Dambula cave temple

Our first UNESCO site is the Dambula Cave temples. The 5 caves can be traced back to 89BC.

Vattagamini Abhaya became king in 103BC , but lost the throne after 5 months to invaders. For 14 years, he lived in the caves until he regained the throne in 89BC. The caves were built below an overhang in the rock by building walls to separate the space. Later kings have renovated and added to the temples and what we see today is from the 17th and 18th centuries.

At the entrance to the site of the cave temples is the golden Buddha.




We climbed the steps up to the cave temples with our guide, removed our shoes (and put on thick socks!). On the way up




We started at cave 1, the Devarja Viharaya, which is the oldest. The statue of Budddha is 14m long.




Cave 2 , Maharaja Vihara, is the largest and most impressive of the five caves.




The caves are not really caves, but shelters built into a rock overhang.





The remains caves are still impressive, but are not so well restored.





After visiting all five caves, we came down the steps to the golden temple and the on to the car to return to our hotel.




- Pat and John on tour

First day, Negombo to Dambula

Before we arrived in Sri Lanka, we thought that the weather would not be in our favour. We had rain in the night, but woke to a beautiful day. Breakfast was on the terrace where a local dish was being made, a light crepe cooked in a cup shaped bowl and then an egg poached in the crepe and accompanied by daal.

The view from the table




The lake in the hotel is really part of the lagoon. The fish there are unusual in that the parents both look after the children for about 6 months before the parents eat them (or as many as they can catch).

While we were watching them, the (Swedish) owner, architect and builder of the hotel came to introduce himself. The house had been a family home before becoming a hotel. His wife was the interior designer. One of the staff gave us a tour, accompanied by a young guest: 10 months old and not at all phased by strangers.







Then, we set off for Dambula and the 'monkey hotel' where we will spend 4 nights.

The journey took about 5 hours and we were very happy that we were not driving. Travel in towns is slow and the maximum speed on the island is 70km/hr. We were certainly able to get a good view of the different areas.

Negombo:



Along the route: people dressed in white on their way to church' a tile factory and roadside.


Coconut trees and sites along the route.


Paddy fields and pineapple fields


Photos from our lunchtime stop


- Pat and John on tour

To Sri Lanka, first stop Negombo

We left our hotel at 11am after a leisurely breakfast for our 1420 flight to Colombo. Having used the metro system during our short stay, we knew that the airport was a short walk and just 4 metro stops away. At the airport, we passed through baggage drop and security to our gate. The airport from the metro and inside





The fight took off on time and we were soon over the outskirts of Dubai, the desert and finally, the sea. Scenes over the desert from the plane:




We have organised and booked a private tour to take us round our chosen sites. Our hotels are selected and we are looking forward to seeing the sights.

Negombo is our first stop for an overnight stay on the coast, not too far from the airport. We don't expect to see much of it; our driver will pick us up at the airport and help us with administrative things such as collecting cash and sims for phones.

We arrived at the hotel and settled into our enormous room. Although we were tired, we couldn't resist taking a few photos of the garden as we walked across the bridge to a light meal.





- Pat and John on tour

Dubai today

For the up to date sights of Dubai, we took the metro to the immense Dubai Mall. It is enormous and must sell everything under the sun, except stamps!

As well as shops, cafes restaurants etc, if has an ice rink, a wall of water and an aquarium and a lake.

We took the metro there and then walked for what seemed like miles from the station to the Mall, moving from one moving pavement to another.

Some scenes from the journey





Views from and of the walkway



We made our way down to the centre of the Mall where there is a lake and views of the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa.





Inside the Mall is an aquarium, an ice skating rink and wall of water





A highlight is a musical performance by the fountains in the lake. This started at 1.30 and lasted from about 5 minutes.





Other buildings include souks (markets) and restaurants



Tomorrow, we will take the metro to the airport and fly to Sri Lanka.

Pat and John on tour

Dubai day 1

Although we were late to bed, we were up at 9am ready for breakfast and the older quarter.

It was pleasantly warm during the day as we walked towards the river and the souks (markets). The streets were busy and the trees aren't flower.







We went first to the textile souk and then on to the spice souk and the gold souk.

At the textile souk, we were more interested in the structure than the products.



The spice souk was very colourful, scented and busy and we bought far too much saffron!



We passed through the gold souk and then lunch in a small cafe.




Then, we headed for our hotel and a sleep catch-up, catching sight of our destinations for the afternoon: a metro station and the old part of the city on the other side of the 'creek'.



We set off on the second round of sight seeing at about 4pm. By now, the temperature was dropping, but just to the level of a shirt over the t-shirt.

We walked to the metro station at negotiated our way under the 'creek' by tube.

We came out not far from our target and it was a short walk to Bur Dubai. This area has been renovated comparatively recently. 40 years ago it was destined for destruction, but was repreaved and rebuilt. While there is a hotel and a few restaurants, it has not been destroyed by tourism.








As dusk approached, the light faded and men headed towards the mosque, providing us with photo opportunities.



As darkness descended, other buildings were lit up along with the dome of the mosque.




We then walked towards the river, through the silk souk to the ferry stop to take us across the creek. There was plenty of traffic on the river.




We stopped at a small outdoor restaurant on our way back and are currently in the bar.


