Aventuras De Viaje's Blog, page 41

How to Fold a Plastic Bag to Maximize Space

Here’s how to fold a plastic bag to maximize space. I assume travelers, hikers etc could use this. I was impressed by it when I first saw it and now I do it all the time.

I first came across this method of how to fold a plastic bag to maximize space when I saw an Indonesian woman was doing it. I got her to teach me how. It’s not hard at all.

How to Fold a Plastic Bag to Maximize Space

Lay out the plastic bag flat and fairly neat

Fold it in half, length-ways so the ‘handles’ match up with each other.

Fold it in half again in the same manner

Starting from the bottom, fold the corner up so it forms a triangle

Now fold it up at the crease, and repeat this process all the way to the top

At the top, fold the handles down and tuck it into the opening. If the opening isn’t facing the right way, just fold or unfold once.

… and that’s how to fold a plastic bag to maximize space. What things do you do to save space in your pack?

The post How to Fold a Plastic Bag to Maximize Space appeared first on Survive Travel.

Climbing Little Adam’s Peak – Ella – Sri Lanka Day 8

This post includes traditional Sri Lankan breakfast, climbing Little Adams Peak, getting from Ella to Matara, a Matara accommodation review, exploring Matara and also provides directions, daily cost summary, other useful information, and perhaps also some not so useful personal observations and opinions.

Traditional Sri Lankan Breakfast

I woke up really early this morning because the family wakes up early to cook and listen to he radio. We were served up a traditional Sri Lankan breakfast with samosas, roti, bananas, really sweet tea and hoppers which I did not have room for.

Traditional Sri Lankan Breakfast – Samosas, Roti, Bananas, Sweet tea and Hoppers to follow.

After eating a big traditional Sri Lankan breakfast I packed my stuff away and went to climb Little Adam’s Peak.

Climbing Little Adam’s Peak

Climbing Little Adam’s Peak was a nice morning stroll and it took about 2hours round trip. You walk through the tea fields and get a pretty spectacular view from the top.

View of the valley from Little Adams Peak

Climbing Little Adam’s Peak is not difficult. The track is well maintained and easy to follow.

Overlooking the Teas Fields while walking up Little Adams Peak

Getting to the Little Adam’s Peak Trail

Ella is very small. Once you are there, getting to the Little Adam’s Peak Trail is about a 15 minute walk from town. Here’s a map of Ella.

Map to get to Little Adam’s Peak starting point

Getting From Ella to Matara

My next stop was the beach town of Matara. Getting from Ella to Matara is a double bus ride. First a one hour ride to Wellawaya which costs 60LKR. You can catch this bus from the top of the street that leads to the train station, or from in town.

Once at the bus station in Wellawaya, switch to the bus to Matara. The locals will point you the way. This ride cost 200LKR and is 5-6 hours with a pit stop about an hour in.

Getting to Rawana Falls By Bus

Getting to Rawana Falls by bus is a lot cheaper than a tuk tuk and just as easy as it drops you off right out the front.

Catch the same bus as if going from Ella to Matara and get off at Rawana Falls which is about 10 minutes into the journey.

Matara Accommodation Review – Roshan Rest

Cost: 1100LKR/night, lowered to 1000LKR/night if staying more than one night

This Matara Accommodation review is for a place called Roshan Rest which is along beach road. I went into a few places before I found this one, but it still didn’t take long to find.

The owners were very nice with limited English. I think they were brothers. I got a decent room with a fan, internet and a private bathroom. No hot water. Internet is a bit dodgy. Great location i.e. across the road from the beach and walking distance to bus station, town, and cheap restaurants.

I would stay at Roshan’s Rest again is was to ever return to Matara.

When walking East along Beach Road from the bus station, turn left when you see this.

This Matara accommodation review was for a hotel/guesthouse that is not on any booking sites. If you want to be safe, you can book your accommodation in Matara before getting there.

Getting to Roshan Rest – Matara Accommodation

From the bus station, getting to Roshan Rest is an easterly walk along Beach Road. It is next door to the New Browns Rest, just behind a bakery/restaurant and across the road from the Beach Park (a strip of grass between the beach and the road).

Address: No 4/41 Beach Road, Matala. 0412228318

Map to Get to Roshan’s Rest

Exploring Matara

Once settled in I went exploring Matara by taking a stroll down Beach Park. Parivi Duwa Shrine was the first thing I came across.

Parivi Duwa Shrine

Next I decided to go over the bridge through the city center, west along the river through the residential areas and then south towards the inlet, where my intention was to cross over. I assumed there would be some sort of bridge, but there wasn’t.

Inlet I tried to cross

I asked a couple of young teens if it was shallow enough to walk over. Of course they said yes, and of course it was not, which I discovered when my head was underwater. Not wanting to get my bag wet (I had it held over my head) I decided not to swim over. Also, although extremely unlikey at the inlet, I was scared of crocodiles.

Fishermen on the beach

Luckily, instead of having to walk around again, a local fisherman gave me a lift on his boat across the inlet.

