Snowy Sweden

I decided to book one of my weekend trips again. It’s been ages since I flew after work on a Friday for a little weekend break.

I managed to book flights with Ryanair for £39.94 return for the two of us. It was so cheap! The flight went into Stockholm Skavsta airport which is roughly 100km outside of Stockholm central.

I thought instead of trekking into the centre, late at night, I looked to see where the nearest town to the airport was and Nyköping is only 4 miles from the airport.

The Clarion Collection Kompaniet looked like a great hotel in the town. I had stayed at the same chain in Oslo so I knew the added benefits with the hotel were good.

The further North in Europe you travel, the more expensive things are. So by booking this hotel I knew it included a hearty breakfast, free teas and coffees all day (including take away cups), afternoon cake and an evening meal. When a glass of wine is £15, you need to save the pennies wherever possible. I packed lots of treats for the weekend and we bought some alcohol at the airport so we were all set to go.

Getting to the airport was a little stressful. Peter was running a little late, so we were very pushed for time. We got to the airport only an hour before our flight was scheduled to depart. By sheer luck, there was no que for security and we made it straight through. And of course our Ryanair flight was running late.

Although our flight was crazy cheap, Ryanair have changed their baggage policy. Now you are only allowed to bring one small bag onto the flight without paying extra. I refused to pay extra to bring a cabin bag. It would’ve cost us more to bring a small wheeler bag each than the cost of the flights (£10pp each way).

Ryanair are very aggressive with promoting upgrading since the changes. I must have received at least 10 emails telling me about the changes and offering to upgrade. As we only had two days, I figured I could fit all I needed into a backpack and I did.

They’ve also ensured that if you choose random allocation of seats, you won’t be sat together. This is another ploy for them to make some extra money. It’s £4-7 pp each way to be sat together. By now if I’d chosen all the extras, our £40 flight would have changed to nearly £100. It quickly adds up.

On the way out, we managed to ask a lovely lady if she didn’t mind swapping seats so we could sit together. We then watched an awesome film called Like Father. The film was shot on Harmony of the Seas, which we’ll be cruising on in a few weeks time so it was super exciting to watch.

We arrived pretty late (thanks Ryanair) so we had to try and find a ride to the hotel. There was only one Uber in the area, who was refusing to pick us up so we had to jump in a taxi. The hotel was only 4 miles away yet it cost 300 SEK (£25) - welcome to Sweden.

The hotel was wonderful. I emailed the hotel explaining we’re celebrating our anniversary and they upgraded us to a lovely suite. The room was huge with super king sized bed, lovely bathroom and a fruit basket to welcome us.

We woke up and after breakfast decided to explore the town. We didn’t have much planned but we just wandered along the beautiful snowy Kykopings Hams. The water ways were completely frozen and so majestic.

There were lots of locals walking around. Peter said hi a few times however they were pretty frosty (maybe it’s something to do with the weather lol) and they never responded. The children were having a blast playing in the snow which was lovely to see.

Near our hotel is Nyköping Castle. It’s only open on Sundays so we didn’t get the chance to look around inside but the snowy grounds were lovely. There were also lots of friendly ducks.

After wandering around the town for a bit and stopping in a local English pub called Oliver Twist, it was time to head back to the hotel for an afternoon nap. This is what I love about these random weekends away, we can do as much or as little as we like.

After our nap we headed to the gym - it was pants. It was a hotel room with a treadmill, crosstrainer and some weights. The spa area was nicer however the hot tub wasn’t working which was a shame.

The dinner included in the hotel was lovely. We had chicken, potatoes and salad. We bought a lovely bottle of rose bubbly at the airport so we had this in the room.

After a lovely lay in, it was time to get up and explore again. It had snowed about 4” overnight and it looked even prettier.

We decided to walk further along the Ham and we stopped at the kids park to have a snow ball fight (I suck Peter keeps ducking). It was then time for snow angels and flips.

By this time the temperature had dropped to about -5 degrees so we headed back to the hotel. We were lucky enough to be allowed a late check out so we were about to thaw out a bit before our flight home.

The flight is only two hours so it goes pretty quickly. Sweden is a lovely place to visit for a quick weekend but it’s not one that’s made me think I need to visit again. Maybe it’s nicer in the summer - who knows.

Elephants, glamping, whales and final thoughts on Sri Lanka.

We departed Amba Estate at around 8:30am to head to Udawalawe national park. This was elephant spotting time. 

On the drive towards the national park, we saw elephants by the boards of the park and road. Cham explained there is an electric fence to keep them in however the elephants are very clever and they lift a tree log onto the fence to disable it. Obviously this raises safety issues and sadly on our drive away from the national park, there was a body in the road with a lot of blood. Cham said it’s most likely an elephant attack. People feed the elephants but they forget they are extremely large wild creatures.

