Morning coffee made by Sam the Man.
A view from our balcony to the right ...
... and to the left.
Each room had a notice posted to keep balcony doors closed as monkeys will find their way in and wreck havoc. I made sure to keep ours closed.
But some people don't always heed the warnings. The lady in this room closed her door just in time as this little guy was trying to pry it all the way open. There were two monkeys just a couple of doors down -- as I was watching, one was sitting on the railing drinking a Sprite and the other one rushed through the doorway. I'm not sure what happened after that as I went off to enjoy breakfast.
I always try the foods of the region so every morning I had traditional curries for breakfast. The Sri Lankans have rice with breakfast, lunch and dinner. I love spicy foods and everything I tried certainly fit the bill nicely!
**********
Our first stop of the day was to walk across a suspension bridge which freaked Zack out.
This is our very nice tour guide with Yusef.
The views in either direction were just gorgeous.
Next stop was the National Botanical Gardens. What a beautiful place it was! Sam decided since it was my birthday, I should pose over and over again, in front of every sort of flora and fauna imaginable.
Aim a camera at me, and I immediately say CHEESE! There aren't many pictures of the kids on this trip. At the ages of 11 and 14, they don't enjoy posing for the camera.
Zack wanted to climb every tree which was, of course, not allowed. Some trees there were planted hundreds of years ago. Each one had a marker that stated who planted it -- kings and queens and presidents from long ago.
This one was more recent -- 1976.
I had never seen a cinnamon tree before. When you scratch the bark, it smells divine! Imagine they cut all this up to make lovely cinnamon sticks.
Yusef found a "fairy" ...
And Zack got his wish. Towards the end of the garden tour, we finally let him climb a tree -- but only if we could take his picture.
There's so much more from the garden to share, plus the afternoon of my birthday, but this post is already getting way too long, so I will bid you farewell for now. Peace & blessings, Tammy
What a wonderful birthday...and you look beautiful posing next to all of the loveliness of nature! That is crazy about the monkeys...I never knew they were so curious like that! Thanks for stopping by RMD earlier...I am almost done cleaning!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Grace
WOW...What a wonderful Birthday from your Hubby!! Sam IS the man!! I just love your travels as it gives me places & customs to see & hear about that otherwise I never would.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful opportunity for you to travel like this!!
Happy Birthday Sweetie!! ...and many, many more of good health & happiness for you all!!
Love,
Marilyn
xxoo
lovely tour and Happy Birthday! thanks for taking me along!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful adventure!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, I might be a little freaked out about crossing that bridge as well.
I've always wondered what cinnamon trees look. Curry for breakfast? Sounds interesting, although it might be a tad hard on the tummy, with all those spices, so early in the morning.
Great pics of you and your family!
Tammy this would be a dream Birthday for sure. You are gorgeous in every picture. The scenery is breathtaking isn't it?
ReplyDeleteA monkey drinking sprite, hummm, I would much prefer a coke drinking monkey.
I am with Zack on the suspension bridge.
hugs
LOVELY PICTURES FOR A WONDERFUL DAY SPENT WITH FAMILY ON YOUR BIRTHDAY. LOOKS LIKE ALL OF YOU HAD A GREAT TIME.
ReplyDeleteLOVE KAY
Tammy, what fabulous pictures of just gorgous scenery! This is just one of the many things that i so love about blogger, the chance to see places through the direct eyes of others, places that i would never see other wise! I had to chuckle over the stories of the monkeys. One can hardly imagine it. The worst we might have here are our chickens coming in the front door when we leave that open! :-) Sounds like you had a fabulous time. I can see why. I have heard much about Sri Lanka, and now thru your post have gotten to see some first hand photos of it. Lovely!! Thanks for your recent comment. I seem to always be lagging behind in the comment-department. I think that I have been to visit everyone, only to find that I am far behind in their posts! I just don't know where the days get to so fast. :-) Have a good start to your week, and enjoy the lovely memories of that recent trip. A change of wallpaper always does good. hugs, Debby
ReplyDeleteTammy, I have so enjoyed seeing Sri Lanka through your eyes. What a beautiful place! Thank you for visiting and your kind comments on our posts. No, I haven't shared the pattern for the baby blankets, but if you'd like, just email me and I'll be glad to help you. Have a wonderful day! Twyla
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are wonderful. Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteWow what a lovley place to be...you are beautiful, as is your family...I am so glad you got to celebrate in such a fun way...the monkeys are very funny to..that would be weird for me to see them jumping around in the wild....looking forward to more pics...enjoy your day.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely country!, even with the monkeys getting into hotels :-))
ReplyDeleteI have always been curious about Asian cooking, and their love for spices. Your breakfast looks yummy! I bet it tasted delicious.
Thank you for sharing all the beautiful pictures! It is amazing to learn and meet other countries through friends' eyes. Sam, by the way, did good having you pose for pictures!! You look very pretty.
Have a lovely day!!
looks like some exotic fun....what beautiful scenery! thanks for sharing your trip...it makes me feel like I've gotten away , if only for a moment! lol
ReplyDeleteciao bella...have some more fun!
How funny about the monkeys! I would have been nervous on that bridge myself.What a really beautiful place. Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteManuela
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Tammy, Happy Birthday to you! I'd sing it if I were on the phone to you or in person but this will have to suffice for now. LOVED your post today. That suspension bridge would have freaked me out, though. Sri Lanka looks like an enchanting place. Hope all of your special day is wonderful! Sincerely, Susan from writingstraightfromtheheart.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Tammy! Everything is so beautiful! It looks like you all had a wonderful time! Yay!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Tammy and I have enjoyed seeing your beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing birthday present and you look beautiful in the photos.
Looks like a gorgeous place and you must have had a great time ~ thanks for sharing.
