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 …
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Blog 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 …
Continue readingSri Lanka Trek update – 1 March 2022
Sri Lanka Trek update – 1 March 2022 March is here! It’s THIS month I begin Part 1 of my 10 week trek across Sri Lanka. I’m raising funds to support vulnerable women and children …
Continue readingSri Lanka trek update & urgent call for volunteers
Whilst it was disappointing I couldn’t go to Sri Lanka last November as planned, I’ve decided to go this Easter 2022 and begin my charity trek across the island. Instead of trekking across Sri Lanka …
Continue readingTrek challenge update, Ebay accumulator & next steps
Well Covid has wrecked the trek – for this November as planned. Whilst Sri Lanka is in a national lockdown, Covid cases and hospitalisations there deeply concerning, it makes no sense for me to attempt …
Continue readingMy overall trekking route and a request of you!
Below is my final draft of the route showing my planned trek across Sri Lanka later this year to raise funds to support: girls/women who are survivors of gender-based violence children’s education equipment for schools …
Continue readingLeg 10 (Final leg) – Mihintale to Colombo airport via Kurunegala (200km)
Nearing the end If all’s gone to plan it should be early Feb 2022 by now and I need to be back at work for the 7th. I’ll have travelled from Galle on the south …
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