Anthony Bourdain in Sri Lanka
#41
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Aah!That brings back memories.My 2004 golf trip to Srilanka.
Food took prime time than golf !! String hoppers (rice dough,fermented with 'toddy 'or palm liqour,pushed thru a vermicelli press)& Oppoms or rice pancakes served with mutton stew.Phew.Lived on it a whole week...& ofcourse the Circket Club Cafe.Old colonial bunglow..cold beer & steak.
Food took prime time than golf !! String hoppers (rice dough,fermented with 'toddy 'or palm liqour,pushed thru a vermicelli press)& Oppoms or rice pancakes served with mutton stew.Phew.Lived on it a whole week...& ofcourse the Circket Club Cafe.Old colonial bunglow..cold beer & steak.
#43
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Shanek thanks for offering to make the copy for Jenni.
I had to do a search to find out what 'Sea Patrol' is all about as I'd never heard of it.
I looked up utorrent, but I did not find what I think I'm loking for. Is it a program that allows you to download TV shows?
I had to do a search to find out what 'Sea Patrol' is all about as I'd never heard of it.
I looked up utorrent, but I did not find what I think I'm loking for. Is it a program that allows you to download TV shows?
#44
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Femi, have you noticed that there seems to have been a little bit of progress in the conflict? There have been all these people celebrating the streets. I can't think why.
I think it's time to put Sri Lanka back on the burner.
I think it's time to put Sri Lanka back on the burner.
#45
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Hi Femi,
I use VUSE. It is a torrent host that lets you search a number of sites, inc mini-nova, for movies, tv programs, games etc. I am yet to think of a recent movie that I havn't been able to find on it and most of the sites have a rating and comments section so you can gauge the quality, authenticy and safety of the torrent before you download it.
On it's own, it will only allow you to watch this back on your computer but a good quality decoding and burning program like Nero Vision will let you transfer the file to disc.
Here is the link...
http://www.vuze.com/app
I use VUSE. It is a torrent host that lets you search a number of sites, inc mini-nova, for movies, tv programs, games etc. I am yet to think of a recent movie that I havn't been able to find on it and most of the sites have a rating and comments section so you can gauge the quality, authenticy and safety of the torrent before you download it.
On it's own, it will only allow you to watch this back on your computer but a good quality decoding and burning program like Nero Vision will let you transfer the file to disc.
Here is the link...
http://www.vuze.com/app
#47
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I'm doing it!!!! Just sent in my deposit for Sri Lanka! From the posts above it is obvious that this trip has been a long time coming! I'm booked for February 2011 and will be flying in via Paris and Bangalore.
First night is very short, at the Wallawa (sp?), then on to Yala via Galle (long day I'm sure) where I'll spend 4 nights camping with Leopard Safaris. After that it's 4 nights at Tea Trails-incl Kithulgala forest, and another 4 at the Cinnamon Habarana where I get to visit Wilpathu, Minneriya, Sigiriya and the monkey troop (hopefully not too much temple time) at Polonnaruwa. The trip ends with a stop in Kalpitiya to hopefully see whales and dolphins.
As usual, I can't wait!
First night is very short, at the Wallawa (sp?), then on to Yala via Galle (long day I'm sure) where I'll spend 4 nights camping with Leopard Safaris. After that it's 4 nights at Tea Trails-incl Kithulgala forest, and another 4 at the Cinnamon Habarana where I get to visit Wilpathu, Minneriya, Sigiriya and the monkey troop (hopefully not too much temple time) at Polonnaruwa. The trip ends with a stop in Kalpitiya to hopefully see whales and dolphins.
As usual, I can't wait!
#50
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Further to the post above, may I suggest you spend the first night in Colombo - lots of good hotels to choose from - and it is directly en the route to Yala and will reduce the next days journey time by at least an hour. Suggest the "Cinnamon Grand" or the "Cinnamon Lakeside" for the Colombo accomodation.
If you just want to get to Yala quickly tell your driver to take the Ratnapura/Uda Walawe route - 5 hours.
The coastal route via Galle is scenic with tropical beaches etc, you pass many interesting towns, but it will take 8 gruelling hours to Yala. Just past Galle you can stop of at Mirissa for a whale watching trip with a very good likelyhood of seeing Blue Whales in Feb. Kalpitiya also has some whales occasionally, but mostly it will be just lots of dolphins.
If you just want to get to Yala quickly tell your driver to take the Ratnapura/Uda Walawe route - 5 hours.
The coastal route via Galle is scenic with tropical beaches etc, you pass many interesting towns, but it will take 8 gruelling hours to Yala. Just past Galle you can stop of at Mirissa for a whale watching trip with a very good likelyhood of seeing Blue Whales in Feb. Kalpitiya also has some whales occasionally, but mostly it will be just lots of dolphins.
#51
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Thanks for the tips Mohammed. I didn't want to miss Galle, but found little reason to spend the night, hence the stop on the way to Yala. Thanks for letting me know of the alternate route which I may consider if I'm just too jet lagged to go via the coastal route. I'm also stopping at Kandy enroute to Habarana for the same reason, hate to miss, but don't really want to stay.
From what I've been reading Kalpitiya is relatively new on the tourist circuit, but marine excursions sound promising so I'm willing to give it a shot. There are also apparently lots of birds in the area- so worth a night here.
Tha agent has warned me against booking too many activities, but I fear that if I try to book them at the last minute there is little chance I will be able to go eg Minneriya. Horton Plains is another trip that is only tentative at this point, but I'm ok with that bcause it seems like while it would be a nice area for a hike, there is little chance of encounters with wildlife.
Shanek- You've convinced me, Sigiriya is in.
There is far more to see than I anticipated, and this schedule is looking rather full, but I'm not complaining. One minor complaint is that the layover in Bangalore will consume a lot of my time, and there is very little to see in the way of wildlife within the given timeframe (1 day at the start and 1 at the end of my trip). Has anyone heard of People For Animals Bangalore? It's an animal/wildlife rescue center, and I am considering paying a visit.
From what I've been reading Kalpitiya is relatively new on the tourist circuit, but marine excursions sound promising so I'm willing to give it a shot. There are also apparently lots of birds in the area- so worth a night here.
Tha agent has warned me against booking too many activities, but I fear that if I try to book them at the last minute there is little chance I will be able to go eg Minneriya. Horton Plains is another trip that is only tentative at this point, but I'm ok with that bcause it seems like while it would be a nice area for a hike, there is little chance of encounters with wildlife.
Shanek- You've convinced me, Sigiriya is in.
There is far more to see than I anticipated, and this schedule is looking rather full, but I'm not complaining. One minor complaint is that the layover in Bangalore will consume a lot of my time, and there is very little to see in the way of wildlife within the given timeframe (1 day at the start and 1 at the end of my trip). Has anyone heard of People For Animals Bangalore? It's an animal/wildlife rescue center, and I am considering paying a visit.