Before we went to our glamping site, we stopped off at the elephant transit home. We got to see the handlers feed around 40 baby elephants. Some elephants are fed milk every three hours however between feeds they are released back into the park so they can be as wild as possible. 

There was one lovely elephant called Namal who lives on the grounds of the sanctuary. Sadly a poacher shot him in the leg and he had part of his rear leg removed. They have made a stump for him to get around more freely but if the other elephants attack him, he would not be as strong as them to defend himself. 

There were lots of really little baby elephants being fed. Again the reason they couldn’t have their mums milk, is usually due to poachers. It’s so sad to hear that even the game keepers who are entrusted to protect these lovely elephants, also kill them. Cham did explain that often if someone is caught poaching, they usually get shot themselves. They’re not supposed to do it this way but they often say they were going to shot at them first. 

After another yummy curry lunch, we swapped from our bus to a jeep for our game drive. Here was our chance to see more elephants, birds, buffalo and if we were lucky, a leopard. Sadly we were doing the drive in the midday heat so we were not lucky enough to see a leopard however we did see lots of lovely elephants and colourful birds. 

We stayed the night at Big Game Camping. Upon arriving it was becoming dust, so we were quickly allocated our tents. We were given strict instructions to never leave the tent open. Of course this massively freaked me out so I asked Vicki to do a full bug inspection when we first went in and before bed. 

For dinner, there was a lovely bonfire and they cooked us a BBQ. The food was yummy but the best part of the evening, was looking up at the millions of stars. We also saw the International space station zip by. It make me think of Peter so much and how much he would love to see them too. 

Because it was quite dark, I was pretty jumpy and this amused the group immensely. I jumped at a leaf falling from the tree and there was a silver metal frog that someone decided to put next to my plate then asked me to past something so I saw it, I didn’t notice it at first but when I did, I screamed. 

I really enjoyed the glamping as we had a toilet and shower in our tent. We also slept with just the safety net closed so in the morning I watched it get lighter and could hear all the amazing creatures wake up too. A cute little critter also joined us for breakfast. 

Our final full day with the group was in Unawatuna. We had a long drive to Hotel J and were greeted by a lovely swimming pool. We had a couple of hours free time so Vicki and I headed straight for the pool and ordered Lion beers. 

In the afternoon, we took the local bus to Galle. Cham took us all around the Fort and we had a lovely spot to sit and watch the sunset. I thought I’d be clever and do a time lapse video, sadly I was a tad dumb and managed to do a slow mo video instead. 

We had some free time to do some shopping. I wanted to get lots of gifts but there wasn’t as much there as I thought they’d be. I bought the girls these lovely baggy trousers for the summer which I think they’ll love and a few other gifts. 

After our final dinner together, it was back to the hotel. I’m sad to see some of the tour go but I will keep in touch with a few of them. 

Vicki and I decided to book a whale watching boat trip for our final day. I’ve heard Mirissi is the best place to see them so we had an early start to get to the boat for 6:00am. Of course the timings given to us were off and we didn’t even leave until 7:00am. 

The further we went out, the choppier the water got. We saw a pod of dolphins which was lovely but we were all desperate to see a whale. Sadly an hour or so in, I started to feel motion sickness and was vomiting so much. This lasted the next four or so hours so it wasn’t that fun. 

The captain was very keen to find a whale (otherwise he has to offer everyone a free tour the next day) and we finally saw a fin whale. We saw this whale for all of two seconds. I know it was supposed to be a once in a lifetime experience however I wish I didn’t go on it. I’ve never felt so unwell through motion sickness and poor Vicki was great at looking after me even though she also didn’t feel well. 

Sri Lanka has been an incredible country to visit. I’ve loved how friendly the people are. I love the concept of Buddhism and I think if everyone in the World shared some of these practices then it would be a much nicer place to live in. A test of how much I love a country is usually would I return, honestly I’m on the fence. It was great but I do feel like I’ve seen everything I wanted to see. I guess the only reason I’d return, would be with Peter as I think he would love it there. 

Kandy to Ella

We took the long trip from Kandy to Ella. We started off with a three hour bus ride. We did stop half way at Glenloch tea plantation. 

We had a tour of the factory and they explained how the tea is made from the different leafs. We walked along the machinery used to dry and press the leafs and then we had a lovely tea tasting. 

We made it to Nanu Oya train station in plenty of time. We were told he train would be crowded so we had a plan to head in and stand by the door. I managed to get a prime spot so we were able to take it in turns to sit and look out of the open door. 

