better days.  Weather is a bit chilly so there is a fireplace in the room.
Will finish my cuppa then might head over to the pub for a game of darts.

Arround Ella

We took a beautiful walk this morning through tea plantations and up to Little Adam's peak.
Where we are staying has a stunning view across the valley to Ella rock.
Much cooler here - have needed the polar fleece.

Ella

We are now in the hill country town of Ella.  Unfortunately it is a bit wet here so we have only had a chance to see the town and have a massage.  Hopefully we can do some walking tomorrow.

Yala National Park

We went out on safari this afternoon.  Saw a leopard hanging about in a tree, elephants (including a cranky one who got a bit close for comfort), crocodiles, deer, jackal, water buffalo behaving like hippos, flying peacocks and other bird life.

On the road again

We left Unawatuna beach today after a relaxing time over Christmas and New Year.
Our driver picked us up this morning and we drove along the southern coast to Tissa near the Yala National Park.
We are arranging for a safari tomorrow.