Where I walked while exploring Matala

Costs Summary for Climbing Little Adam’s Peak – Ella – Sri Lanka Day 8

Food

Fruit. 200LKR
Small Eats. 55LKR
Egg Kottu. 130LKR
Food Costs Total: 385LKR

Transport

Bus to Wellawaya. 60LKR
Bus to Matara. 200LKR
Transport Costs Total: 260LKR

Accommodation

Home-Stay – Ella, including dinner and breakfast. 2000LKR
Roshan Rest – Matara. 1000LKR
Accommodation Costs Total: 3000LKR

Grand Total for Day 8 in Sri Lanka: 3645LKR
Grand Total in USD (Approx): $27.50

Often I find the unexpected adventures are the most memorable. What unexpected adventures have you had whilst traveling?

We’d love to hear about it in the comments… or anything else you want to say

The highlight of my day today is a toss up between climbing Little Adams Peak and my stroll/boat ride whilst exploring Matara.

The post Climbing Little Adam’s Peak – Ella – Sri Lanka Day 8 appeared first on Survive Travel.

Catching the Train From Kandy to Ella – Sri Lanka Day 7

This post includes a Temple of the Tooth review, catching the train from Kandy to Ella and a home-stay in Ella review including directions, daily cost summary and other useful information, and perhaps some not so useful personal observations and opinions.

Well I slept on it and this morning the internet wasn’t working so first thing (after a quick work out and breakfast) I went to the train station to suss out catching the train from Kandy to Ella. I had enough time so I went back to the hotel to get my things and checked out the Temple of the Tooth on the way.

Temple of the Tooth Review

Cost: 500LKR for SAARC country citizens (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) or 1000LKR or everyone else.

If you do not know what a SAARC country is, you are probably not a citizen of one.

I didn’t actually go in but decided to do a short Temple of the Tooth review anyway as it is said that the tooth of Buddha is located here and it is probably the most sacred site in Sri Lanka. I definitely would have gone in if I was staying another night in Kandy.

In any case, the map of the Temple of the Tooth looked interesting and there seems to be a lot in there. You can go up to it for free, you just can’t actually go into the grounds.

The Temple of the Tooth is one of the most sacred sites in Sri Lanka

Getting to the Temple of the Tooth – Kandy

Getting to the Temple of the Tooth is easy because it is right in the middle of town. Look on the map. It is literally across the road from the Olde Empire Hotel.

Map of Kandy

Catching the Train From Kandy To Ella

Catching the train from Kandy to Ella was AMAZING. It is easily the best scenic train ride I have ever been on.. although I haven’t been on many.

Trains leave from Kandy at 0830, 1110 and 1230 (check this at the train station).

View of tea fields from the train

The guy at information counter said that you can’t book tickets ahead of time when catching the train from Kandy to Ella, or reserve a seat, but when I went to buy the ticket he asked me when I wanted it for, and what kind of ticket I wanted. I got a 3rd class seat for 400LKR.

When catching the train from Kandy to Ella request a window seat, preferably on the right hand side of the train as it goes forwards (for the best views, in my opinion).

I think if you don’t want to reserve a seat it is about 280LKR.

I got the 1110 (which actually left Kandy at 1120-ish) and arrived in Ella just shy of 1800 or there about’s.

I highly recommend catching the train from Kandy to Ella, or at least somewhere along this stretch. The scenery is breathtaking.

Here’s a 30 second video of scenery when catching the train from Kandy to Ella. It does not do it justice at all, but I took it, so here it is.

I’ve decided not to book any accommodation for the rest of the trip as, like Vietnam, finding accommodation does not seem to be a problem. Anyway, once in Ella I found a home-stay fairly quickly.

Home-Stay in Ella Review – Unknown Name

Cost: 1500/night, cheaper if you share rooms

After getting the train from Kandy to Ella I walked down the road a bit and a woman asked if I needed accommodation, so I stayed there. Here is my home-stay in Ella Review, though I never caught the name of the place.

It is a home-stay. The family is very nice and it may be the cheapest place in Ella.

They also serve food and served up an amazing curry for dinner (250LKR) and a big traditional Sri Lankan breakfast (also 250LKR). Rooms are decent. No fan but it’s not needed in Ella.

Shared bathroom, no hot water and dodgy internet. Good location, but then Ella is very small so most of the accommodation is in a good location.

Getting to the Home-stay in Ella

Getting to the home-stay in Ella is easy if coming from the train station.

Get off the train, walk down the road. It is on the left. There are signs for food. The daughter will probably be out the front to ask you if you want a room.

I don’t know the name of this home-stay, but it is just down the road from the train station

Once checked in to my home-stay in Ella I got some postcards from the local supermarket then went back for a pretty good rice and curry dinner with two other guests.. a Dutch lad and a Hungarian gentleman. It made for interesting conversation.

This Ella accommodation review was for a hotel/guesthouse that is not on any booking sites. If you want to be safe, you can book ahead your accommodation in Ella

Costs Summary for Getting the Train From Kandy To Ella – Sri Lanka Day 7Food

Small eats. 185LKR
Food Costs Total: 185LKR

Transport

Item. Cost
Catching the train from Kandy to Ella. 400LKR
Transportation Costs Total: 400LKR
Accommodation

Olde Empire Hotel. 1200LKR
Accommodation Costs Total: 1200LKR
Other

Postcards. 270LKR
Other Costs Total: 270LKR

Grand Total for Day 7: 2055LKR
Grand Total in USD (Approx): $15.45

What awesome train rides have you been on?

