Train whistle blowing, makes a sleepy noise...

We have been trundling our way by train across Sri Lanka this week leaving Nuwara Eliya and arriving in Kandy to a warm welcome from our Airbnb hosts - Jageth and Kalyani. We had three days to discover Kandy and then off again rattling our way through jungles and around mountains arriving after 8 hours in Batticaloa on the East Coast - it's lovely to be on the edge of a lagoon and the Indian Ocean - sunny, cool breeze, Palm trees galore, peaceful, (apart from the wonderful bird song which is quite exquisite especially in the early morning) and a few days to stop, read and relax! 

Book's for Asha update: we are getting a little closer to the books being sent! Thank you for the donations towards the cost of sending them. Simon is now waiting for the boxes to be delivered and then the books can be packed! They are inch by inch getting closer to Delhi!!

Early morning train and mist from Nanu Oya to Kandy

Tea packers on plantation.

Arrived in Kandy and staying in the lovely home of Jageth and Kaliyani - a delicious Sri Lanka curry (with egg hoppers)

A visit to the Botanical Gardens - like stepping into the Palm House at Kew Gardens - seeing all these amazing palms and plants in their natural habitat - such a treat.

Hanging Heliconia - Lobster Claw

  

Foxtail Orchid

The Holy Ghost Orchid - can you see the dove and the wings?

So many roots!

Looks like the trees are dancing

What a whopper!

Drums, flutes and plate spinning and beautiful dancing.

The girls danced a Peacock dance as the musicians played

Fresh Lotus flowers are offered as pooja. On this day of the Full Moon they were free for the pilgrims to take. 

This is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy. The Tooth is the tooth of Buddha and it's believed that whoever holds the tooth governs the country.

Back on the train for 8 hours to Batticaloa on the East Coast.

A good place to stop for a while, sunbathe, swim and read a good book.

Our little bungalow for a few days

Beautiful views over the lagoon. This place is famous for hearing "singing fish" late at night.

Really like this swing seat!

 Love

Ken and Heather xx

Flora and Fauna from Sri Lanka (alias Ken and Heather)

We now have 3 weeks in Sri Lanka travelling from Colombo to Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Batticaloa, Negombo and back to Colombo.

It has been very hot and busy in Colombo but as it is close to the Indian Ocean we found the seafront and enjoyed a cool breeze and paddle, at last - sadly the sea was too rough for a complete cool down!

As we walked through Colombo's Victoria park, we met the 'head gardener' who gave us a very informative tour of the park - we could have missed so many interesting things! 

A 7 hour train journey and we are now in Nuwara Eliya - in the cool (dare I say chilly!) hill country full of tea plantations, beautiful views and waterfalls. A very lively town, formerly used during colonial times for expats to holiday in during the hot summers. We can quite see why they came here!

Cool at last in the Indian Ocean - sadly too rough for a complete dip

The 'head gardener' with Ken in Viharamahadevi Park - took us on an educational tour. Amazing things to see when you know where to look. This is a Banyam tree 1500 years old

Flying foxes hanging in the tree, waiting for nighttime

A red ants nest made from leaves

A Traveller Palm 

A Cannonball Tree - each seed ball is very heavy - don't sit under the Cannonball Tree!

The flower from a Cannonball Tree- called the Buddha flower - the Buddha is in the yellow centre and the Cobra head rises up above to protect him

Such an enormous flower belonging to the Banana Palm - isn't nature wonderful, full of humour 

Beautiful stalls of fruit in Nuwara Eliya - so, so many bananas

The Jack Fruit Tree - Jack Fruit is used in many of the curry dishes

A long walk up a dirt track between tea plantations - the reward, beautiful waterfalls - called 'Lovers Leap' (but we didn't, just got a bit wet)  

A visit to Pedro's Tea Estate where we were taken on a tour of the factory to see how the humble tea leaf is turned into a refreshing cuppa

Different grades of tea

Had to end our day at the Grand Hotel for their afternoon 'high tea' and a good cuppa or two (or perhaps it was three)

Now you need a good cup of tea having read all this!

Love,

Ken and Heather x

Mostly photos this week - the good, the bad, the amazing and the ludicrous...

The good, the bad, the amazing, the ludicrous... and so much more.

Travelling opens your eyes to many things that are so different to what we are perhaps used to in our own culture.

We have now been travelling for 9 months! We have been in India, Thailand, Australia , NZ, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand (again) and on Sunday we fly to Sri Lanka before returning to India. So many cultures, so many people, all beautiful and special in their own way.

Here is a quick collection of some of our 'strangest' photos and also those that remind us of great memories. (Sri Lanka will be next week).

If you are  the sort of person who enjoys the pictures more than the text, this week's blog is for you - there are even more photos to see on Ken's or Heather's Facebook page.

Eggs is eggs - I'm sure someone will tell us how many there are

Always useful to find a barber when you have to wait for a train

Everyone needs a hug - brilliant to have an academy to teach how

Beautiful handmade cards

Notice found in a hotel lift - the poor Durian is always excluded

It must be the heat!

Brilliant new friends to travel with

Every tourist has taken this picture - we did too

So glad we visited the beautiful South Island of New Zealand

Childhood friends - we still haven't grown up

At last! Fiona's only waited 45 years for a Tressy doll

Love the Kiwi sense of humour

Peace on the river in Ayutthaya

We were always given a seat on the Delhi metro - not sure why. No need to comment.

Memories of Ekta Vihar with Shalini, Azad and Narayani

Thinking of all of our students in Delhi

Yesterday was our last night of teaching with our Chinese students

Special memories of Eric's visit with us to the Taj Mahal

Brilliant New Year when Molly and Elliot came to Goa

Looking forward to seeing our veg and fruit man and his sons again

You can wipe the smile off the board now, Asha - the Browns are coming back!

The Browns on Browns Bay - still talking to each other after 9 months travelling together

Love

Heather and Ken xx