- Pat and John on tour

To Dubai

We are now on an A380 to Dubai with Emirates. We left Broadstairs at 0945 and will arrive in Dubai after midnight local time. We had decided to take a taxi to Gatwick, partly because of the current problems with Souther Rail, partly because of a large suitcase (although as we checked in, we were travelling 'light' in comparison to our fellow passengers) and partly so that we didn't need to dress for UK January's temperatures purely for the first stage of our holiday.

The timing was ideal: we were early enough for me (Pat) to feel comfortable and had just the right amount of time to get through bagdrop and to our gate without excessive rush or waiting.

Before leaving Broadstairs, we had time to see Ernie in his Ernie cape (think 'Batman' or other super hero, but Ernie insists that he is Ernie, and that is all that needs to be said). We then had some time with Lenny and threw him around a bit before saying goodbye.

The taxi journey was unnoticeable, other than for the continuous mist.

The plane took off on time and we are currently somewhere over Bucharest.

Photos from the plane : mist at Gatwick and the view from our seats at take off.







and landing






- Pat and John on tour

On our way to sun

We are now Broadstairs where we are spending a few days before setting off for Dubai, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, returning to Broadstairs in late February.

We will fly first to Dubai where we will spend two days, seeing the old and the new. Then on to Sri Lanka where we have our own guide/driver for two weeks and plan to tick off a number of UNESCO sites. Our last stop will be the Maldives where we will spend 6 nights in a guesthouse on Hurra island.
After that, we will return to Broadstairs for a week and then return to France at the end of February.

Before we left, we held our third 'Aperos' for our French friends. We have had parties of 10, 12 and lastly 8 friends which is much as our lounge can fit.

After that, it was all systems go to pack and close down the house.

The first stage of our journey was by train: but first a bus to Béziers where we had breakfast on the Ave Paul Riquet before walking the short distance to the railway station for a train to Lyon and lunch. The next step was train to Lille, but a problem arose: our train had broken down. In fact our train was one of a pair, the first of which had left Nice and would continue to Brussels after Lille. Fortunately we managed to get on that rather than wait for the delayed train and made connection at Lille to the EuroStar and then at Ashford for the train to Broadstairs.

As always when there is a train problem, the French crew are very helpful, finding seats for us and it was clear, when we arrived at Lille that the EuroStar crew were ready for us and we sailed through security.

On Sunday we were out at the swings with Lenny while Ernie was swimming with Helen. Although the temperature wasn't high, the sun was shining and Lenny raced around on the promenade.






Today, Monday, it is just one degree and there was frost on the ground when we went out. Ernie is at school and Lenny at his nursery.

We have booked our taxi to Gatwick for Wednesday and will soon be checking in for the flight to Dubai.




- Pat and John on tour

Location:Our winter sun

New year trip to L'Escala

As usual, we are enjoying our Christmas present to ourselves: two nights at our favourite hotel enjoying walks, relaxation, food and wine. This is the hotel: hostel Empuries, originally the hostel for archaeologists excavating the Greek and Roman ruins right next door. This mountains behind are the Pyrenees.




The archeological site.




We drove from home to Vilajuiga where we stopped to buy some wine and then ate lunch at the restaurant El Cau. At lunchtime, El Cau caters for workers, providing a good lunch for about €12 including help yourself nibbles, starter and main followed by the help yourself dessert table. Wine and water are included and it is obvious that 90% or so of the diners are regulars.

After that, we drove on to our hotel, had a siesta and then, after a cup of tea, walked into the town for tapas.

We woke to great views of waves breaking on the rocks. The hotel is on the beach and so we had very good views and spent some time trying to get good photos. These were from the breakfast room.




On the way into town, we passed what looked like a class on the beach and a group filming.



The rest of the morning was taken up with wine and anchovy buying, a cup of tea, photos and a tapas lunch of Spanish omelette, anchovies on tomato bread and patatas braves (chips with a home made tomato sauce).

These photos of the newly refurbished square were taken just outside the restaurant.




After such an exhausting morning it was then time for a siesta before a walk to St Marti where nothing was open but the evening sun was lightning the ancient buildings. We had good views of the archaeological site and the coast.






The following day, we headed for home and as usual, called in at a couple of wine caves on the way.  This time we stoped at Garriguella and walked around the village before eating a 'plat-du-jour' at the cave cooperative before continuing home.

 

Pat and John on tour

Wine buying and lunch at Méze

Today, we drove to Pinet to buy some Picpoul then have some lunch at Meze on the étang du Thau. After a delicious lunch at La Coucquilo, we walked along the side of the lake as far as we could. Mèze was not at all crowded, as it usually is in the summer.




We spotted some flamingos in the distance and tested the zoom on Pat's new camera.




- Pat and John on tour

Welcome to our 2017 blog

We have just started the year and looking forward to our travels.

This is a 'round number' year for both Jim and John, so some celebrating will be scheduled in.

For the moment, we are planning our winter holiday, starting with the usual trip to L'Escala for a coupe of nights, followed by a holiday in the Indian Ocean and including a brief visit to Dubai, 2 weeks in Sr Lanka and the a week in the Maldives. As usual, we will pass through the UK both on our way there and back. The preparations are in hand, but before that, we will be celebrating the new year with apéros for local friends.


- Pat and John on tour