We’d love to hear about it in the comments… or anything else you want to say

The highlight of my day was definitely catching the the train from Kandy To Ella, and is also a highlight of the trip for me so far. I think I will catch trains more often when traveling from now on.

The post Catching the Train From Kandy to Ella – Sri Lanka Day 7 appeared first on Survive Travel.

Peradenia Botanical Gardens Review – Sri Lanka Day 6

This post includes getting to Kandy From Dambulla, a Kandy accommodation review, exploring Kandy, Peradenia Botanical Gardens review, Kandyan cutural show review and also provides directions, daily cost summary, other useful information, and perhaps also some not so useful personal observations and opinions.

I was supposed to go to Polonnaruwa but I had enough of ancient towns so I decided to skip it and go straight to Kandy.

Getting to Kandy From Dambulla

Getting from Kandy to Dambulla is as easy a standing on the side of the Kandy road (the side where the cars are going towards Kandy) and wave the bus down when you see it.

It probably depends on what bus you catch, I was on the least expensive I think and it cost 93LKR and took about 2.5-3 hours. I had to stand half the way – hold on tight!

There is a short pit stop about 30minutes in.

Kandy Accommodation Review – Olde Empire Hotel

Cost: 1200LKR is the cheapest room. Up to 3000LKR or possibly more.

This is not found on any booking site, I got it off Wikitravel.org/en/Kandy. I managed to get a room last minute for 1200. Very basic and a bit dingy but a good size with attached bathroom.

Restaurant is a bit pricey and the internet is only in the restaurant (apparently – I could get signal in my room) and you need to buy something to get the password e.g. a drink. Also, the restaurant is only open from 0830 to 2030, and they shut down the internet when they are closed!!

Room has a fan. Also, first place in Sri Lanka that gives you a top bed-sheet to cover yourself with at night… weird that’s not a usual thing. I’ve been ripping off the bottom sheets from other beds at night to use!

Location is amazing, smack bang in the center of town. I think for Kandy it is good value, but the internet thing is a bit shit.

The website for the Olde Empire Hotel is OldeEmpireHotel.com

This Kandy Accommodation review was for a hotel/guesthouse that is not on any booking sites. If you want to be safe, you can book ahead your accommodation in Kandy

Getting to the Olde Empire Hotel

It is just up the road from the bus/train stations. If arriving by bus, get off in town as it is right there… next to Pizza Hut and the Temple of the Tooth.

Here’s a map.

Olde Empire Hotel is in the middle of town, next to pizza hit and the Temple of the Tooth

Exploring Kandy

Once I checked into my accommodation I went for a walk around town. Near to the market I stumbled across a second hand market where the clothes are even cheaper than normal Sri Lankan prices.. and that my friends is ridiculously cheap – I’m talking 100LKR for a pair of jeans.

Anyways, I did not buy anything from there but got talked into getting a Sarong made which turned out to be a waste of time and money (400LKR) as I threw it away the same day. My intention was for it to replace the … which didn’t get delivered to Australia before I left (it was delivered the very next day!). It all worked out for the better though and I’ve come across an item that I feel will be a permanent fixture in my day-pack… a bedsheet!

I was pissed at the Olde Empire because of the internet and rudeness of the cafe manager so I swapped my Sarong for their bedsheet, which I cut down to be just enough to cover me as a bed sheet. It is now also my towel, emergency clothing (like a Sarong), blanket, ground sheet, emergency sun protection etc. Also, if it gets damaged, it is not hard to replace. The only thing is that this bedsheet is made out of material that I really like. As I write this I am examining the bedsheet I am on now and it is not the same. I’ll have to find out what material this is… I think it is cotton.

I had some small eats for lunch which set me back 70LKR then went to the Botanical Gardens which brings me to my Peradenia Botanical Gardens review.

Peradenia Botanical Gardens Review – Kandy

Cost: 1100LKR

The Peradenia Botanical Gardens was well worth the visit for me. I got to Kandy and after a quick look around I was just like ‘get me out of the f*kin city’. The botanical gardens was a perfect getaway.

It took me a few hours to walk around, but i took my time. Everything was in good order, except the Cactus and Succulents house was closed for some reason. Next to it was the Orchid house which is always nice… because Orchids are mint and one of the only plants I would have in my garden that has no real practical use (as far as I know) besides looking amazing.

Just one of the many Orchids in the Orchid House

There’s also a small suspension bridge

View from the suspension bridge

…giant bamboo, which I am definitely going to put in my dream home…

Giant Bamboo

…giant coconuts, which I am not sure if they are edible or not

Giant Coconuts

…an outdoor garden, although the whole thing is an outdoor garden

Outdoor Garden

…and lots of bats in trees (I think) which I’ve never seen before.

Bats in the trees (I think)

There is more but that’s all the pictures I got for this Peradenia Botanical Gardens review.

