Galle – VAGABOND IMAGES

Experience the best of bush, beach and highlands in Sri Lanka!

Upendra SwamiJuly 31, 2019959 Views0

It’s not about a hotel, but about a whole chain of hotels. We often review hotels on their facilities, rooms, comfort, but here I am talking about the outdoor experience that these hotels guarantee and I can assure you that these are the reasons good enough to try them, and while you do so you won’t be compromising on any other thing that you would like to judge this hotel upon. Having said that, this is a fact that tiny island nation of Sri Lanka is an amazingly rich place in natural heritage and it gives you some very fascinating encounters with beautiful, beautiful world of wildlife. What more can be fun when you get some fantastic deals to stay and enjoy. That is all experience with Cinnamon is all about. Into the wild of Yala If you’re keen to make the most of incredibl...

International

Negombo, I remember

Upendra SwamiApril 29, 2019526 Views5

It was painful to watch the aftermath of carnage at St Sebastian’s Church in Negombo. For that matter, heart pained for Sri Lanka as a whole. No innocent people need to die this way anywhere in the world. This bloodshed takes us nowhere but to more bloodshed. It has to end. Period! I felt a connect to Negombo as soon as I heard about the incident. I spent my first night at Negombo on my first trip to Sri Lanka exactly ten years back in 2009. So, my first impressions for this beautiful island nation came from Negombo. It was a also the starting point of a memorable almost a week long road trip of the island nation. Also read: An orphanage for the mighty at Pinnawala Saint Stephen's Church at Negombo which was consecrated in 1880, when Britishers ruled the island nation. Church is ...

AdventureInternational

Visit Sri Lanka for some warmth this winter

Upendra SwamiJanuary 9, 2019407 Views4

Is the winter too harsh here in the north? Well, if you need some sunshine, why don’t you move south… further upto Sri Lanka. And, its not just sunshine, it is a perfect holiday destination to give you some unforgettable experiences. I had a fantastic experience in Sri Lanka, every single time I was there. It’s close, its fun and its affordable too. So let me list out the reasons, why you should be in Sri Lanka right now or may be later this month. What an exciting first trip of the new year it can be. So, let’s go! Tea gardens of central Sri Lanka 1. Brilliant weather and immaculate beaches One of the perks of vacationing in an island country like Sri Lanka are the stretches of pristine beaches, azure ocean waters and seemingly endless horizon. The beaches of Southern Sri Lank...

AdventureInternational

Watching Blue Whale and Dolphins at Mirissa

Upendra SwamiDecember 7, 2018303 Views0

Have you ever wondered, that how and where you can watch the biggest living animal on this planet without having to part with a fortune! Where you can watch the Blue Whale closest to India? Actually, despite having spotted a Blue Whale some years back off the Malwan coast in Konkan region, there is no place in India from where you can spot whales with regularity, hence there is no whale watching in India as per se. India does have dolphins in large number- fresh water as well as salt water. Fresh water dolphins can be seen in Ganges and Brahmaputra. While ocean dolphins can be seen at Chilika in Odisha and at many places off the coast in Arabian Sea including Goa and Lakshdweep. But even these dolphin sightings are brief and by chance, and that too from quite a distance. Whale watching...

InternationalPhotogallery

Ramparts of Galle – Withstanding time & nature

Upendra SwamiAugust 18, 2015365 Views4

We Indians have been associated with Galle more because of the cricket, as it had been one of the three major centres of cricket in Sri Lanka, besides Colombo and Kandy. More recently, we felt the pain of an insulting defeat just on the eve of the Independence Day in first test match at Galle. Well, but to Sri Lanka Galle is more than just cricket, a slice of its colonial past and a monument of its cultural heritage, even listed in UNESCO World Heritage sites. Being surrounded by sea from three sides adds to its beauty. Galle Fort is robust and even withstood 2004 Tsunami which caused a catastrophic devastation in the area. Built by Portuguese, it was later on fortified by Dutch. Still, many Dutch people own properties inside fort. A 18th century Dutch mansion is now a very popular luxu...

InternationalPhoto Of The DayPhotogallery

Photo of the day – Fishing in Monsoon

Upendra SwamiJuly 23, 2014249 Views1

The famous stilt fishermen of Sri Lanka, unmoved by strong monsoon. Fishermen in Sri Lanka use stilts to catch a fish. Stilt Fishing is an old tradition practiced by around 500 fishing families in Galle, in southwestern-most Sri Lanka, especially around the towns of Koggala,Kathaluwa, and Ahangama. They usually fish during sunset, noon and sunrise, with each one taking their elevated position and balancing about 2 meters above the water. There is a vertical pole engrafted into the sea bed, attached to it is a cross bar, called petta, on which the fishermen do the balancing act. So with one hand they hold the stilt and the other hand they have a fishing rod or a line to catch spotted herrings and small mackerels, which are then kept in a plastic bag tied around their waist or the pole. They