Sri Lanka (Kandy) Jan 2013

Total expenses (2 nights) : SLR 5,890 (US$47)
Hostel: Hill Way Tour Inn (2 nights) - SLR3,350 (double)
Food: SLR1,045
Transport: Tuk tuk (SLR50) + bus (SLR 35) + Kandy>Sigiriya (SLR120) + Sigiriya>Dambulla (SLR40) + Dambulla>Kandy (SLR100) + Kandy>Colombo (SLR150)
Entrance fee: SLR1,000 (Temple of the Tooth)

I enjoyed my time in Kandy (an UNESCO world heritage site & a cultural capital with a strong Buddhist value), the 2nd largest city in Sri Lanka. The scenic Kandy Lake, the Temple of the Tooth Relic, the homestay up at the Kandy hill - very refreshing and relaxing visit indeed in this last kingdom of Sri Lanka before the British's rule in 1815 !

Kandy has a direct public bus service to Sigiriya ( 07.30>11.30) so you could do a day trip to visit the famous Lion's Rock in Sigiriya. From Sigiriya, you could take a bus to Dambulla for your return trip back to Kandy.

Kandy Town & Lake

 

Clock Tower

Kandy Lake

Inter-city bus from Kandy to Sigiriya

Petty Traders, Downtown

Old Colonial Building. Downtown 

Temple of the Tooth Relic (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

"Life is like a book, some chapters sad, some happy and some exciting. But if you never turn the page, you will never know the next chapter holds "

Sri Lanka (Sigiriya) Jan 2013

Entrance fee: US$30 (The Lion's Rock)

Sigiriya was the top priority destination for my visit to Sri Lanka. It was quite a challenge for me to walk up from the Lion's Gate to the summit of this ancient rock fortress to see the palace ruins & a nervous climb via a spiral steel platform to admire the ancient paintings on a boulder and a panoramic view of Sigiriya from the top.

What intrigued me was the story of this rock fortress & palace which was built by King Kashyapa (AD477-495) who murdered his father and later killed himself due to his brother's revenge to claim back the rightful throne ! 

The Lion's Rock, Sigiriya (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

" You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any directions you choose "

Sri Lanka (Galle) Jan 2013

Total Expenses (1 day): SLR3,298 (US$26)
Mazz Homestay, Negombo (1 night) - SLR1,000
Food: SLR410
Transport: Colombo>Galle (bus return) - SLR140 x 2
Colombo>Negombo (bus) - SLR53 Negombo>Airport (bus) - SLR35
Sundries ( Ceylon Tea) : SLR1,520

It was an arduous bus journey I took from Colombo to Galle which lasted about 4 hours. Taking a train from Colombo Fort railway station is probably a better option. A full day is required for this visit.

I came to Galle to see the Dutch Fort, similar to the Famosa Fort built by the Dutch in Malacca (a central state of Peninsula Malaysia) during the 16th century !

Galle was devastated by a massive tsunami on 26th Dec 2004 and 35,322 people in Sri Lanka died in this catastrophe.

Dutch Fort, Galle (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

 

 

 

 

 

Galle Town

Galle Railway Station

Galle Bus Terminal

Galle Town Centre

Galle Seaside

" In the end, it's not the years in your LIFE that count. It's the LIFE in your years "

My Dreams - Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter 2012 (4 season of joy)

" Your DREAM doesn't  have an expiry date, take a deep breath and try again "

" Don't wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own SOUL " 

" Never be afraid to try something new because LIFE gets boring when you stay within the limits of what you already know "

Today is a Christmas day (25/12/2012) . Merry Christmas to all my readers, friends & family members . May you all blessed with good health & a happy new year ! 

How did you fare in 2012 ? In a few day's time, we will be saying bye bye to 2012 (the year of water dragon) & welcoming 2013 (the year of golden snake) ! For those who enjoy travelling, dream more & happy travelling before the snake year of 2013 sneaks away !

Where did the year go ? 2012 was a very eventful year for me and my wife. I made 4 overseas travels without realizing that the timing of these travels coincided with the cycle of the 4 seasons of the year - no way we could experience a 4 season climate in a single year in our hot tropical country of Malaysia - forever summer, hot & humid ! 

Indeed we had a lot of fun in our travels to Myanmar, Europe, China & South Korea at a different time of the year in 2012 ! Wonderful weather and wonderful outcome ! 

Highlights of 2012 in pictures :

Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter - making our traveling life in 2012 a most colorful & joyful one !

Spring - slow & steady (since May 2006 after my retirement), we have SPRING up our mind in travelling !

Interlaken, Switzerland - April 2012

Summer - one swallow does not make a SUMMER - in traveling, there are always ups & downs, bless you all who indulge in your own passions !

Bagan, Myammar - Jan 2012

Autumn - after retirement, we are in the AUTUMN of our life pursuing our own dreams !

Fenghuang, Hunan - China - Sept 2012

Winter - we never freeze but when the bitter cold Siberian WINTER is gone, a new dawn awaits us to face more challenges in our retirement life !

Phoenix Park Ski Resort, South Korea - Dec 2012

Salt & pepper are the two most common seasoning in cooking. We need seasoning to make our food palatable. As for travelling, whether it is hot, warm, cool or cold; the cycle of the seasons; Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter has indeed spiced up our retirement life in 2012 !!! 

21-12-2012 is the end date of a 5,125 year long cycle under an ancient Mayan calendar prophecy ! But the world did not end on this date ! So let's move on ! Let's welcome 2013 as the beginning of a new era !

Dream more ! Memories are the stars that brighten our dreams !