Getting to the Peradenia Botanical Gardens

On the map the Local Bus Stop is marked. Get on the bus marked to Peradenia. It cost me 18LKR there and 15LKR back so who knows whats going on. Hand the guy a 20 and he’ll give you whatever change he reckons I guess.

The guy told me when to get off.

By the time I got back it was right in time for the Kandyan Cultural Show at 1800.

Kandyan Cutural Show Review – Kandy

Cost: 1000LKR

For some reason I thought this was free so I went there and didn’t have enough money to get in! Luckily, a local somehow managed to get me in for what I did have, which was 750LKR.

I’m glad I got in for cheap because it wasn’t fantastic, however, it was worth the look. They do a number of traditional dances, as some fire stuff, including fire-walking at the end.

Fire Eating at the Kandyan Dance

Getting to the Kandyan Cultural Show

It is held at the cultural center from 1700-1800 every night (I think). It is marked on the map.

There are actually two performances next to each other. Go to the first one of the two, assuming you are coming along the river from town. I saw both ‘playlists’ and the first one is better, because it has fire.

Map of Kandy

After the show I went for dinner at some resturant and had Devilled Chicken. This was pretty good. I assume all deviled things are just whatever it is (beef, pork etc) covered with this pretty tasty sauce.

Deviled Chicken.. pretty tasty

On the way back to the hotel I also got some Roasted Chick Peas for 50LKR. With a little Chili on it.. just because it is Sri Lanka. Tasted better than I thought it would.

Roasted Chick Peas with a dash of chili

Costs Summary for Peradenia Botanical Gardens Review – Sri Lanka Day 6Food

Small Eats. 70LKR
Fruit. 250LKR
Breakfast. 70LKR
Devilled Chicken and Rice. 357LKR
Chick Peas. 50LKR
Food Costs Total: 797LKR

Transport

Item. Cost
Bus to Kandy. 93LKR
Bus to Peradenia Botanical Gardens. 18LKR
Bus back to Kandy. 15LKR
Transport Costs Total: 126LKR

Sightseeing

Garden Entry. 1100LKR
Kandyan Dance. 750LKR (Usually 1000LKR)
Sightseeing Costs Total: 1850LKR

Other

Sarong. 400LKR
Other Costs Total: 400LKR

Grand Total for Day 6 in Sri Lanka: 3173LKR
Grand Total in USD (Approx): $23.85

What was your favorite thing to do in Kandy?

We’d love to hear about it in the comments… or anything else you want to say

After only half a day of exploring Kandy I’ve tossing up whether to leave tommorow or stay another night. Doing the Peradenia Botanical Gardens Review was a definite highlight for me and there is lots more to do here, but I am just not feeling it. I’ll sleep on it and see how I feel.

The post Peradenia Botanical Gardens Review – Sri Lanka Day 6 appeared first on Survive Travel.

Getting to the Pidurangala Rock Temple – Sri Lanka Day 5

This post includes getting to the Pidurangala Rock Temple, getting to Sigiriya from Dambulla, getting to Sigiriya from Kandy and also provides directions, daily cost summary, other useful information, and perhaps also some not so useful personal observations and opinions.

Going to Sigiriya is a great day trip from Dambulla and if you don’t like paying extortionate entry fees for the Sigiriya Ancient Ruins, there is a cheaper option i.e. the nearby Pidurangala Rock Temple

I set out this morning with the intention of seeing the Sigiriya Ancient Ruins as a day trip, but once I got there I decided not to go in for three main reasons:

1. I seen lots of ruins in Anuradhapura

2. I think 30usd is a bit extortionate

3. The Pidurangala Rock Temple is next to it, much cheaper (500LKR) and you get a good birds eye view of the Ruins

Getting to Sigiriya from Dambulla

Getting to Sigiriya from Dambulla is a single bus ride from the Dambulla bus station. Mine took a while (about an hour) because it stopped and waited to get filled up. You can catch it from town but it is best to get it from the actual bus station to ensure a seat. The bus cost 45LRK.

On the way back a nice worker gave me a lift to the ‘town’ where I caught the bus back to Dambulla. It was a bigger bus and only cost 35LKR.

Alternatively a tuk tuk driver offered to take me there for 800LKR.

Getting to Sigiriya from Kandy

I met some French guys there who had come from Kandy as a day trip. They said it took 5 hours to get to Sigiriya from Kandy , and the bus only left once a day at 0700. I think they took a bus back to Dambulla and from there took a bus back to Kandy.

Getting to the Pidurangala Rock Temple

The map below shows where to get off the bus (the driver will tell you to get off), how to get to the Sigiriya Ancient Ruins and also getting to the Pidurangala Rock Temple.

Map of Sigiriya

The walk up when getting to the Pidurangala Rock Temple is easy to navigate at the start, but towards the end it’s a bit hard to figure out which way to go. I met 2 other climbers (pairs of climbers) up there, and all of us got up a different way. Just keep going, you’ll figure it out.

Unfortunately the day was a bit rainy so I didn’t get an awesome view, but from the top of Pidurangala Rock Temple, once it cleared up a bit, I could see the ruins site.

