Sri Lanka Day 5: Beruwala and Colombo

Beruwala

I got tongue-tied when we reached Beruwala the night before. The town was in total darkness, we passed by a market or probably a town proper, and only few shops have lights on.. being born and raised in the Philippines, I know power outage is normal in some remote areas during bad weather. Anyway, we reached the hotel and straight to our room. I could hear the strong waves are lashing onto the shore, it was kinda disturbing because our balcony is one pool away from the shore - even the bell boy said "rough sea tonight". So while having my tea for the night I was chatting to my Sinhalese friend in Dubai who said she heard that there's a cyclone and landslides in her country and wished me safe. I thanked her and told her I am safe besides the cyclone is in down south (!). At first it didn't occur to me to check the news / current weather in SL. Then later on I Google where I really was that time. My friend told me to go to a different place since it's continuously raining. I couldn't sleep and sent our chauffeur-guide a text asking where he is and was relieved to know that he's somewhere nearby and didn't go to his bro's place which he mentioned earlier is 2 hrs away from where we are. The next morning, I saw the giant waves hitting the shore, looking as if it gonna swallow our hotel and everyone alive - pretty scary. My friend and I decided to cancel our scheduled itinerary that day in Bentota/Beruwala and go straight to Colombo after breakfast. 

Lotus Tower - the tallest building in South Asia

Colombo

Since we cannot stop the rain from falling, we drove around Colombo and snapped few photos of the city. Enjoyed our yummy lunch in Seafish Resto and had Tiger beer (Lion is not available) then to airport afterwards and waited for our flight back to Dubai. I think the rain didn't stop till we leave Colombo.

when the Lion becomes Tiger

◄ Sri Lanka Day 4

Sri Lanka Day 4: Ramboda Falls and Sri Lanka's Little England

Woke up to this view

Ramboda

The hotel in Ramboda (hello, Teabush hotel!) looked nice but the leak in the hallway ceiling and water pouring onto the floor has already sent me a red flag. Had impressive looking room but kinda dirty even the dim lighting couldn't hide it. I was excited to have my tea the night we arrived but instinct told me to inspect the electric kettle and found 4-5 round white-God-knows-what-thing forming in the filter. I immediately dialed the Reception but the phone has no dial tone, had to check and connect the phone cables to make it work. I requested a new kettle but half an hour had past, no one has come to give me a new ketttle... so I had to call them again… poor customer service!

The next morning the room has given us a spectacular view of the mountains and Ramboda Falls - it has very little water flowing over it though.

Nuwara Eliya

The next day, still raining, after breakfast we left to Nuwara Eliya. We visited a tea factory and drove around "Little England", we were still having the "devil is beating his wife" weather.. We stopped by to change currency in a bank and saw the landslide news on TV due to the bad weather. I pointed the TV to our guide/chauffeur and asked him in which part of LK it is, he said it's far, down south. Had lunch at Pizza Hut where we enjoyed the yummiest pizza in the universe that time - the double chicken & cheese fiesta. Then we left to Beruwala which is 5-6 hours away from Nuwara Eliya.

◄ Sri Lanka Day 3          |          Sri Lanka Day 5 ►

Sri Lanka Day 3 - Kandy, the Great City

Stayed overnight in Kandy and woke up overlooking this hilly city's magnificent centrepiece lake which somehow made up for the not so pleasant event of last night.

The hotel that we supposed to stay was fully booked and had us moved to another hotel (their new branch). The hotel is obviously new, nice and all but unfortunately the rooms are not sound proof. It was raining heavily all night but I still could hear all the noises from the next room - shouting and laughing MEN (!), I could tell they were drinking. Since our room is located behind the lobby, I went to the reception TWICE but the sliding door to the lobby was locked and no one was there! I tried several times to reach them by phone without success. So I had no choice but to message our travel agent in the middle of the night. Few minutes after informing him about my suffering, heard someone knocked on the next door then the noise died down and silence fell. I think those men are hotel staff. 

Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya

Left the hotel after breakfast to explore the garden. Snapped few shots and I knew if it wasn't raining this park would look more colorful and beautiful. Next photo is one of the 5 Palm Avenues beautifying the Botanical Garden.

