Read this blog: The one where we walk in the footsteps of Duran Duran Saturday 7th March 2026 Our chauffeur/guide, Dilanka, had recommended that we get to the fortified citadel at Sigiriya for sunrise as this would allow us to climb the rock in the comparative cool of the early morning and avoid the crowds. We dutifully set an alarm for 04:45 so that we could leave the hotel at 05:30 and set off in darkness. The day gradually dawned and by the time we reached this historic site the sun was rising. We had not realised that the fortifications would include a moat. Once past the moat, the citadel is approached through the Royal Gardens which comprise a water, boulder and terrace gardens. Perhaps to lull visitors into a false sense of ease, the rock formations over the first steps conceal the extent of the challenge awaiting. The rock is 1,144 feet [349 metres] above sea level and about 600 feet [180 metres] above the surrounding plain. King Kashyapa [CE 477–495], though not the legitimate heir, seized the throne from his father and chose this for the site of his new capital. Many sources state there are 1,200 steps to the […]
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Read this blog: The one where we find an unexpected use for toilet paper Friday 6th March 2026 After a relative lie-in, we checked out at 09:00 and Dilanka drove us to see the Aukana Temple which houses a statue of the Buddha, carved directly out of the granite. Created in the fifth century and set in a shallow alcove, the Buddha stands 42 feet [12m] tall on a lotus pedestal, facing east [see feature photo]. The carving of the material in the robe demonstrates particular expertise as it appears transparent with the undergarment [andanakada] visible. The statue would have originally been housed in a pilimage or image house but is now open to the elements with a metal canopy to protect it from the elements. Added later was the siraspatha – the flame-like ornament on the Buddha’s head – which signifies the flame of enlightenment and is similar to a halo in the Christian tradition. Signs at temples forbid selfies as it is disrespectful to turn your back on his image but Dilanka offered to take a photo for us and we were asked to turn sideways slightly [see not quite Selfie of the day]. Dilanka also showed us […]
Read this blog: The one where we visit the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka Thursday 5th March 2026 We opted for another early start to try and avoid being out in the midday sun. Our first stop was the Mihintale Rock Temple on Missaka Pabbata – a mountain peak which is about 1,000 feet [300 m] high. According to legend, Mahinda Thera met King Devanampiyatissa of Sri Lanka on this hilltop and discussed the teachings of Buddha with him, thereby bringing Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the third century BCE. Mihintale is a contraction of Mihin-Thalé which means ‘Mahinda’s hill’. Visitors must climb a granite staircase and although the guidebooks say there are 1840 steps to the top, our guide informed us that we had already circumvented 400 of them by being driven to the car park. The steps are shaded by frangipani trees. For both of these things, we were truly grateful. On a terrace stands the Sela Cetiya Stupa, also known as the Ambasthala Dagoba, which was built to enshrine a relic of the Buddha, specifically, the Urna Roma, or hair located between the eyebrows. Buddha is also said to have visited this location on the third occasion he […]
Read this blog: The one where Robert has a communication from aliens Wednesday, 4th March 2026 We woke up to find that it was rather overcast and were quite pleased as we felt that this would make the day cooler for our planned sightseeing. Anuradhapura was founded in 377BC by King Pandukabhaya and was the religious and political heart of the kingdom for over 1300 years until 993AD making it Sri Lanka’s first and longest serving capital. This UNESCO World Heritage site covers 40 km² and we saw only a fraction of this in our five hours of sightseeing. Thankfully Dilanka drove us between the major sites. There are the remains of three great monasteries within the historic site of the ancient city at Anuradhapura: Mahavihara, Abhayagiri, and Jetavanarama. These monasteries were the centres of Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhism, respectively. The Mahavihara monastery is the oldest and most prestigious of the three and we went there first. Within the complex stands the Ruwanweliseya Stupa, also known as the Great Stupa. It is said to contain the largest amount of the Buddha’s remains held in one place, variously described as one eighth of his relics or two quarts [four pints or half a […]
Read this blog: The one where we experience robot room service Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd March 2026 In Sri Lanka, every full moon day is a public holiday, known as a “poya” in Sinhala [Sri Lankan]. It is a day for Buddhists to visit temples for religious observances and there are 13 or 14 poyas per year. Each one has a different name and the one in March is the Madin Poya celebrating the Buddha’s first visit, after attaining enlightenment, to his place of birth at his father’s palace. The full moon in March is also known as the Worm Moon symbolising the transition from winter to spring when the ground thaws and worms reappear, although here in Sri Lanka it is hard to imagine the ground ever freezes. Actually at its brightest at 17:07 on March 3rd this year, the full moon is nevertheless being celebrated on March 2nd here. Consequently many businesses, offices and restaurants are closed and no alcohol is sold. With this in mind we planned to visit the Lotus Tower, Colombo’s tallest landmark, which we knew would be open [see Selfie of the day]. Entry is US$20 per person for foreigners which is very expensive […]