I am sure actually going into the ruins is also very worthwhile, and if I hadn’t just been to Anuradhapura I probably would have paid the $30.

When I got back to Dambulla I tried out some Hoppers. It set me back 100LKR i.e. 20LKR per hopper but they come in 5. You can also get an egg hopper for 45LKR per hopper, which is basically a plain hopper with a fried egg in the middle of it.

As far as I can tell, this is made from a pancake type mix. It is thin and crispy, and towards the bottom/center it gets more like a pancake.

I think they are usually eaten them for breakfast and afternoon tea. You can have it with chili… pancakes and chili.. ha! Only in Sri Lanka (maybe).

These are plain Hoppers, but they come in other varieties also.

On the walk back from town to my accommodation (Blue Sky Guest House) I got some Peanut Brittle from the market.. a good amount for only 100LKR.

I had a little rest then went for dinner across the road where I got a massive amount of fried rice for 250LKR …

Fried Rice with curry sauce

… and Elephant Drink (Sri Lanka branded pop) which was 50LKR or a 200ml bottle, and was pretty good.

Elephant soft drinks. Same great taste for a fraction of the price.

Costs Summary for Getting to the Pidurangala Rock Temple – Sri Lanka Day 5Food

Plain Hoppers and egg roll. 130LKR (5 plain Hoppers for 100LKR)
Peanut brittle 100LKR
Fried Rice. 250LKR
Elephant Drink, 200ml. 50LKR
Food Costs Total: 680LKR

Transport

Tuktuk to bus stop. 150LKR
Bus to Sigiriya 1hr. 45LKR
Bus back to Dambulla. 35LKR
Transport Costs Total: 195LKR

Sightseeing

Pidurangala cave and rock temple. 500LKR
Sightseeing Costs Total: 500LKR

Other

Scissors. 65LKR
Dental floss. 275LKR
Other Costs Total: 340LKR

Grand Total for Day 5: 1715LKR
Grand Total in USD (Approx): $12.90

Has anyone done Sigiriya Ancient Ruins?

We’d love to hear about it in the comments… or anything else you want to say

Going to Sigiriya was a good day trip from Dambulla, and although the whether was a bit rainy and I didn’t get the best views, I feel that getting to Pidurangala Rock Temple instead of going into the Sigiriya Ancient Ruins was a good choice.

The post Getting to the Pidurangala Rock Temple – Sri Lanka Day 5 appeared first on Survive Travel.

Dambulla Cave Temple Review – Sri Lanka Day 4

This post includes a Dambulla Cave Temple review, getting to Dambulla from Anuradhapura, a Dambulla accommodation review and also provides directions, daily cost summary, other useful information, and perhaps also some not so useful personal observations and opinions.

The Dambulla Cave Temple is also known as the Dambulla Rock Temple, and like all tourist attractions in Sri Lanka (or so it seems so far) it is overpriced for tourists but locals get in for next to nothing, actually nothing in this case.

Getting to Dambulla From Anuradhapura

As soon as I was ready this morning I left Anuradhapura and headed for Dambulla.

I got dropped off at the OLD bus station by tuk tuk (50LKR), then I asked the first guy for the bus to Dambulla and one was leaving so I quickly jumped on.

It was air-conditioned, took about 1hour 45mins (I left at 1000am) and was comfortable enough. It cost 200LKR. You can probably get non air-conditioned ones for less.

Dambulla Accommodation Review – Blue Sky Guest House

Cost: 10.80USD/night for a standard single room, no aircon but has a fan.

The Blue Sky Guest house was good, basic accommodation with strong wifi. It was clean with good security. Friendly staff in a quiet area (most of the time). Good local restaurant across the road.

Two down points:
1. My hot water didn’t work, although Im sure if I told them they’d fix it pretty quick.

2. A bit far from town, about 4km… but to be fair, there’s not much in town anyway. A tuk tuk is about 150LKR.

Book your stay at the Blue Sky Guest House in Dambulla.

Address: 44 Mile Post, Kandy Road, Dambulla

Blue Sky Guest House

Getting to the Blue Sky Guest House in Dambulla

From the bus station you can catch a Tuk Tuk for 200LKR max.

Alternatively, walk south on the Jaffna – Kandy road (the same road the bus stop is on) for about 4km. You will walk past the Golden Temple and Cave Temple about 400 meters. Turn right down the lane where the sign to the Relax Guest House is (you can see the Blue Sky Guest House sign if coming from the other way). The Blue Sky Guest House is just there on your left.

Map of Dambulla to Blue Sky Guest House

Dambula Cave Temple Review

By the time I had checked in to my accommodation it was mid afternoon, so I decided to do the Dambulla Cave Temple (hence this Dambulla Cave Temple Review), which is only about 500m up the road.

Before going in I got a good rice curry for 250LKR from a little store in the markets across the road from the Dambulla Cave Temple.

It’s a good walk up the stairs so make sure you buy the ticket (1500LKR) before you climb them. The ticket booth is located next to the stairs that lead you up to the temple.