Royal Palm Avenue: the earliest and tallest Palm Avenue in the Botanical Garden

Spice Garden & Honeypot Resto

A great amount of spices to learn about and its uses in the Spice Garden plus a wide range of pricey herbal remedies that promise a lot are available in their shops. No pressure to buy but still we left the place with our purchases and with great hope/expectation, LOL. 

Then we had a traditional Sri Lankan "rice and curry" for lunch at the Honeypot Restaurant.

Honeypot's rice & curry

The Honeypot's balcony offers fantastic river views, how I wish we had a Lion beer after lunch, LOL

Chauffeur-Guide's House

After lunch, our chauffeur-guide Sam invited us for an afternoon tea in their family house and met his wife and daughters. It was a beautiful traditional house with spacious lawn, wish I took photo - blame it on the rain, and his family are warmth and hospitable. It is indeed a privilege to experience another person's culture.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and Kandy Cultural Dance

Temple of the Tooth Relic

We visited the temple where Sri Lanka's most prized possession - Buddha's tooth is being kept. Also, that evening, we watched a cultural dance performance before we leave to Ramboda.

That's me, inside the Tooth Relic Temple

◄ Sri Lanka Day 2          |          Sri Lanka Day 4 ►

Sri Lanka Day 1: The Elephants in Pinnawala

Sri Lanka welcomed me/us with a bit gloomy weather, rainshowers and wet roads. But it is okay, having grown up in a tropical country, I am so used to this kind of weather. 

First stop:  Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage 

About 3-4 hours away from the airport, this orphanage houses abandoned and wounded animals since 1975. There was an elephant bathing in the river when we arrived and we got the chance to bathe it and touched the trunk of one of the elephants there for photo op. Also, we did an elephant ride - something I am not proud of (shame! shame! shame!). Wish people wont get tempted riding an elephant no matter what others say like it's okay they wont be hurt (believe me, IT IS NOT!), or just because it is in someone's bucket list and dream to ride one (you can always say NO, politely!). Elephants have feelings too and the best things we could do are bathe them and/or feed them.

Got the opportunity to bathe this elephant

Either I'm too thin or this elephant has huge trunk

Elephants marching after bathing from the nearby river

 

Elephants frolicking and bathing in the nearby river

For some reasons, past noon I started to feel unwell. I did not know if it was exhaustion, lack of sleep, hunger or the tropical weather because my stomach started to ache whenever I moved but had to endure as I did not want to spoil our trip... 

Please do check my IG for more photos.

◄ Hello Sri Lanka          |          Sri Lanka Day 2 ►

Ayubowan, Ceylon (Hello, Sri Lanka)!

There had been much challenges towards my trip to Sri Lanka.

My friend and I underwent several planning stages which took a year before it finally materialized. 

It was August last year when we planned to spend Eid holidays in Sri Lanka but I had became half-hearted to go after learning that my dad suffered a mild stroke (he is better now) back home so we had to cancel our plan.

Fast forward Eid this year, we came to a decision to go during Eid holidays so we booked our flight, hotels and tours. But three days before our flight, my friend's dad suddenly passed away so of course we canceled everything as she had to go to Philippines to be with her family.

October came, she was hesitant to pursue the Sri Lanka travel as she felt something bad will happen again. I convinced her that it was purely coincidental and bad things can happen anytime. 

We then finally decided to go in November, two days after her birthday and so the Sri Lanka saga continues...

Sri Lanka Day 1 ►

Day 3: Bangkok to Damnoen Saduak

We left Bangkok past 7am .Headed to western Thailand - the Damnoen Saduak in Ratchaburi province. It was about two hours away from Bangkok. The weather was extremely hot and the AC wasn't working, imagine 15 people in a van sweating. 

We reached a pier where they served us coffee and a tiny slice of watermelon, I guess this is the part of the tour package where they mentioned fresh fruit will be served. We had our bathroom break instead while we were waiting for our motorboat. The motorboat took us into the floating market. So we got to get a glimpse and breathe the Thais life along the river. Since we chose to sit in front of the boat, water was splashing from the sides every time the boat picked up some speed. It was a fun ride. 

We arrived at the  legendary floating market, where it seems there were more tourists on a boat than vendors on a boat selling local fruits, foods and products. Everything was pricey so we just bought mangoosten. I believe TR and me were the only ones who bought something while on the boat. 

