Traveling to Asia is a pleasure for most mortals. We prepare a trip conscientiously, believing that we have not left any loose ends: tickets, itinerary, accommodations, or visits, convinced that with such planning, our journey will be a success. However, sometimes we overlook some minor issues, apparently unimportant details, which, on the other hand, can cause us some surprises or headaches. They are these strange laws that prevail in some … [Read more...]
Matthijs Keij, CEO of Withlocals
Withlocals is an experiential travel company that provides a platform for locals to offer private, personalized tours to travelers. Withlocals’ mission is to connect people with cultures by breaking down barriers between travelers and locals worldwide. I recently had an opportunity to get hold of the CEO, Matthijs Keij, to ask him a few questions. Q. Can you briefly tell us about yourself, your background, and your journey to joining … [Read more...]
Dhanushkodi – A Tale of Oceans and Ape Men
The Legend Indian Hindu mythology has it that Lord Rama built a bridge some 50 kilometres long connecting India with Lanka (now Sri Lanka) off the coast of Tamil Nadu in South India to rescue his wife Sita from the evil clutches of the demon king Ravana. And he pulled off this engineering marvel with the help of his million-strong Vanara (Ape men) army along with magical ‘floating rocks’ and named it Rama Setu. (Rama’s Bridge) Valmiki further … [Read more...]
“Advancing in a different direction.” The lows and highs of an Indian Ayurveda Retreat
There is a slither of daylight creeping through the windows that are covered by heavy red drapes. I stay in bed to keep warm. My room is just as bad this morning as it was in the dark on arrival last night. There’s a draught from the chimney, so I adjust the wood cover to prevent cold air from entering. The hard floor is ice cold when I put my feet down. From my window, the sky is misty over the hills outside. The window is slightly open and I … [Read more...]
Climbing the Holy Mountain (Sri Pada), Sri Lanka
The Journey (Kuruwita-Erathna route) The journey begins from a small town called Kuruwita located 82 km from Colombo in Sri Lanka. Kuruwita is on the Colombo – Ratnapura main road and situated 9km before Ratnapura. To reach the trail head you approach a small hamlet called “Adavikanda”. The nearest town to this sleepy village is Erathna; one proceeds left at the clock tower in Kuruwita and travels approximately 11 km. The road has signboards and … [Read more...]
Where To Go To Celebrate Your Retirement
You have worked all your life. Now that you have reached your retirement, it is time to spoil yourself a little. Work will no longer bother you and you will have more time on your hands. With plenty of destinations that hold a lot of promise, which one should be first on your bucket list? Keep on reading and we’ll recommend five of the best places to celebrate this wonderful new chapter of your life! Sri Lanka If you are looking for … [Read more...]
Danger Zones & Pleasure Zones by Adrienne Brady
Author Adrienne Brady was born in Burma but grew up in the UK. She has lived a life of travel, among her travels she has enjoyed various 'home' bases around the world including Brunei, Dubai, Libya and Singapore. Her travels for the core of this book - detail her various trips throughout Sri Lanka, northern Thailand, Brunei, Libya, the Emirates through to the west coast of Ireland. Her time in Sri Lanka is during a particularly violent time … [Read more...]
Off Beat Destinations for an Adventurous Holiday
The lists of the best travel destinations are always biased towards a few places like France, England and Switzerland, and in some cases India and Turkey. While these places are of course spectacularly awesome, there are some other places in the world that are less heard of but offer quite a captivating experience for adventure lovers. Sometimes we want our travel experience to be more unique and special. Sometimes we do not want the hassle of … [Read more...]
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka
Elephants are a significant animal in most Southeast Asian countries including India and Sri Lanka - the meaning of the word 'elephant' varies slightly but all comes down to some sort of Good Luck & Good Energy. Sri Lanka has held on to the love of elephants in Traditional & Religious Culture, dating back over 5000 years symbolizing Wisdom, Power & Wealth. It is estimated that Sri Lanka has the highest density of Elephants in Asia. … [Read more...]
The Global Scavenger Hunt Entry Deadline Nears
The 2015 Travel World Championship EventEntry Deadline Approaches SANTA MONICA, USA The deadline to enter the 2015 edition of the travel world championship, The Global Scavenger Hunt, is February 1st with only a few spots open for those wanting to compete for “The World’s Greatest Travelers” title and trophy--and chance to earn a free trip around the world with their triumph. Serious travelers are a competitive breed, … [Read more...]