The Rock Temple is basically a temple carved into a rock. There are some (quite a few actually) Buddhas up/in there. What impressed me most was the paintings on the cave walls. Just lots of images of Buddha, hand painted. I played ‘spot the difference’ by myself for a few minutes then went to look at the monkeys and walk around the herb garden, which seems to be not-maintained in the slightest, but also has monkeys.

Across the road are some market type stalls.

I know, not a very extensive Dambulla Cave Temple review, but all in all I think it was worth the 1500LKR. A nice way to spend a few hours.

Getting to the Dambulla Cave Temple

A tuk tuk from the Dambulla bus station should not cost you more than 200LKR.

Otherwise, you can walk straight down Kandy road for about 3.5km.

Map of Dambulla to Blue Sky Guest House

Costs Summary for Dambulla Cave Temple Review – Sri Lanka Day 4Food

Rice curry . 250LKR
Potato Samosas and small OJ. 110LKR
Fruit. 180LKR
Chicken Kotta. 250LKR
Food Costs Total: 780LKR

Transport:

Tuk tuk to bus stop. 50LKR
Bus to Dambula. 200LKR
Tuktuk to Blue Sky Guest House. 200LKR
Transport Costs Total: 450LKR

Sightseeing

Entry fee to Dambulla Cave Temple: 1500LKR
Sightseeing Costs Total: 1500

Accommodation

Blue Sky Guest House for 2 nights: Approx 3000LKR
Accommodation Costs Total: 3000LKR

Grand Total for Day 4 in Sri Lanka: 5730LKR
Grand Total in USD (Approx): $43.10

Have you done anything else exiting in Dambulla?

We’d love to hear about it in the comments… or anything else you want to say

Well that’s it for my Dambulla Cave Temple review aka Dambulla Rock Temple. There isn’t much else sight-seeing wise going on in Dambulla, but it is a nice central place for going to other places.

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Minimalist Packing List for World Travel

I consider myself to be a survival minimalist so this post describes my personal survival minimalist packing list for world travel. This packing list serves me worldwide, everything fits into my carry-on luggage, and if the plane goes down, I have everything needed to survive, that’s allowed onto a plane. (no knife or fire starting)

Over the years I have refined my belongings in the idea of having less stuff to achieve more. Isn’t it ironic that I have continually bought things in an effort to have less.

This survival minimalist packing list for world travel is what I move around with. If I am in one place for a while e.g. working, I usually accumulate a few extra things e.g. in colder climates, special expeditions, work clothes etc. but they are discarded when I move on or they replace something of the same item e.g. clothing.

It is probably good to note that this entire survival minimalist packing list for world travel is Airplane safe, meaning I can get it on as a carry on. If I intend to ‘stow’ my bag underneath, I usually also include a good knife, but that is the only other addition.

The last thing I feel is important to note is that the first thing I buy when I land anywhere is a knife and a lighter.

Survival Minimalist Packing List for World Travel

OK, here it is. My survival minimalist packing list for world travel, divided into different sections.

Clothing

Obviously clothing is pretty important, and it is easy to get carried away with what you need and don’t need. Here’s my general tip: only pack 2 of everything, except maybe socks and underwear which you may want more of.

I prefer tropical weather, so I try to stick to lightweight, quick dry materials. Cotton or cotton blends works well for me.

Here’s what I carry in the way of clothing:
1 x Rain Jacket – Not Gortex, but on par i.e. cheaper
1 x Light fleece jumper – Not a hoodie
1 x Thermals – Top and bottom. I use looser ones that can be put on over t-shirt, since it can be a pain in the ass to put on/take off thermals underneath
1 x Trousers – Multipurpose i.e. good enough to go out in, for everyday wear or even hiking in cooler weather. I don’t use jeans as they take too long to dry and are slightly heavier, but to each their own.
1 x Zip off pants, lightweight. These are my alternate pants/shorts. Since I only carry one pair of pants and one pair of shorts, if either are being washed these can double as either.
1 x Shorts. Board shorts, quick dry
1 x Running shorts/Bathers, for exercise
1 x Singlet, for exercise or other
2 x T-shirts, as this is what I wear most
1 x Collared shirt, to go out in or everyday wear if needed
1 x sandals, barefoot technology baby. Lightweight and great for your spine
1 x shoes. Ditto on the barefoot
1 x waterproof socks, because barefoot shoes are definitely not waterproof
Socks and underwear, as needed. 3 pairs works well for me.
1 x Sunglasses
1 x Shemaugh. This is what they use in the desert (probably Arabia or something) and even the special forces have clicked on. It is very versatile depending on how you use it. Sun protection, face protection, cover your eyes for day naps, ground sheet, blanket, emergency towel etc.

All my clothing… basically 2 of everything

Survival Kits

I’ve written separate posts on my Airplane safe survival kit and how to make your own survival key-ring.

This survival kit also includes a medical kit.

Survival/Medical Kit all packed up

Toiletries and Liquids

I keep these all together because of flying restrictions i.e. all liquids in a zip lock bag.

Top Left Bag
Tea, Clove oil, small empty glass bottle to mix clove oil if needed

Top Right Bag
Teeth, soap, deoderant, moisturiser

Bottom
3% clove oil, sunscreen, lip balm, super glue

Note: Clove oil is exceptionally useful more medical and other uses. Check out Wilderness and Travel Medicine.

