Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with lovely, friendly, welcoming people. Although our flight was delayed by 4 hours and we didn't get much sleep, it was all worth it. Arriving in Sri Lanka, our tour driver was there to greet us and our fabulous journey began.
All along the route, there were wonderful fruit stands. The kids enjoyed drinking fresh coconut milk, eating delicious pineapple cut for us on the spot, and spying the many varieties of bananas that are available.
Have you ever seen red bananas before?
Our first main stop was at a famous herbal garden where we were given a guided tour describing the plants and their uses for natural healing.
I had never seen a cocoa tree before ...
... or the jackfruit tree.
Jackfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world and can weigh up to 80 lbs. Can you imagine? I had never seen anything like it before and literally just stood in awe at the sight.
The kids were mostly interested in this little creature who blends in with his surroundings.
We were given a demonstration of some of the products available -- even a natural hair remover which was tried on Sam's arm and worked within minutes. We bought a few things to try at home and then it was back to the van for the long drive to our hotel. Definitely worth the 2-1/2 hour drive from the airport, which actually was even longer with all the stops, because then we arrived to this...
We stayed at the Mahaweli Reach and it was just gorgeous! The kids enjoyed the pool while we rested up a bit before heading out into the night for a rickshaw ride and a walk around the center of Kandy.
I tried to catch up with friends who were also in the area, but they weren't at their hotel. Fortunately, we had a chance meeting the next day which was day two of our trip and also my birthday, so stay tuned for that.
Lastly for today, I would like to say a big, big thank you for all the wonderful birthday messages I received while away. It was such a nice surprise today when I was able to get on the computer and see all the comments on my last post. I appreciate all your kind wishes and thoughtfulness. For now, I must get back to washing the pile of laundry we brought back with us and prepare everything for school tomorrow. Back to the real world. Best wishes to one and all for much peace and joy. Sending many blessings your way. Tammy
23 comments:
Tammy! Happy Birthday to you! Welcome back to dust and laundry! What a fascinating post. I had no idea that cocoa grew on the trunk of the tree - amazing! What a beautiful country. I could not get over the flowers. I am a nut for flowers. Little crawly guys, not so much! What an experience for your son's to see how kind people are all over the world. It truly will make them become very kind adults. Thanks so much for stopping by. Welcome back to your blogging home as well! Elizabeth
OH WOW! What a wonderful trip...Birthday gift?
So exotic. The pics are wonderful and that hotel looks like it came out of a movie. What an education for the boys. Happy belated Birthday to you and looking forward to our..er...I mean YOUR next trip...lol
tootles,
bunny
ps. kinda interested in that magic hair removal...lol
Hi Tammy I'm making my first visit by way of Creative Breathing checking out your trip photos here. That jackfruit tree, actually I don't think I ever heard of those, amazing tree and size of fruit. What a fun trip you had and I hope you sampled a lot of fruit I know I would as I live in Alaska.
Tammy, Looks like you had a fabulous birthday trip. It's so lush and beautiful there, after your dust storms, you must have absorbed all you could! Such lovely pictures. I could almost taste the fresh fruit. Welcome home! Sherry
What a wonderful Birthday you have had here...looks so beautiful there..I would have never known that....you lucky lady...I love to travel...see ya again soon so glad travels were all safe.
What an exotic destination!, and perfect location to celebrate a birthday! Congratulations Tammy!! I'm sure you had a wonderful time.
The hotel looks fabulous, with tons of nature around. The fruit stands actually looks exactly what you would find in many roads here in Guatemala!! :-o With a variety of tropical fruit from pineapple, to mangoes and papayas, even the red bananas!! which I have seen before. How curious, huh?
Thanks for sharing!!
have a wonderful day!
Thank you for taking us on your trip!!! The photos are fabulous. Love the hotel architecture!!!
Lucy
P.S. Happy Birthday!!!!!
I was glad to have shared your "Birthday Month" with you and to end the month with this trip had to be the best. It sounds and looks just beautiful. So as they say ... "Happy Birthday to you ... any many more" ... ((Judi))
That looks like an amazing trip. What a wonderful experience! If I am late with the birthday wishes...a very happy belated birthday!!
Jane
Looks and sounds like having a marvelous time! Good for you!! Welcome back....
Welcome Home Tammy!!!
Wow girl, the photos are fabulous. Sri Lanka is a gorgeous place and something tells me that you have many more photos to show us!!! I can't wait!!! Oh that fruit is just yummy. Mouth watering!
I hope your first day back to school was a good one and that ya'll are all rested after a wonderful vacation~
Happy Birthday blessings and I can see that you've been blessed with a gorgeous trip!! I love, LOVE reading this and seeing the fantastic photos, especially from the perspective of someone who has never been out of the U.S. and Canada. Very fascinating travels. So glad you had a wonderful trip.
Blessings always,
Linda
I love traveling with you .. Somany places I get to see through your eeyes
lol Aunt Elaine
What an incredible trip! And what the heck is a jackfruit? I never heard of that. Your hotel is beautiful with the white buildings. That had to be one of the best birthday presents yet! Wasn't February a great month?! So glad you are back safely and we can hear and see all about your trip.
Sharon :-)
Tammy ~ what a wonderful trip you had - very, very special. Happy, Beautiful Birthday to you!!!
Cynthia K. (Beauty and Blessings)
Welcome home, Tammy! It looks like you have such a marvellous adventure! What a fabulous hotel--I want to live there!
Hope your birthday was wonderful--enjoy getting back to "normal"!
What a great posting. Love the fruit stand. Love all the herb garden pictures. Love the wonderful place you stayed. Love that I know more about Sri Lanka than I did five minutes ago.
Glad you had a such a nice get-a-way for you b-day.
Kate - TGB
Happy Birthday........what a trip and all that glorious fruit!!! Thanks for always stopping by and commenting on my blog...I really appreciate that. Have a great day.
Wow Tammy what a gorgeous place that you stayed at! And to be able to travel like you do has to be amazingly fun! I also have never been outside the US and Canada. I live my adventures through you! Lol
Blessings~
Hi Tammy, welcome back. what a trip, i could feel your excitement just by looking at the photos. A great way to spend your birthday.
love
Maria
Glad to see you finally got the energy to start posting about the trip. I had already heard about it throught the phone and know I get to actually see from my own eyes. You can never go wrong with greenery and fruit stands. I remember stopping by a fruit stand in Turkey eating the juiciest peaches next to some open meadows and washing them in fresh water. That was one of my favorite moments. So did you eat any jackfruit? 80lbs worth??? Leave it up to the kids to let a lizard get their interest. They actually look like they were having a good time. So were the red bananas red inside too...stupid question???
Your hotel looked more like a bed and breakfast. I'm curious to see what the rooms look like. Well, off to your birthday page, the one you spent on your birthday, the day I forgot to send anything. I don't think I'll live that down for a while...Hhahaha!
Hi chicky!
Looks like a wonderful place. I am glad you had a good vacation and a good birthday. So many bananas! Did Zack like the red ones?
Love, Gwen
I am thinking everyone that has seen your post is now planning a trip to Sri Lanka. I cannot believe how beautiful it is there. So much greenery and color. I can't get over how much there was to see. The fruit is too much. I can only imagine how good it tasted, as it must have been as fresh as fresh gets. YUMMY!!
I can't even imagine staying in a hotel as beautiful as the one where you were. I am sure your pictures and memories of your trip will make you smile for a very long time. GOOD FOR YOU!! I am so glad you had such a nice trip!!!
Love always,
Renee
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