As a follow up to my last post just 2 weeks ago, I realise I can’t wait any longer to flag again, and this time more graphically, the seriousness of the situation in Sri Lanka. …
Continue readingAppeal to help Sri Lanka
Author: marcia summers
Update Sri Lanka – events and general situation
Jubilee event During the Queen’s Jubilee weekend 6 of us in our road opened our gardens for neighbours and friends and raised over £1,000 to support those in need in Sri Lanka. Whilst none of …
Continue reading£10k target achieved! Whoohoo!
Funding update Lots has happened in the month since we’ve returned from trekking all the way from Galle to Kandy in Sri Lanka to raise much-needed funds to support women and children in great need …
Continue readingBlog 15 – Final blog of Stage 1 (Galle – Kandy)
Round up The first stage of my charity trek across Sri Lanka (Galle to Kandy) is complete after 18 days and we’re now back home in the UK. Whilst our activity out there finished yesterday, …
Continue readingBlog 14 – Our last day – Royal Botanical Gardens & a trip to a woodcarving workshop
Peradeniya Botanical Gardens I’ve been to Kandy eight times now but never been to the historical Botanical gardens developed in the early 1800s and inspired by Kew Gardens, South West London. I’ve tried on several …
Continue readingBlog 13 – A visit to an ’unknown’ cave temple and then to the most popular Buddhist Temple in Sri Lanka
A ’secret’ temple in the Kurunegala jungle This is an extension of yesterday’s blog about the Sinhalese New Year’s celebration which we attended in the morning. After our roti and chilli lunch, Rev Ragama took …
Continue readingBlog 12 – Sinhalese New Year’s Festival in Kurunegala
As has become the norm now, we’re up before sunrise and out as the sun is rising. Today we were invited to a Sinhalese New Year village festival on the outskirts of Kurunegala by Rev. …
Continue readingBlog 11 – Women’s Development Centre (WDC)
Revisiting WDC Totally excited to be revisiting WDC administrative centre, but without Joe this time, and seeing all the staff there and introducing Gill to them. It’s been 4 years, due to Covid and the …
Continue readingBlog 10 – up the baby peak known as Little Adam’s Peak and sauntering around Horton Plains
Little Adam’s Peak We’ve still been suffering the aftermath of climbing Adam’s Peak a couple of days ago with our thighs and calves throbbing when we walk up and especially down steps. We’ve named the …
Continue readingBlog 9 – Walking with women in Hatton & a magical train journey to Ella, Oh and we made national news in Sri Lanka!
Three women joined us in Hatton (should’ve been more but there were no buses due to diesel shortages so others who’d wanted to meet us couldn’t). Janina, Malar and Sangeetha walked a short distance with …
Continue readingBlog 8 – From Rambas Reserve to climbing Adam’s Peak
Rambas Reserve Following our day’s trekking, mostly on the road today, we discovered by chance the Rambas Reserve in Kalatuwawa. Its position is 2km deep into a forest reservation and we found it almost unbelievable …
Continue readingBlog 7 – Sinharaja Rainforest to Avissawella via Ratnapura gem mine
The Blue Magpie Lodge We felt a bit sad leaving The Blue Magpie Lodge as it was so serene and incredibly natural. We both thought it was one of the best all round places we’d …
Continue readingBlog 6 – Udawalawa to Sinharaja Rainforest
Calm before the storm! Before we left the UK we were advised to have a rest day on day 3 of trekking. However, we managed to last until day 5 until we felt over-tired and …
Continue readingBlog 5 – from Morawaka to Unawatawa National Park
Today was all about the elephants! We set off early this morning to beat the worst of the day’s heat which reached 34 degrees! We stopped at an amazing roadside cafe with the most fabulous …
Continue readingBlog 4 – trekking from Dampella to Morawaka
The Rambukana tea garden plantation is where we’ve arrived at today. Unbelievably the owner’s brother lives in Kingston-upon-Thames! That feels surreal! We are now encased in a stunningly manicured garden carved out of the rain …
Continue readingBlog 3 – trekking from Ahangama to Makuludola Estate, Dampella
There was a heavy and noisy storm last night and it was still raining this morning when we woke but even still the air remained thick and humid. We managed to trek another 14km today …
Continue readingBlog Number 2 – SETTING OFF!
After a day in and around Galle visiting Their Future Today (TFT) projects as detailed in yesterday’s blog, we began our trek towards Kandy from Galle Cricket ground at 7am this morning. We received a …
Continue readingBlog Number 1 – Galle to Kandy – in and around Galle
Heathrow to Colombo and then to Galle could not have been smoother even though we had prepared for the worst as we had been warned of shortages in many things. In fact it was probably …
Continue readingFINAL PRE-TREK UPDATE …… AND WE’RE OFF…
Send off supper Last weekend Their Future Today (TFT) organised a ’send off’ supper for Gill and me at Indian Zest in Sunbury and we had a fab evening. Lots of amazing friends and TFT …
Continue reading10 days to go! Sri Lanka trek update
Fundraising update 74% of my target now raised – that’s a whopping £7,400 – refer to blog of 1st March for the detail and how it’s being used. Gill’s and my travel documents are now …
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