Toiletries and other liquids

Miscellaneous and Spares

Just spare and random electronics, pharmaceuticals, stationary etc.

Miscellaneous stuff including spares

Being a travel blogger, I also have a laptop. It is 10.1 inch.

How it is Packed

Now you have a basic rundown of what I pack… here’s how it looks altogether. The bag is small enough to get onto carry on luggage, however, I usually put my laptop and a few other things into the bag on the front for ease of use and to keep the weight down.

All packed away

So that bag on the front is my day pack. The following picture is what I usually keep in it.

What I put in the front pocket of my pack – easily transferable to my day pack

When I need to take everything I put whatever I would usually have in the day pack in the front pocket of my ‘big’ pack, which basically just includes things I commonly use for the day and varies depending on what I’m doing e.g. a small medical kit, portable charger, steripen (water sterilizer) mp3, poncho, water, smaugh etc.

Some things that often make it into my front pocket / day pack

Well that’s it for my survival minimalist packing list for world travel. Of course, everyone has different needs but in general just pack only what you absolutely need. If you find you need something you don’t have, you can always buy it later.

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Getting to Anuradhapura Ancient City – Sri Lanka Day 3

This post includes getting to Anuradhapura Ancient City, exploring Anuradhapura Ancient City and also provides directions, daily cost summary, other useful information, and perhaps also some not so useful personal observations and opinions.

Exploring Anuradhapura Ancient City was a lot of fun. There’s is a lot to see and all the major attractions are close enough to walk between. It’s a good day out.

Getting to Anuradhapura Ancient City

I caught a tuk tuk from my accommodation (Cottage Tourist Rest) to the museum (200LKR). On the way the driver tried very hard to sell me a tour which he says means you don’t need to buy the ticket, and you get him to drive you around all day. As I was walking into the ticket office he yelled out his final price of 1300LKR.

Exploring Anuradhapura Ancient City

Cost: 25USD for the official ticket (3250LKR)

The official ticket allows you to see all the sites within the Ancient City, and you can buy it from the museum or from the guards on the way in.

I walked into the ticket office, and decided not to buy a ticket, but when walked back out the tuk tuk driver was already gone. Then I walked toward the ancient city but was stopped by guards so had to by the ticket anyway. I’m not sure what I would have seen with the tuk tuk driver, probably different stuff but more.

In any case, it was a good day and I walked up a sh*t storm.

See the maps below for sites and other stuff (click to enlarge).

I had vegetable roti for lunch which was pretty tasty, although a little overpriced (150LKR) due to the tourist area.

Vegetable Roti made to order

I also tried Kik Cola, which I think is comparable to Coke, but way cheaper (25LKR for a small bottle)

Kik cola is ridiculously cheap, and compares well to Coke (i guess… I’m not a Coke connoisseur)

…and these Sri Lankan crisps for 30LKR, which are labelled BBQ but taste like curry, and are pretty good.

BBQ flavored Sri Lanka Crisps

After getting to Anuradhapura Ancient City and a long day of exploring I got a very overpriced curry (500LKR) at a restaurant close to my accommodation. It was ok tasting, but got eaten by mosquitoes whilst dining.

Curry

Costs Summary for Exploring Anuradhapura Ancient City – Sri Lanka Day 3Food

Roti and fresh Orange Juice. 300LKR
chicken puff. 40LKR
Kik cola. 25LKR
Supermarket snacks. 255LKR
Market snacks. 90LKR
Chicken Curry. 500LKR
Egg Roll (for tomorrows breakfast). 50LKR
Food Costs Total: 1260LKR

Transport:

Tuk Tuk to Museum. 200LKR
Transport Costs Total: 200LKR

Accommodation:

Cottage Tourist Rest, 2 nights. 3600LKR
Accommodation Costs Total: 3600

Sightseeing:

Entry Ticket to Ancient City. 3250LKR
Sightseeing Costs Total: 3250LKR

Grand Total for Day 3 in Sri Lanka: 8310LKR
Grand Total in USD (Approx): $62.50

Has anyone done the Tuk Tuk tour? What did you see?

We’d love to hear about it in the comments… or anything else you want to say

Exploring and getting to Anuradhapura Ancient City was was a great day, although I thought the entry fee was a bit pricey. I did it on foot (except for the tuk tuk from my accommodation to the museum in the morning) and it took me about 6 hours. I saw a few tourists on push bikes which seems a good option, or you could go with a tuk tuk tour.

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Getting to Anuradhapura – Sri Lanka Day 2

This post includes getting to Anuradhapura from Colombo, an Anuradhapura accommodation review and also provides directions, daily cost summary, other useful information and perhaps also some not so useful personal observations and opinions.

Before getting to Anuradhapura I finally bought some lithium batteries for my Steripen. No more buying water, and the batteries are about half the price as they were in Australia.

Getting to Anuradhapura from Colombo

I walked around for a bit until catching my train to get to Anuradhapura, which was about a 5 hour journey. Much more pleasant than trains in China and not at all what I expected i.e. not overcrowded at all. The ticket was 450LRK which I had bought yesterday.

