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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Jan 19, 2015 08:00 PM The only tourist in Point Pedro?
Sri Lanka has some 500 km north to south. The northernmost point is called Point Pedro. They say there is the second large settlement on Jaffna Peninsula but if fact it is little remote township. It took me almost 2 hours on the junk bus (75 rupees) to get there from Jaffna. The bus is nneaking and making many detours to the little
villages, so it is a chance to see day-to- day life of tge local Tamils. I like that! But the heat! In Point Pedro the life goes much slower. More then a hundered little fishing boat has here a natural shelter behind the reef - on the white beaches. There are colonial churches and Dutch toll gate to see. And of course the lighthouse built on the northern tip of the territory. Can you see it in the background on the picture?. 31m high, it does not work any more - just nearby they built the new radio navigation tower. What I liked most in Point Pedro? The people: returning smiles and greetings, talking to the stranger... Maybe because I was the only tourist in Point Pedro today?
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Jan 18, 2015 08:00 PM Sri Lanka by rail
Do you remember Tamil Tigers? I am going to Jaffna Province on the northern tip of the island. During 30 years of civil war Jaffna was closed for foreigners. Even yesterday in the main Tourist Info office on Colombo's Galle road the girl told me that I need approval from Ministry of Defence to go there. Stupid. In the heat of 32 deg I was walking first to the Ministry, then to another army office opposite Secretariat just to hear finally that I do not need any papers except the train ticket. Do not trust tourist info - this is third word!... they are not reliable.
In the Colombo Fort station on the left side of the building there is crampy booking office. Every window sells different destination. OK - my line was not long so soon I got 2nd class seat for 11.50 am train to Jaffna..
Only 800 rupees for 400 kms ride!
Today I came to Lavinia station early - and it was good becuse local train to Fort departed 10 minutes before the scheduled time! They say it is normal...
In Fort station I boarded my "intercity" car running with open wide doors and windows... Funny... It took us 6 rours to come to the Elephant Pass - narrow causeway connecting Jaffna Peninsula with the rest of Sri Lanka. One hour later we reached Jaffna City. Since it was already dark I took a tuk-tuk - the threewheeler to my guesthouse. Welcome to peaceful Jaffna!
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Jan 17, 2015 08:00 PM Colombo- 20 years later...
In the morning I was attending a Sunday mass in Sinhalese in Mt Lavinia. Church was full of the children - all in white and they were singing in their national language. What a experience!
Then I took a 50 rs bus to central Colombo trying to find the places I saw 20 years ago. In the Fort quarter they try to restore old, colonial buildings. This part of the city has now a highest concentration of money changers. They are open also on Sundays. Do not care what is written in the window - bargain! ... and you will get 2 rs more for the dollar, or even more... depending on your skills. :)
I saw again temples and churches, the Secretatiat building - a pride of Colombo, built on the waterfront. Galle Rd with high buildings is a new face of Colombo.
Is the Sri Lanka's capital safe for the foreigner? In general - it is. The only danger in the daylight is pickpocketing. If you are alone and the street is empty - you are in danger. Nobody takes care of you! They are approaching you saying hallo and asking where are you from and else. Let you know - this is not friendliness or courtesy! They are watching your pockets, your bag and your belongings. If you are concentrated on taking pictures and filming the will quickly saarch your bag or pockets... So keep them away or just escape... But I still think, that Colombo is safer then eg New Delhi...
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Jan 16, 2015 08:00 PM Mount Lavinia beach
During colonial period wealthy gentelmen from England - Sir Thomas Maitland built his grand residence on the little peninsula south of Colombo. He named the residence after his love - Lovinia. She was half Portugeese, half Sinhalese dancer. Now in the former residence is the expensive, colonial hotel. And the are is called Mount Lavinia. That is where I stay. "Mount" is just a little hill covered by houses, but this suburb of Colombo has a nice beach. Due to the strong sun and heat few people come here during the day. But before sunset you can see there a crowd of locals and foreign tourists, Little restaurants along the beach offer cold beer (250 for big bottle) and seafood. I was in Sri Lanka 20 years ago - can you belive? And I am coming to the conclusion that it is now much more expensive. Just to give you the idea: now the kilo of bread costs 200 rs and kilo of bananas - 150. Only the railway tickets are still cheap: 15 rs (like 10 cents) for the ride from Lavinia to Colombo main station called "the Fort"...
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Jan 15, 2015 08:00 PM Landed in Colombo...
It was already morning (with +4,5 hours time change to Europe) when we landed in Colombo airport. Sun, heat, high humidity... I arranged and paid my visa (30$) via internet so the formalities took me only a quarter.
