The looms The seven looms sent out to Kandy, Sri Lanka during the first lockdown in April last year are now in full use. The survivors of gender-based violence living in the refuge are using …
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My 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 …
Continue readingLeg 9 – Homeward bound via Mihintale: where Buddhism and State became entwined
From Jaffna train station I’ll travel the 200km to Mihintale Junction which will take 3 hours and cost just 400 Sri Lankan Rupees (£1.50). I don’t expect it to be the most scenic of Sri …
Continue readingLeg 8 – Around the Jaffna islands: wild ponies, Ambal kovil, and the silver dagoba marking the Buddha’s legendary visit to Sri Lanka
Directly west of Jaffna is a string of islands straggling out into the waters of the Palk Strait towards south-east India. I’m going to try to hop across the archipelago to the remotest island of …
Continue readingSpotlight on the Jaffna Peninsula and the city itself
Centuries ago and up until the 17th century when the Portuguese conquered and killed the last king, Jaffna was a kingdom of its own. It had a rich Sangam (Tamil) literature, historically known as ‘the …
Continue readingLeg 7 – Mullaitivu to the Jaffna Peninsula via Kilinochchi and Elephant Pass (approx 85 km)
This has probably been my hardest blog to research as there’s little written about this part of Sri Lanka and next to nothing from a tourist perspective. Tourism has not yet reached this leg! The …
Continue readingLeg 6 – Edging further up the NE coast – Trincomolee to Mullaitivu
Out of bounds I needed to dig a bit deeper to find out what to look out for and the best way to travel this leg. Mullaitivu is set north east of the island. It’s …
Continue readingLeg 5 – Polonnaruwa to Trincomalee via Habarana
Leaving the ancient cities Having had a few days exploring the ancient and ruined sites of Polonnarawa, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Anuradhapura, I’ll be heading east again. This time though it’ll be further north up the …
Continue readingSpotlight on Polonnaruwa: the city gobbled up by the jungle and other ancient sites
Save a Prayer If you’re getting on a bit, like me, you may remember Duran Duran’s video of their hit song ‘Save a Prayer’ (1982). It was filmed on location in Sri Lanka and notably …
Continue readingLeg 4 – Kandy to Polonnaruwa – 200km
Heading out of Kandy I’ll be heading east out of Kandy towards the ancient city of Polonnaruwa via Mahiyangana and Wasgamuwa National Park. Hoping a friend or two will be free to join me for …
Continue readingAll about Kandy – the last capital of the ancient kings
Kandy Town Overcrowded, humid, bustling, colourful and loud, with lots of tuk tuks beeping, is how I’d describe a first impression of Kandy town. It has a fabulously faded grandeur with its centre piece: a …
Continue readingLeg 3 – Ella to Kandy via Nuwara Eliya (Little England)
Ella I think we’ll have rested in Ella, or at least stopped, for a couple of days to take in the vastness and beauty of the tiers and acres of tea plantations. I can say …
Continue readingLeg 2 – Up and over Adam’s Peak via Ratnapura (approx 100km)
So, having completed Leg 1, (in my head, and now electronically), it may be time for a little rest! Leg 1 in real life will be a challenge with lots of jungle trekking. It will …
Continue readingLeg 1 – Setting off – Galle to Ratnapura – Sri Lanka’s gem capital
I’ll start my trek from the historic Galle Fort in the south of Sri Lanka and travel north-east towards the Hiyare Rainforest. I’ll stop off at Akuressa, Deniyaya, Sinharaja Forest Reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage …
Continue readingA memorable trip to a gem mine in Sri Lanka – from grotty rock to sparkling gem!
Ratnapura, locally known as the city of gems, is based at the foot of Adam’s Peak, a conical mountain located in central Sri Lanka. It was nearing the end of our 10 day tour of …
Continue readingLooms project update
I was delighted to hear this week that the heddle looms we sent to Sri Lanka just before lockdown in March have been safely received (delayed due to Colombo airport total lockdown). They’ve now been …
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