GlobeTrotterellando: sun

Sunbathing in a postcard - Rekawa - Sri Lanka

16:41

Ingredients:

- A motorbike;

- A road in the middle of the the rice fields;

- Some wild buffalos;

- A desert beach.

Recipe:

- At the 203 km marker of the Hambantota road, take the little street on the right (if coming from Tangalla) and follow the sign "Turtle Watch";

- The road runs first in a tiny village and then next to rice fields where you'll see buffalos soaking in the water or crossing your path;

- After a few turns you'll reach the "Turtle Watch" centre with a small museum and that organises evening tours @8 pm to see baby turtles running to the see;

- Leave your motorbike at the center and walk the few meters that divides you from a spectacular place: the Rekawa beach is a gift of the nature...kilometres of unspoiled dunes of sand, palm trees and high and strong waves... a postcard beach you'll never forget!

Riding around temples - Sri Lanka

16:40

Ingredients:
- A motorbike;
- A chaotic city as base camp with a giant Buddha statue overlooking it: Kandy;
- 3 ancient Buddhist & Hindu temples;
- A two years old temple;
- A Buddha statue in a cave.

Recipe:
- Rent a motorbike in Kandy,the easiest way is to ask your guesthouse for help (few tourists seem to rent it in this city so not even the tourist info will be helpful);
- Leave behind the traffic and the pollution of the city and drive up the hill that takes you to the high "Bahiravokanda Vihara Buddha statue". The entrance fee is 300 rupies and you can climb to the top of the statue for a nice view of the surrounding area;
- Back on your bike, drive west of Kandy and on the road ask for information on how to reach three old temples where both Buddhism and Hinduism are represented (the entrance is 300 rupies each):
1) EMBEKKA: with nice wooden columns;
2) LANKATILAKE: built on a rock, the Buddha statue is located in a room with nice red decorations;
3) GADALADENIYA: this temple and the pagoda with 4 Buddha statues on each side, lie on a rock with little ponds;
- On the road back to Kandy, after crossing the railway line, take the street on your left that lead to RANAWANA temple. This temple is a few years old but the colored Buddha statue is really high and can be noticed from a distance ;
- The last stop of this day trip discovering temples, is DEGAL DORUWA RAJA MAHA VIHARA temple located east of Kandy after the bridge on the river Mahaveli. Not easy to find but definitely worth the effort, you'll discover a painted cave with a reclined Buddha statue...
What a cultural day!!

BAHIRAVOKANDA VIHARA BUDDAH STATUE

LANKATILAKE

GADALADENIYA

DEGAL DORUWA RAJA MAHA VIHARA

RANAWANA

A crazy bus ride to the elephant temple - Sri Lanka

14:56

Ingredients:

- A tropical beach:Talalla;

- A buddist temple with two huge guardians;

- A crazy bus driver.

Recipe:

- Lay down, relax and chill out on the beautiful beach of the cove called Talalla... hidden behind high palm trees this is the perfect place to take a bath in the calm water;

- When sea, sun and relax bored you, walk back on the main road and take a bus to Dondra (5 minutes journey);

- You'll immediately notice the huge temple with the yellow gate and the Buddha high statue... but what will surprise you most are the two elephants in the park... they are the guardians of the temple and in the hot days they deserve a bath!

- It's time to go back to Thangalla so jump on a bus that stops (it doesn't really stop...let's say it slows down a bit) in front of the temple and be ready for a crazy journey...buses overtake everyone and everything in Sri Lanka and the only rule seems to be: if I play the horn and I'm bigger than you, give me the way!

The stick fishermen - Sri Lanka

17:32

Ingredients:
- A motorbike and quick reflexes;
- An amazing road on the coast;
- A unique way of fishing;
- A quick-to-eat rotti.

Recipe:
- Rent a motorbike in Unawatuna (you'll have plenty of choices at cheap prices:4 euro/day) remember to wear the helmet and to open your eyes... driving in Sri Lanka can be a GP race!
- Take the road going south to Mirissa and surrounded by the sound of the car horns, stop at the first stage:Thalpe beach... a tropical unspoiled paradise!
- After a regenerating bath, back on your bike, drive slowly on the road that gets closer and closer to the sea... you'll start to notice some wooden posts in the sea and if you're lucky you'll get the chance to admire the famous Sri Lankan fishermen balancing on those canes (the will be really quick to approach you to ask for money as soon they will see a camera);
- It's probably lunch time, so stop at one of the small restaurant on the beach and under a sun umbrella enjoy a tasty rotti with vegetables or chicken or fish and a coconut juice... no better meal in a sunny day in Sri Lanka!

Life in a fort - Galle - Sri Lanka

17:53

Ingredients:
- A fort built by Dutch and Portuguese but in Sri Lanka: Galle;
- The blue warm sea;
- A surreal calm and silence;
- The smell of spices in the air.

Recipe:
- Leave the noise of the crazy buses and tuk tuks outside and cross the gate that takes you to Galle Fort. This fort is surrounded on three sides by the ocean and therefore calm and refreshed by the wind;
- Walk the circular path on the fort walls and you'll discover plenty of treasures:
1) Watch people jumping in the sea from high rocks;
2) Observe the horizon from the white and shining lighthouse;
3) Have a dip in the sea or relax in one of the little sandy coves;
4) Watch a Japanese bride taking pictures near a tuk tuk (that was weird also for local people!);
5) Admire an old reformed church, a buddhist temple or have a look inside the museums.
After all those activities, you'll really deserve a tasty rice and curry!!

A train to the beach - Sri Lanka

14:59

Ingredients:
- A slow train running late;
- People, food sellers, music players;
- A long sandy beach;
- Palms trees and juicy coconuts.

Recipe:
- At the Colombo Fort train station, look for the train going south... an express train is definitely the best option!
- After buying a second or third class ticket, wait for your train to come... it will probably be a long wait, so take a seat and enjoy the view of the different colourful people walking on the platform... this could be the right moment to get supplies for the journey (a couple of spicy samosa will do);
- When you hear the whistle of the train get ready to jump on it... no matter if it's crowded, many people playing music or selling food and lottery tickets will manage to push their way through the crowd... no better on board service!
- The train runs few metres from the sea and the view of the palm trees, the beaches and the little sheds is stunning (if you are as like as we were you'll get the chance to see Japanese people taking weird funny pictures while on the train);
- Get off at the station called Aluthgama where you'll find many tuk tuk drivers waiting for you... you can decide to walk or if you're tired get a short tuk tuk ride to the Bentota beach...
An incredible long sandy beach strand, mainly empty, will make you relax and forget the chaotic city life and the journey to get there...

This way to PARADISE - Elafonisos - Greece

13:08

Ingredients:
- Crystal clear light blue hot seawater;

- A small island with white sandy beaches;

- Sun umbrellas made with palm leaves.

Recipe:

- The above ingredients made you think this is a recipe about a remote island lost somewhere in the ocean and hard to reach? Not the case… The main ingredient of this recipe is the unexpected beautiful ELAFONISOS!

- Take the ferry that leaves from Pounta (near Neapolis Laconia) and in 10 minutes you’ll reach this dream island. A small fisherman village with blue and white houses, shops and restaurants will welcome you;

- Follow the street that goes south, direction Simos Beach. The desolated landscapes with cactus and aloe trees, will guide you to the sign “This way to Paradise”. After a short walk, you’ll reach a postcard beach: white thin warm sand, crystal blue water, green and wild trees… the only sound you’ll hear is the water caressing the sand!

- This tiny little gem should belong to Maldives or the Caribbean, but luckily for everyone, it is in the mythological Greece and everyone has the chance to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of this white and blue paradise!