Our boat took us around before they let us explore the floating market on foot for 45 minutes. We didnt manage to get any because they weren't that cheap. We only had our lunch at a mini restaurant there where we were told the young coconut water costs 50 bahts (it was 40 bahts) but charged us 60 bahts after having it. Nice business!

We left this Little Venice of Asia to visit elephants camp called Chang Puak. Bought ticket to a 30-minute elephant ride around the man-made jungle and canal.

TR and me

Our mahout asked us to pay him 100 bahts if we want him to take our photo (that explains a lot why he hid his face with a hat on photos) so we said no and asked the facilitator instead. 

While riding off, he (the same mahout) asked us to give tip for the elephant (we gave 20 bahts, BTW). The ride left me feeling guilty.. Wish I had fed the elephant instead.

We returned to Bangkok and roamed around the street next to Khao San road before going back to hotel. I managed to buy at least one Thai harem pants. Since we had already checked out in the morning as the hotel did not let us have a late checkout, we only freshened up at the hotel lobby's toilet before leaving to airport. I seriously never felt so unclean and smelly in my life till that day.. LOL

◄  Last Night in Bangkok

Bangkok After Sunset - 2nd Night

On our 2nd night, I had my first ever (!) body massage session, authentic Thai massage at that (no, it's not the one with happy ending, LOL). So soooo relaxing.. I want more.

Tea and mango were served after the massage.

Evening - it was raining but that didn't stop us from walking to Khao San Road, known as the centre of backpackers, dancing, partying, barbecued insects/exotic snacks, market stalls, restaurants, bars, tattoo salons, massage parlours, budget hotels/guest houses and anything goes. It was 5-minute walk away from the hotel.

Khao San Road

We walked, bargained, stared and listened to every different band playing almost right next to each other (it's chaos!) before we decided to eat dinner. We chose the resto across the live music bar to enjoy free music. When we were about to pay, I checked our bill which I normally just pay whatever the total, I noticed that the total has a 100 baht excess. We called the attention of the waitress and the bill was corrected immediately.

At the resto where you should check your bill before paying!

Then we spent the whole night hanging out by the same bar across as they started playing reggae music. Most of the people passing by stopped to dance/listen and some stayed and drink beers. While TR had 3 bottles of beer, I only had a glass of mojito, LOL. We went back to hotel past 1am.

The bar at Khao San Road where we spent the rest of our final night

◄ Bangkok Day 2          |          Last Day in Thailand ►

A Little Time in Bangkok - Day 2: Old and Modern

After breakfast, booked the next day tour then took a tuk-tuk to Grand Palace (believe me, tuk-tuk is not advisable in a sweaty weather).

Another note to readers: Once you are a step away from Grand Palace, just go with the flow till you reach the ticket booth. Don't listen to what the street vendors and people around Grand Palace say, they are nothing but TOUTS who will scare and convince you to buy that expensive piece of cloth to cover your legs and/or shoulders. Ignore them. Trousers/jeans and clothes below the knees are allowed inside.

Let this be a lesson to you guys: Dress properly and appropriately upon entering the Grand Palace premises.

TR was approached by security (or police?) because, every time I click her photos, she kept removing her jacket (Never ever do this inside the Grand Palace or any temple in Bangkok as dress code is strictly enforced). She was wearing a sleeveless and above-the-knee dress. She was given a warning, was asked to show her phone and delete the photo.

Once you reach the ticket booth, pay an admission fee of THB 500 per head. You'll find a FREE map guide of the Palace, in different language, inside. There are 3 ways to move around the Palace, slow, normal, and fast (just follow the arrows, it is color coded). The slow tour/way is probably the stop-and-smell-the-roses-type, a thorough tour of the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha temple which will take at least 3 hours or more. The fast way is probably the whirlwind-romance-type, you'll move around the complex in a great speed without going into too much details.

Because of the scorching heat (I was melting) and large crowds, we went from normal to fast way. . 

The day I visited the Grand Palace was the same day the Chinese decided to invade it. 

After 2 hours or less, we took a taxi to go to "modern" part and went to Platinum mall, as suggested by the tour agent. Spent another two hours staring at clothes, that everyone can probably afford, then bought a few. I can say Bangkok is the place to be when it comes to clothes-shopping. Clothes are really extremely inexpensive and trendy! My kind of retail therapy! Was too overwhelmed and I later realized that I forgot to take pictures while we were there..

