On Day 5 of the Wendy Wu Tours “Best Of Borneo” adventure, we visited an Iban Longhouse on the Lemanak River in Sarawak. The Iban are an idigenou Dayak group in Borneo, primarily residing in Sarawak and known historically as “Sea Dayaks” or former headhunters. Dayak are the indigenous, non-Muslim peoples of Borneo. They comprise over 50…
On the fourth day of our “Best Of Borneo” adventure with Wendy Wu Tours in March/April 2026, we travelled from Kuching to Semenggoh to visit the Wildlife Centre dedicated to the rehabilitation of orphaned orangutans and drove on to Sri Aman for a two nights stay. We left the Waterfront Hotel after breakfast and travelled…
Kimbulawala, located near the Diyawanna Lake near Colombo , is a popular 4-km scenic gravel walking and jogging track set amidst wetlands and paddy fields. It is widely used by residents for exercise and relaxation, offering a tranquil natural environment often frequented by birdwatchers to spot species like the Blue-tailed Bee-eater. Kimbulawala has many Sri Lankan…
After very pleasant six days at Exotica Bungalows at Hikkaduwa, we came to the Red Parrot Beach ‘Villa’ at Ambalangoda for five nights of rest and relaxation. The little Air B&B villa is right on the beach off the busy Colombo Road and has an open varanda, sitting and dinning room, a well equipped kitchen,…
Hikkaduwa Lake is a scenic natural attraction known for its tranquil waters and lush surroundings. The lake offers an escape from the bustling beaches nearby. It offers birdwatching, leisurely walks and an opportunity to unwind by the water’s edge. The best time to visit Hikkaduwa Lake is during the dry season, which runs from late November to April.…
A short walk along the beach from Exotica Bungalows in Hikkaduwa takes you to the Seenigama Temple complex. A small shrine is dedicated to the local Hindu deity named Devol – protector of fishermen and boats. According to the Sanskrit epic Ramayana, Seenigama was the place where Sugriva, helper of Rama, began his campaign against…
We returned to Sri Lanka in February 2026 for a six weeks stay. We were glad to leave the cold and damp in Harrogate behind and fly to Colombo from Manchester with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. It was not the same as flying with Emirates. The seats were smaller with less leg-room. No spirits were…
It was already dark when we reached Jetwing Surf. From Pottuvil on the east coast of Sri Lanka, a fleet of Tuk-Tuks ferried us to the little seaside hotel – the coach could not negotiate the narrow roads. With twenty cabanas in a seven acre coconut grove, Jetwing Surf looked pretty. We checked-in, sipped chilled…
Matara is a quaint seaside town hundred miles south of Colombo. The roadside Shrine of Our Lady of Matara facing the Indian ocean houses a 400 year-old statue of the Virgin which Catholics claim, is miraculous. It was found floating in the sea in a wooden crate by fishermen of Mirissa who handed it…
Friday We spent the 2019 August bank holiday weekend in London. The A1 was slow with delays, accidents and diversions and the drive from Harrogate took over six hours. Stuck in traffic, we ate cheese sandwiches, drank black coffee from a flask and listened to Ashes Cricket Radio 5. Eating Old Cow That evening we…
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