Read this blog: The one where Robert meets an old school friend in Sri Lanka Saturday 28th February and Sunday 1st March 2026 After the excitement of the T20 cricket, we woke early and returned from our overnight hotel, near the stadium, to have breakfast at our central hotel then set off to explore the sights of Colombo, taking a tuk tuk to St Lucia’s Cathedral as the start of our route. The current building was completed in 1902 and St Lucia’s is the oldest and largest parish cathedral in Sri Lanka. Ionic columns adorn the facade along with seven statues along the skyline. We took another tuk tuk to the Grand Mosque and from here we decided to walk to. . . . . . St Anthony’s Shrine which dates from the early Dutch Colonial period when Catholicism was banned and Catholic priests would conduct services in secret. Our research informed us that a reliquary in a glass case at the entrance is deemed sacred because it contains a tiny piece of St. Anthony’s tongue. We were surprised to see a man crawl under the cabinet and subsequently realised that he was demonstrating his reverence by crawling under the relic. […]
Read this blog: The one where we attend our first international cricket game overseas Friday 27th February 2026 In 1907 Negombo was connected to the extensive railway network which the British were building in Sri Lanka to streamline the transportation of produce including coconuts, tea and coffee from the cool hill plantations down to the ports. Winding through thick jungle, across mountains and along dramatic coastlines it became known as one of the most picturesque railway networks in the world. Robert designed and booked this trip around some of his bucket list train journeys up to the plantations but the second set back on this tour is that many train services in Sri Lanka are not currently running normally. We knew before we left the UK that, sadly, extreme weather in November 2025 had caused severe flooding which had resulted in several deaths and damaged the railways. Heavy rainfall caused landslides which washed away sections of track and weakened embankments and bridges. Large sections of the track were subsequently impassable, particularly in the more challenging mountainous areas where the terrain is steep. Before trains can run safely again, the land has to be properly stabilised and the infrastructure rebuilt. The […]
Read this blog: The one where we can’t hire a tuk tuk Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th February 2026 We were told that we had to get to the airport three hours before our scheduled flight time. This meant setting an alarm for 05:15 which was not ideal for two people still adjusting to a five hour time difference. Despite the fact that we had both been wide awake at about 01:00, we were sound asleep when the alarm went off. Although Über is available, PickMe is the most commonly used ride-hailing app in Sri Lanka and it was recommended to us by local people for booking tuk tuks and cars. We had a very minimalist and disappointing breakfast: confusingly despite it being Ramadan the full service did not start till after sunrise. Robert then booked a small car on PickMe to take us and our luggage to the airport. However, when we arrived at Velana International Airport we were shown a notice which gave the time that passengers for each flight were to be admitted into the departures hall. Our designated time was 06:30 and we were waved to one side to wait for eight minutes. As it turned out […]
Read this blog: The one where Matilda enjoys getting her face wet Monday 23rd to Wednesday 25th February 2026 On Monday morning after a rather fitful night’s sleep, Robert was awake early enough to see the sunrise from our beach. As previously mentioned, the tide was too far out for us to be able to swim within the designated area: Robert only managed to get in to his knees. Instead, we walked along the beach and out to the pontoon which gives access to rooms over the water. From the raised walkway, we saw plenty of wildlife swimming amongst the coral including yellow tailed clown fish and shoals of needle fish. However, the highlight was undoubtedly the young sharks swimming languidly in the shallows [see also Video of the day], sometimes with their fins visible above the water. As a woman who doesn’t like to get her face wet whether swimming in a pool or simply washing with soap and water, Matilda was a little anxious about undertaking going snorkelling. But as she has frequently read that it is beneficial to challenge yourself and leave your comfort zone – and we both like to get our money’s worth – Matilda […]
Read this blog: The one where low tide is un-swimmable Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd February 2026 The first stage of our Sri Lankan adventure is a short stopover in the Maldives. Our early evening flight from Heathrow meant that we could watch the Six Nations‘ England vs Ireland rugby match in the airport Wetherspoons. By half-time, Robert was wishing we hadn’t bothered. The flight, combined with the five hour time difference meant that we saw the sunrise from the stratosphere. Meanwhile, the couple behind us were having an extended argument and we couldn’t help but feel that their holiday/honeymoon was not going to go well. Such a shame when they were going to this incredible bucket-list destination. We arrived at Terminal One [international flights] and discovered that we had to walk to Terminal Two to find our transport to the Villa Nautica resort which is located on Lankanfinolhu Island on the North Malé Atoll. There will be more about the geography of this region in future blogs. Villa Nautica is just a 20-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport in the capital city of Malé. When they describe the transport as a speedboat rather than a water taxi, they are […]