The journey was only 60km however it took around three hours as the maximum speed limit is 10km/per hour. We stopped quite a few times for more people to cram in. 

We got chatting to a lovely young guy on the train whom has only recently turned 18 and is backpacking for 8 months. He was very shy but he had such a good outlook on life. 

We finally arrived in a chilly Ella and it was time to hop back on bus briefly to then walk to the Nine Arch bridge. This is a very well photographed bridge and the walk to it was a little tough but totally worth it. 

There was a poor young girl who was crying as she was so worried about everyone walking on the train tracks. I explained to her that the train won’t pass for another hour (I asked our tour guide when the next train is) so we were all safe. Her family really seemed to appreciate me reassuring her. 

It was getting pretty late so it was time to head to our hotel. We are staying at Amba Estste for two nights. This is another G Adventures supported place. They helped the local tea plantation to create lodging so the guests can stay and learn about the tea plantation. 

We had to get a tuk tuk to the estate as it was such small roads but we were greeted by lovely torch lanterns and the cutest rooms ever. 

After a quite bag drop and WiFi check, it was time for dinner. Amba Estate offers only vegetarian meals. At first I was a little apprehensive however the food was so yummy. We were all exhausted so I was in bed by 9:00pm. 

We had a nice lay in and a great breakfast before heading out to hike Ella Rock. Cham told us it was 4km - he lied. My Fitbit said the walk in total was over 11km. 

We started off the walk and a couple of dogs decided to tag along. We were warned about leaches and I kept looking down to check. I felt something on my ankle and one was sucking my blood. I screamed so loud the guide came rushing to my aid, when he realised it was a leach he laughed. For the rest of the hike, everyone was teasing me and saying they were on me. 

We stopped off half way at Rawana Ella Forest Monastery. We had the opportunity to sit and talk with a Monk. He was explaining to us about Buddhism and how the mind and the body work together but are separate. I really enjoyed leading this and I really would like to explore the concept of Buddhism further. 

The views along the hike were breathtaking. It made the blood (from the leaches), sweat (from everywhere on my body) and tears (mainly those laughing at what a big baby I am) worth it. 

When we got to the peak of Ella Rock, it was incredible. The views were so wonderful. I was surprised how busy it was but I was still able to take a moment to look out at the view and be truly thankful for my life. 

The hike down was pretty challenging. It was very steep and lots of loose rocks. The whole way we walked, we were escorted by dogs. There was usually two dogs with us. I kept feeding them whenever possible. 

When we made it to the bottom, we found the nearest bar for a well deserved beer and coke (I was thirst). I hadn’t put enough sun cream on so I was a little red (understatement).

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped off at Ravana Ella Falls. This impressive waterfall is 25 meters high. What excited me more than the waterfall was the monkeys roaming around. I had a banana left over from lunch so I gave it to one of the monkeys. 

It’s been an amazing day today. I’ve loved being out in nature and also working out. It’s made me so thankful again for my health and my ability to travel. Listening to the Monk, he helped me refocus my mind to ensure I don’t take life for granted. I’m very guilty of always living in the past or dreaming of the future, I want to live more in the moment so I don’t mind anything. 

I’ve found this beautiful quote that I hope some people will find useful. Be kind to those you don’t want to lose. 

Suba aluth avuruddhak

Happy New Year to you all. I can’t believe I’ve been in Sri Lanka for four days now. It’s flown by and has been full of the usual travel shenanigans. 

Let’s start with our tour group, they all seem lovely (well except for one person perhaps). Lots of different nationalities and backgrounds. I assumed the ages would be similar to previous groups but it turns out we booked a Classic tour therefore the age is a bit older. I’m the third youngest in the group (Vicki is the baby).

It’s sad to say that I haven’t a clue what most of their names are. I know a few but it’s hard remembering all 15 people. If we had been a bit closer then I’m sure there would be more effort with the names. 

Our tour guide, Cham, is also very nice. He’s pretty new to G Adventures and you can see this at times but he is so good at trying to accommodate everyone. 

Yesterday, we spent the day driving from Negombo to Kandy. The distance isn’t actually that far, roughly 130 km, but the roads are pretty poor and crazy busy so the drive is slow. 

Along the way we stopped at the herbal centre of spices, to learn about Ayurveda. We had a talk about all the different herbs and spices and what benefits they have. Our guide then gave us a demonstration of what they create. There were creams that remove hair, red banana mixes which is a natural viagra and a sandalwood cream to make you appear younger. Whilst all these things sounded wonderful, since the previous experience in Colombo, I was very sceptical. The gift shop prices at the end confirmed my scepticism. 