◄ First Night in Bangkok          |          Last Night in Bangkok ►

Bangkok After Sunset - 1st Night

Had dinner at some noodle house, 2-minute walk away from the hotel, at about 6pm. I dunno the name as it was written in Thai script but it was located opposite the Regional Office for Asia & the Pacific Food & Agricultural Organization of the United Nations along Phra Athit Road. Bus stop in front of the resto. Anyway the food is inexpensive and tasty spicy and served in a large portion. Wasn't able to finish it.

After noodle-ing, we checked nearby money changers (first one has same rate with the bank = 8.04 and the other one has slight difference = 8.03) and tour packages offered by two different travel agencies before going back to hotel. We rested for a while in the room, planned what to do next day. 

Our original itineraries (Day 1 - Old Bangkok, Day 2 - Pattaya, Day 3- Modern Bangkok) have been changed to Days 1 & 2 finish the whole damn old & modern bangkok and/or decide later. Still upset about being scammed and lost my excitement to explore. I was feeling so down... If I was doing the whole finding-myself-again thing, it was not helping. LOL

We decided to check the rooftop pool. Swam and did a lot of floating on my back, made me relax. Jacuzzi isn't feeling like one. Anyway, TR wanted to go out after swimming for body massage and some nightouts, and I was like okay, whatever. We went back to our room past 8pm. Had shower and started feeling dizzy right after it. Guess it was fatigue and lack of sleep. Was really feeling a bit under the weather like I was going to collapse, so I stayed in the room to rest and recharge for the next day of scam exploration. 

Overlooking the Rama VIII Bridge (a cable-stayed bridge) crossing the Chao Phraya River

Overlooking the Chao Phraya River (the river of kings) - the lifeblood of Bangkok

TR went down and had night out alone. I was still awake when she returned with beer, mojito, instant cup noodles and few stories to tell me. She was already asleep when I started dozing off.

◄ Bangkok Day 1          |          Bangkok Day 2 ►

A Little Time in Bangkok - Day 1: SCAMMED

Arrived Bangkok mid morning.. seeing Thailand from above it looks like the Philippines. The hot humid sweaty weather, the roads and the traffic makes me feel like I'm in Manila. The people (Thais) - we look alike. TBH, everything look the same... well, except they are having Buddha statues every corner and Temples everywhere. 

Anyway, due to bumper to bumper traffic, reached the hotel (2015 world luxury hotel winner) located in old Bangkok, in the Phra Athit road/Chao Phraya riverside almost 1 pm. Changed clothes immediately, had lunch and started the exploration.

Phra Athit pier (N13) is right next to the hotel and the terminal is in front of the hotel's restaurant. Paid 150 baht for Chao Phraya express boat service to reach Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha Temple  and Reclining Buddha Temple which are 2 piers away from where we came from.

After getting off the boat at Tha Chang pier (N9), the just off the boat thing happened... a SUPER NICE uncle-looking Thai man (let's call him UTM) approached us, introduced himself as a teacher with a wife nurse etc etc and led our way. I wasn't paying attention 'cause I was sweating like a sheep the night before Eid (LOL). UTM said she thought we're Thais, which the roomie (TR) took it as a compliment... Anyway, UTM goes on and on and TR listened to his story intently so I secretly kicked her foot as I have read about this scam and told her in Tagalog to cut the crap. I think UTM sensed it because he told us not to worry he won't ask for money he just want to help as he's a teacher in this so and so University blah blah. (Note to self and readers: if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it is a duck!). He said the Grand Palace is closed at the moment ('twas 2pm) for some royal event and will reopen 3pm to 5pm (sounds familiar, really), so better go to this and that place (while writing it on the paper and on our Bangkok map about some exhibition centre where "they only sell genuine ruby stones half the price to locals but since today's the last day, they open it to tourists just when buying tell them it's not for reselling but personal use like gift to your mother, you'll get a good bargain" and that we can go to those places for 200 baht by taking a Tuk-tuk but choose the blue one because it's government-owned. I was against UTM's suggestions but he talked TR (well, us) into it.