Inside the train to Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura Accommodation Review – Cottage Tourist Rest

Cost: Approx 16usd / night for a single private room with private bathroom.

As soon as I arrived in Anuradhapura I checked into my accommodation.

When I first arrived at the Cottage Tourist Rest in I was a bit apprehensive because they were doing renovations out the front, and the guy didn’t seem to know what was going on i.e. not very organised.

10 minutes later however I had a completely different attitude. They gave me a huge room (2 double beds) with TV but no aircon. Private bathroom with hot water, and decent internet although the signal in my room was only about 50% (good enough though). Staff is pleasant although some have limited English.

On the way in I got offered a room for much cheaper by a tout on the street (1000LKR – under $10usd), but I had already booked this one.

I don’t know what the other room was like but if I were to do it again, I’d probably not book and see what was available. I saw a few hotels walking around and I doubt they are all full.

If you like to play it safe however, you can book your stay at the Cottage Tourist Rest here.

Address: 388/38 Harischandra Mawatha, Anuradhapura

Getting to the Tourist Cottage Rest

Here’s a map showing the train station and the Cottage Tourist Rest.

Map to Cottage Tourist Rest – Anuradhapura

After checking in I just walked around town. I bought a padlock and discovered my cheapo Lock Picks are shite (they just bend). Went for the Kottu again, beef this time. It was good, and just as spicy as last night. Next time I’ll ask for half
spice.

Costs Summary for Getting to Anuradhapura – Sri Lanka Day 2

Food: 180LKR
Accommodation: 0
Sightseeing/Other: 1350LKR
Transport: 0

Total: 1530LKR
Total in USD (approx): $11.50

Along the train ride to Anuradhapura

What things have you done in Anuradhapura?

We’d love to hear about it in the comments… or anything else you want to say

Getting to Anuradhapura took up most of my day so didn’t really do too much once I was there. I enjoyed the train ride though, there’s a lot of beautiful scenery in Sri Lanka.

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5 Days in Singapore Itinerary With Costs

5 days in Singapore itinerary with costs including daily expenditure, total expenditure and average daily cost of traveling in Singapore.

All costs are in local currency, and are rounded/approximated high where applicable.

Day 1 of 5 Days in SingaporeArrived at airportBought a 3 day tourist MRT card. $30SGPTrain to town. $3SGPWalk to accommodation, Lurut swap meet on the way.B88 Hostel. Payed for 5 nights $95sgd. This was with early booking 30% discount on Agoda.Little India. Veeramakaliamman Temple. Chicken Briyani for dinner $7SGPVictoria StreetBugis Street Markets

Total Expenditure Day 1
Total expenditure for day 1 of 5 days in Singapore was $135SGD

Bugis Street markets has lots of things to buy and may favorite… snacks!

Day 2 of 5 Days in SingaporeKent Ridge ParkAte Hainese Chicken $8SGDToy Musem $15SGPEsplanadeRiver Cruise $25SGDIce-cream $1.20SGDArts and Science Museum $25SGDGardens by the bayAte Bee Hoon and Masala Dosai. $SGP7SGP

Total Expenditure Day 2
Total expenditure for day 2 of 5 Days in Singapore was $81.20 SGP

Walking along the bridge only costs $5SGP, but the line was atrocious

Day 3 of 5 Days in SingaporePulau UbinBum boat $5SGP (return)Bike hire $5SGPAte Nasi Ayam $4SGPDrink $1.3SGPJoo ChiatAte Laksa $7SGPGeylangAte Popeyes $7SGP

Total Expenditure Day 3
Total expenditure for day 3 of 5 days in Singapore was $29.30SGP

Bumboat to Pulau Ubin fits 12 passengers plus 2 crew

Day 4 of 5 Days in SingaporeMacRitchie ReservoirAte Mee Siam 4.50SGPChinese and Japanese Gardens (I picked this as my favorite top things to do in Singapore)ChinatownAte Bak Kut Teh $6SGD

Total Expenditure Day 4
Total expenditure for day 4 of 5 days in Singapore was $10.50SGP

Day 5 of 5 Days in SingaporeSim Lim Square. Got computer fixed $30SGPReturned MTR Tourist card. – $10SGD refund.Ate Pie Face $6.50SGPAte Economy Rice and Beer $8.50SGPMassage $50SGP

On day 6 I went the train to the airport cost $2.30SGP, so I’m including that in day 5.

Total Expenditure Day 5
Total expenditure for day 4 of 5 days in Singapore was $87.30SGP

Economy Rice. Very edible meals at only $2SGP, with rice, 1 meat and 1 veg.

Total Cost for 5 Days in Singapore

The total cost for 5 Days in Singapore was…

$339.70SGP = $271.69USD according to Google.com at the time of writing this.

My average daily spend was $54.34USD

I went a bit over my usual $50/day budget but if you eat cheap every meal i.e. economy rice for under $3.00SGP per meal, and don’t get massages you can easily do it.

Well that’s it. I hope you find the information of this itinerary and costs of 5 Days in Singapore useful. Please feel free to add your own itineraries or suggestions in the comments.

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