For lunch we stopped at the Sthree Cafe. This is a G Adventures supported charity which provides opportunities for local women and youth with disabilities to train and work in the hospitality industry. The cafe serves an amazing menu of vegetarian Sri Lankan dishes and it was delicious. We decided to even give eating with our hand a try. 

After lunch it was back on the bus to head into Kandy city. We had a little tour of the local markets. Lots of different fruit and vegetables. I managed to pick up the balm (similar to Tiger balm) from a local vendor for 200 LKR (85p). The spice place wanted $15 (£11.50). This shows sometimes the tourist traps involved with these tours. 

The city was very busy. It was New Year’s Eve and although the Buddhist don’t necessarily celebrate this, there were still lots of different people out to celebrate. 

As we were walking along to the cultural dance show, a snake popped its head out of a wicker basket. I freaked out! I wasn’t expecting to see one along the street so I wasn’t mentally prepared. After recovering from the snake incident, we were then greeted by lots of Monkeys. I was so excited as I love seeing the monkeys but I remember what I was previously taught, don’t stare into the monkeys eyes and don’t smile with your mouth other. Both these things are signs of aggression to monkeys (especially the smiling as you’re baring you teeth). It’s so hard not to smile when you’re excited. 

The cultural dance show was interesting. It lasted an hour and we felt like this was pretty long. It cost 1,000 LKR (£5) so it was very reasonable but when you’ve seen one local dance show, you’ve kind of seen them all. The most impressive part of the show was the last 10 minutes- fire and coal walking. We couldn’t believe these guys putting the fire on their tongues and walking over the hot coals. 

We headed to our hotel, Winter Villa Kandy, to get ready for our NYE dinner. The hotel prepared a fantastic buffet dinner of rices, dhal, curries and yummy desserts. I’ve loved all the food so far. Some has been a little bit spicy but I’ve managed to eat it. 

Just before midnight, we distributed the sparklers Vicki kindly bought everyone. They were a real hit and the staff even lit some fireworks for us. It was a strange moment as usually at midnight you’re surrounded by loved ones, but I had my travel bestie and thoughts of my wonderful Peter and family in my mind. 

Being the young whipper snappers (name given to us by the lovely Australian Principles on the group), we decided to continue the party and head to the pool whilst everyone else went to bed. It was pretty cool (we’re in the mountains) but it was a fun experience and great end to the night. 

On New Year’s Day we headed to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth. This is where a well preserved tooth of Lord Buddha is kept. They have a ceremony on New Year’s Day and allow guests to see the tooth. 

When we got to the temple, there were beautiful flowers everywhere. People buy these flowers to give to the Buddha as an offering. Trying to walk inside the temple was so difficult. There were thousands of people. It was hot, sweaty and surprisingly people were pushing a lot. I didn’t expect Buddhist people to be so pushy but it was even the old grannies whom were the worst. 

Outside the temple, there was another area which housed the Hindi temples. Cham explained how the Buddhist would find their wives in Indian and when they came over to Sri Lanka, they didn’t want to force them to be a Buddhist so they built them their own temples. 

Then behind (or in front) of the Hindi, there was the Catholic Church. It’s amazing how Sri Lanka is so inclusive of all religions. You can see this daily when you see the ladies dressed in Saris and burkas walking alongside one another. 

After spending hours at the temples, we’d had enough of the crowds. The next stop was to the Botanical Gardens but Vicki and I were were so sweaty, we didn’t fancy walking around the gardens in the mid day heat for 90 minutes so instead we headed to have a herbal massage. 

We headed to Ayurvedic hospital for our massage. This wasn’t your standard A&E hospital but a herbal hospital. We were taken to our room where we started off with a lovely head massage, followed by neck and shoulders. They used natural herb oils which are supposed to help with aches and pains. We then had an amazing full body massage. I actually fell asleep and had to be woken up. After the massage we went into a steam bath. This was an odd coffin type bed which shut you in. It felt weird at first however I soon relaxed again. 

By the time we finished our massages, we were famished. We headed back to meet the group at a local buffet restaurant. Again the food was all Sri Lankan and so good. The only issue is, I’m eating so many carbohydrates. Lots of rice and potatoes. 

Sri Lanka is a really beautiful country and the people are very friendly. Ever person I smile at, they always warmly smile back. I knew it would be a more cultural trip rather than partying so it’s been nice. The only issue is if the tour group doesn’t gel then it makes it less fun. I’m not saying our group is bad but we just haven’t connected in the same way as I have with previous groups, thank god Vicki is here. 

Next stop tomorrow is Ella. I’m super excited to take the local train along the mountain as the views look incredible.