And some blue Tuk-tuks were miraculously parked nearby as if they are waiting for us. So old Bangkok, here we come in a Tuk-tuk. 

First stop, the Tuk-tuk driver (another SUPER NICE young Thai man, YTM) dropped us at the back/exit gate of some under-construction temple which later I found out it was Wat Suthat. He told us to come in 20 minutes because he'll get fined if he parks there for long.

Wat Suthat

While taking photos inside the compound a not-so-normal-looking guy scared the hell out of me as he was staring at my sling bag, tried several times to come near me and followed me wherever I go. So we hurried up and left the temple without getting inside.

When we came, YTM immediately  excused himself as he needs to pee or something I forgot.

While waiting, TR and me were taking turns taking a pic while sitting in the Tuk-tuk. Some Thai man in the waiting shed offered to take our photos. I was hesitant to give my phone (really have trust issues with strangers) and told TR that if that man runaway with my phone, she will need to buy me a new one. After some shots, he told stranger-friendly TR that he is a Project manager in that temple and some blah blah story of his life (not much of a conversationalist here esp with strangers). He inquired where we came/are going, how much we pay YTM, etc. He even advise us to pay him at the end of the "tour" (Thai men are SUPER NICE). Later I deduced that this man is in connivance with UTM and YTM.

TR and me in a tuk-tuk

YTM finally returned and apologized for taking so long (I guess it was intentional as he wanted to prolong our stay there since we came back early).

Next stop: Exhibition Centre. On our way to that "Exhibition Centre" I noticed we are just going round and round (same road over and over) but didn't say a thing (I know, I know). The Exhibition Centre is just a small jewellery shop, I was expecting a world trade centre kind of a thing. Anyway, I'm not into jewelries so they failed to sales talk me but TR is... So you know what happened next. (I now wonder if her ruby stone earrings are real...).

We told YTM to take us to money changer or bank as TR runs out of baht (she paid around 5 to 6 thousand baht for that pair of earrings).

At the bank, it took us some amount of time for our turn, too many customers that time, the security gave us glass of water to drink. TR half jokingly side commented that I should be thankful because she was with me otherwise I won't get that water and those men earlier wont approach/help us...

We didn't change our dirhams as the rate was too low at the bank, 1dh is 8.04 while in Dubai it is 9.09 baht. Left the bank and YTM drove us back to the Grand Palace area.

It was past 3 pm. YTM stopped at the opposite road of the Palace. When we told him to wait for us, he said his duty/time is finished we have to pay him. TR wanted to hire him to drive us around and took his mobile number. He was hesitant to give but gave it anyway. (Maybe he had given her wrong number, we dunno.) While walking some bystanders told us Palace is closed now. We couldn't believe it so we went inside the Tourist Information booth (TIB) across from the Palace and asked the ladies there. We were told that it's about to close now but we can still check. Then it dawned on us that we had been duped, told TR that I should have had trusted my instinct but since well you know... 

Anyway, we still crossed the road and tried but the guards at the Palace told us that they cannot let us in anymore as it is already closed. I checked my watch,  it was almost 3:30 pm. (Note to readers: The Grand Palace is open from 9am to 3:15pm, Tue to Sun)

We went back to the TIB for the Reclining Buddha Temple, they gave us the direction which is behind the Grand Palace and about 5-10 minutes walk from there.

While we were walking almost ALL of the taxi and tuk-tuk drivers including bystanders and street vendors asked us where are we going and told us to take taxi/tuk-tuk because it's far, some of them said it's closed (seriously, Bangkok is a hotbed of scammers). TR almost got persuaded (again!) by these people because she felt it's far or we're getting lost. Since I was really, really, really pretty fecking upset and annoyed at myself for not trusting my instincts, speaking up, telling what I think and for letting her drag me down with her gullibility, I told her to stop talking to these scamming scumbags and reminded her what the TIB ladies told us - it's 5-10minutes from here, just take left then straight then left, and that they are open until 6:30 pm meaning we have plenty of time even if we get lost. So finally we reached the temple (praise Buddha for that!), paid 100 baht each with free small cold bottled water. Explore the compound for an hour or two. (Note to readers: The Temple of the Reclining Buddha is open daily from 8am to 6:30 pm)

Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)

So that's how our first horrible day in Bangkok goes..