I did not see any customs here... Out of the arrival hall there are info desks and money changers - all off them offer same rate: 129,7 rupees for a dollar. Then the backpacker have to say - no, thank you- to the crowd of the taxi drivers. Out of the building turn left and opposite the parking you will see blue excursion a/c bus with no number - it will take you for just 120 rs (less than a dollar) to the main bus stand in the center of Colombo - it is almost 30 kms! Alternatively city junk bus 187 goes from the main road.
Traffic congestions of the huge Asian city. Colombo is still decorated by flags after the visit of Holy Father.
In the center I changed a bus to public no.100 to get for 50 rupees to the beach suburb of Mt Lavinia. I found nice hostel: Lavinia Beach Hostel (do not be confused by the overpriced Colombo Beach Hostel just 100 m away) My hostel stands in the nice garden and has excellent wi-fi internet. Single fan room with bath costs 1750 and twin - 3900. Ladies running this family bussines are very friendly. Recommended! Now it is time for agood rest!
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Jan 14, 2015 08:00 PM To Qatar and onward...
I was so sad to dismantle my Christmas tree last evening. Fortunately there will be a new one in December to enjoy! Backpack was ready at 8 am. Sun was shining when I was going to the Gdansk airport. First flight was short - only one hour to Berlin. Then I boarded airbus 330 of Qatar Airways to Doha. I spent 6 hours in the air with good choice of movies on the private screen. Gently international crew... This is Arab airline but they serve without limits beer, wine and even stronger drinks. I had a chance to took a toast with a champagne for the happy travel around the globe! Doha airport, built in the middle of the dessert is imposing. Huge halls and great elegance... But it is hard to see here Arabs in their traditional costumes - can you imagine? Crowds of travelers from all over the world are wondering around the duty free shops. Free wi-fi interneis not bad. I am waiting for the connection to Colombo. I do hope that they transfered my backpack :)
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Jan 13, 2015 08:00 PM New Grand Voyage -12th Around the World!
I start the new year with a new, great voyage! Many times I was asked about the my favorite region of the world and the countries to which I would like to return. The answer was always the same: the small islands of the South Pacific. Now I want to go back to these islands, which I do not know yet, and the ones I have visited many years ago. I'm not going to go back from the Pacific Ocean along the same route - through Asia and that is why the expedition would change into the Twelfth Journey Around the World. Just look please at the map. Madness! - isn't it?
On Sri Lanka I would like to visit Jaffna province, which was closed during my first visit to Ceylon due to the civil war. From Australia I will sail to the islands of Vanuatu and New Caledonia. But the longest period of stay I dedicate to Polynesia, using small freighters supplying little islands to access them from the sea. I do hope that after that I will be able to reach Easter Island just before Easter. Then in Central Chile I would like to explore the waterfalls and picturesque lakes of this region. Before going back to Europe I want to see once again legendary Rio de Janeiro...This ambitious plan includes still many unknowns but I believe that I will be able to implement it. I plan to be back in Poland in the middle of April - to start the spring works in my Wojtkówka. All of you, my friends are kindly requested to keep the fingers crossed :)
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Dec 23, 2014 08:00 PM Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!
Dear Friends around the world... Not everyone of you celebrate Christmas but it is the time of peace, warmth, brotherhood, joy and the hope. So have a Merry Christmas! And a lot of happiness to everybody for the New Year 2015. Happy travelling for the next year!
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Dec 20, 2014 08:00 PM Dark and wet Europe...
I expected that there will be already snow in Gdansk three days before Christmas. Forget it! Dark and rain welcomed me in my city. Maybe it is why the light and warmth of Christmas is so expected?...
One more interesting journey is over. I had a chance to discover new islands in the Caribbean. Discover them for me and for my friends and my fellow countrymen. Some of them did not hear about such places :).
Now it is the time to relax, to enjoy the Season, to write the reports and... to think how to make the next dream true.
Thanks for your letters, greetings and especially -for keeping your fingers crossed. It works!
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Dec 19, 2014 08:00 PM Last day in Miami
Breakfast included in the room price was not bad: bagel, banana, orange, spread and portion of jam, coffee... I went in the morning to the beach, where you can hear more Spanish then English.
I is hard to believe that it is my last day under the palms. Tomorrow... brrr..
Check-out time in the hostel is at 12. Then I have to find my way to Fort Lauderdale airport. Cheapest way....
It seems that the best solution will be to to take public bus 120 to Adventura Mall, and then Broward County public bus to FLL.
I fly to Copenhagen by low-cost Norwegian. Double surprise: first - they changed aircraft from modern dreamliner to rather old airbus. Second: they upgraded me from economy class to business class as a form of compensation. My carry-on pack has well more then 10 allowed kilos, but nobody care at the boarding...
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