India - Face to Face with the Taj Mahal
Foto: The maritime museum (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Sri_Lanka - Around three o'clock, I enter the fort of Galle, a defensive fort built by the Dutch. My hotel is located in the alleys within the fort. Ajbriy takes an extra loop to point out what there is to see. I estimate I can easily explore this on foot. The fort isn’t that large. My hotel, Hotel Blisse, is a small-scale hotel with only four rooms. I have a view of the fortress wall and the sea — a beautiful and cozy place. From my hotel’s street, I head up the fortress wall. From here, I have a view of the Galle lighthouse. Via Church Street, I reach an old Dutch church. The Dutch Church was built in its current form in 1755. Right next to it stands the All Saints Church, built by the British. Dusk falls over Galle. I want to get a beer somewhere. To my surprise, most restaurants don’t serve beer. However, everyone points me toward a few places where you can get one. The Livingstone Inn, for example. At the very back of this trendy store, there’s a small bar. I order a Lion beer. For dinner, I return to one of the restaurants on Pedlar Street. Although they don’t serve alcohol, the place still looks cozy.
Colossal Buddha statues in Polonnaruwa
Sri_Lanka - Today is Puja in Sri Lanka due to the full moon. Ajbriy already told me this often means rain. I wonder if the two are connected. As I leave my cottage, I notice he was right. Large raindrops are falling from the sky. Judging by the clouds, it doesn’t ...
Safari in Yala National Park
Sri_Lanka - At half past four, the phone rings. It’s time to get up for the game drive in Yala National Park. When I peek outside through the curtains, it’s still dark. I hear a light rain on the roof. Did I make the right decision to postpone the safari to this ...
The Jami UlAflar Mosque in Colombo
Sri_Lanka - Afterward, I head to the fort — the diplomatic district where many government buildings are located. I get out here and walk into the adjacent Patteh district, the commercial area. Immediately, I see countless little shops. I arrive at the Jami Ul-Alfar ...
The Lion Rock of Sigiriya
Sri_Lanka - The day begins with a gentle bit of sunshine, which is perfect because today I'm visiting the ancient palace of Sigiriya. The remains of this palace are located at the top of Lion Rock, a steep 200-meter-high rocky outcrop. At the entrance, the guide ...
The rock temples of Dambulla
Sri_Lanka - It rained well into the night, but when I step out of my cottage, it’s dry. Today I’m traveling from Sirigiya to the highlands of Kandy. After an hour’s drive, I arrive in Dambulla. In Dambulla lie five Buddhist cave temples. Right at the entrance, ...
The Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy
Sri_Lanka - Around half past four, I arrive at the Red Cross building. A traditional dance performance is being held here. The show, with traditional costumes, is actually performed solely for tourists. At the end of the colorful performance, a fire dancer appears. ...