First Night in Bangkok ►

Keeping Up with the Armenians

26-30 December 2015

Roomie and I with the Armenian oldies in Tavush Province

I was all over Armenia for 4 nights and 5 days, and I am telling you that if Armenia (the country)  is beautiful, Armenians (the people) are more! 

I could say a lot about the country's scenic views and post a lot of those touristy places (though I already did, check my Instagram) here but I prefer to talk about my travel experience.

Armenians are beautiful people inside out, in every sense of the word. Very friendly, very warm, very accommodating, very hospitable and I could go on and on how beautiful Armenia and its people are.

I never had a single bad experience during my 5 days stay. Even if they cannot communicate with you in English, they will do all their best to help you out.

Let's start with our private driver who had taken us around Armenia. He served as our tour guide cum interpreter also. He was very helpful, he suggested where and what to eat. If the toilet in some certain place is okay to use or not, he would find us a better toilet. And he never took advantage of us. He was even the one who bought us coffee every time we stopped by at petrol station.

I have observed that in Armenia, whenever they are refilling fuel/gasoline/petrol, it is a must to switch off the engine and driver/passengers should leave the car till refueling is done. This should be done all over the world because it never happened in the UAE or in the Philippines.

First night in Yerevan, we asked our hostel reception where can we eat local food. He suggested a resto which I forgot the name because it is in Armenian language and shown us how to go there. In some point we got lost so we approached a woman walking a big ass dog about the resto showing her the paper where the name of the resto was written. She could understand us but she seemed uncertain and couldn't explain it in English so she just pointed us this and that. We resumed walking till Roomie  turned left. To my surprise someone tapped me on my shoulder when I looked back it was the woman with a dog, she was pointing at the other direction and she didn't stop tapping my shoulder till I called Roomie. So again we proceeded to the right, and finally we saw the resto. When we were about to enter the resto, I got surprised again, the woman with a dog was behind me. I was very touched because she took time to make sure we reached the right place.

If you are planning to stay in a hostel in Yerevan, I recommend Envoy Hostel and Tours, Yerevan. You won't have a problem speaking to them because the hostel reception people - all of them -  speak English and they have a nice tour package. They even arranged the best private car/driver to pick us up from Tbilisi to Yerevan whom we ended up requesting the same car/driver to take us around during our stay in Armenia. So if you gonna book your stay in Envoy Yerevan and you want a private car/driver, request for Mr Mosh. Having him is like hitting a jackpot - you have a driver, you have a guide, you have an interpreter and you have a friend.

And another night, we went inside a place where we thought was Starbucks (because the logo was there). Turned out it was a resto not the Starbucks, so I went out again to check whether there is a next door where Starbucks is located. I called Roomie to come out and told her that's the only door and no Starbucks. Some local guys were passing by and one of them heard me and said "Sorry, there is no Starbucks in Armenia. The closest Starbucks here is probably in Georgia." Hah! We found out that they are only authorized to serve Starbucks coffee that's why the logo is there.

Then one night again we were searching for a nice resto for dinner so we were crossing streets a lot, checking out resto menus. Some local guys approached us and asked us if they could help us because he noticed us kept crossing the streets as if we were lost or looking for something. So we told him we were searching a place to eat and then he asked us what type of food we want and suggested us places and gave us directions.

The staff of the cafe (Carpe Diem) next to Envoy Hostel where we had our breakfast once were very friendly. We were amazed by the setup of the cafe - they have the old rotary phone, gramophone and old fashioned wood burning stove. They even demonstrated to us how the old fashioned wood burning stove works and invited us to hang out with them after cafe's closing time as they and their friends hang out there, drink and play music. Too bad it was our last night there in Yerevan and we have had to pack and get ready to go back to Tbilisi.

With beautiful Armenian teeners in Yerevan

In every place we visited in Armenia, all the people were nice and friendly. I felt very safe there esp when we go out at night in Yerevan to hunt for food, I didn't feel I was in a foreign place. A simple Parev (Hello!) to them will make them smile and soften them more. Great people! Oh and their food - very tasty, served in big servings and very affordable.

I have observed that if you are lost, need some direction and want someone who speaks English, try asking the young blood/kids/teenagers. Well, you can approach any locals there because even if they don't speak English, they will still show you the way.