Have a happy week
Hugs
Carolyn
Oh Tammy, that was certainly a beautiful morning with beautiful views to wake up to and have breakfast...with the only thing to worry about would be the monkeys! haha
ReplyDeleteThe gardens are gorgeous...so colorful. I love the "droops" of all the trees. They seem to blanket over everything, nothing like our trees here at home.
You had a wonderful Birth Day...{sigh}
Hi Tammy, wonderful pictures. Glad you had a happy birthday! Funny monkeys!
ReplyDeleteI can understand the need to see green. I grew up in Bavaria, surrounded by fields and forests. Here in PA it's either white or green...haha...a little brown in between the seasons. I would literally crave the green after a while....blessings!
Hi, Tammy,
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are back and had such a great time on your trip!! Sri Lanka looks like such a beautiful and exotic country. Just imagine monkeys trying to get into the rooms! Here we have to worry about raccoons but never monkeys! I am glad Zack got to climb that tree. Boys are attracted to trees like magnets. I hope you have a lovely week, and I look forward to hearing more about your trip! Vicki
I'm really enjoying your pictures and seeing all the wonderful sights from your vacation.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would have been able to cross that suspension bridge!
What a wonderful way to spend a birthday.
Jane
First, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Second, what a wonderful birthday present, vacation with family. third, Thanks for sharing your pics with us!!! love your pics, what a beautiful place!
ReplyDeleteYou have been truly blessed in your travels. What an awesome learning experience for the kids. I am thinking the monkeys would have been very entertaining as long as they stayed out of my room. Thank you for sharing your travels with us through your words and pictures. I truly enjoy it!!! Many Blessing, Deborah
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Tammy. It looks like it was wonderful. You look so pretty, too. Monkeys! Sounds so foreign to me in Wyoming. It's fun reading your blog so far away. Many more happy birthdays!!
ReplyDeleteOh, Tammy, what a lovely birthday! Thanks for inviting me over. I will look forward to seeing more! Sherry
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! Those pictures are gorgeous! Thank you for sharing your pics of all your travels. I like to live vicariously through you!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a wonderful birthday! Isn't it great to find time in front of the camera!
ReplyDeleteLove your pics! Have a great time!!
Tammy,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful Birthday!! The photos are incredible and it looks like something out of a fairy tale land. Simply gorgeous!! That suspension bridge would freak me out as well, as I don't do well with height outside of a contained building.
Hope you're having a great week back.
Linda
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SRI LANKA time! Does that count? Sam really spoiled you that day. Did he actually put the flower petals on your coffee saucer? Too funny about the monkeies. I can gurantee my kids would let them in. The scenery from your balcony is pure bliss and so peaceful. Is that fog or humidity in the air? Yeah, Zack looks freaked out in that picture. At least he got his tree climb...no bugs to scare him there? Can't blame him fro wanting to climb since he can't do too much of that here. Don't you wish you could have just uprooted that cinnamin tree and taken it home with you and plop it right outside your bedroom window.....but beware...maybe a monkey might jump out of it.
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Birthday!!! I enjoyed all of your pictures from your birthday morning. What beautiful sights! I would probably be one of those that would test the waters to see how close I could get a monkey to come...and then I would freak out when he came to the door! Also being a cinnamon freak I NEED one of those trees! And I know what you mean about teens not posing for pictures. The funny thing is my daughter takes hundreds of pictures of herself but won't pose for a single picture for me. Go figure! XOXO
ReplyDeleteWell belated happy birthday Tammy.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful trip you had. I loved the hotel - what beauty. I would have been in heaven at the botanical gardens. What a great trip and thanks for sharing it.
tammy
What an amazing trip of a lifetime ! Thank you for letting us travel vicariously through your photos! I can almost smell the cinnamon!
ReplyDeleteLori Ann
HAPPY BIRTHDAY. What a lovely day you had with gorgeous scenery, beautiful flowers and delicious food...all makes for a perfect day. And even a little monkey business!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing more.
Blessings for a new year of adventures ;-)
I wish I could have personaly wished you a Happy Birthday!! I bet you got lots of treasures too! I hope you show us what they are. love all the beautiful flowers too. I see you are dressed very casual for comfort and chicky , you don't look any older at all, in fact you look like you did last summer.
ReplyDeletehugs!!! Gwen
I love the little rose petals around the coffee cup...nice touch Sam...she's right, you ARE the man ~
ReplyDeletetootles,
bunny
What a scenic place to spend your birthday! Well, happy birthday! I can't imagine monkeys slipping into my door!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Hi: What a great birthday you had. Happy Birthday my friend, many blessings, Martha
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to YOU!! What a wonderful way to spend it. In a beautiful place with your wonderful family. WOW! That sounds pretty much perfect to me. Love the story about the monkeys. Of course, from here in good old Oklahoma, USA, that sounds wonderfully exotic and adventurous. And maybe it is! Anywho, sure enjoyed hearing about it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhat an ethereal, beautiful place Sri Lanka is. I can't imagine a better place for you to have gotten to spend your birthday. I bet you could have stayed there forever. Happy Belated birthday :)
ReplyDeleteMary @ Vintage Comfort
p.s. and yes, I am also a 70's kinda gal ;p
What a very wonderful way to spend your birthday. I am sure you will remember this for a long time to come. I can't even imagine waking up to see the views that you had from your balcony. Those are better than the ones I get when I wake up at my mom's house in Honeoye. HA! The suspension bridge looks like a truly amazing walk, and I am glad you all made it across, even if it did freak Zack out a bit. That boy... I can't believe there were cinnamon trees there. How really cool!!
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine the fun my boys would have had with monkeys running around getting into trouble. I am sure they would have found a way to bring one home if they had been there.
Your day looks just amazing. Wish I were there with you!!
Love,
Renee