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Follow us everywhere, Porto (2026)

18/08/2026

The end of February we were on our way to the south coast, but first another safari. This time we wanted to see some of the native birds that live on the island so our stop was at Bundala National Park. It is well known for being a refuge for many migratory birds and a bird lovers paradise. We saw so many birds in the park we have never seen before. Along with the birds we also saw some more elephants, monkeys and crocodiles. Since much of the park is wetlands the scenery is so beautiful. This park is near Yala NP where everyone seems to go and is much more busier and touristy than this park. On the way to the beach we stopped to see the hawksbill turtles at a local hatchery.

After visiting the park we headed for the coast. Here we stayed between two gorgeous beaches, Dickwella & Hiriketiya. Dickwella is a long curved with sand beach great for morning walks. We watched the fisherman bring in their hauls late morning while having coffee on the beach. Hiriketiya is the surfer's beach and much more livelier than Dickwella. We ended up spending the entire day at Hiriketiya at a place at the far end of the beach called The Ruin Beach Club. From here we watched the surfers 🏄‍♂️ while noshing on some delicious food and cocktails. The best days are just hanging out at the beach and doing absolutely nothing. Watch some video’s below 👇🏻

15/07/2026

Last year in November 2025 there were some really bad rainstorms that caused landslides in the mountain areas of the country. These landslides affected a major portion of the scenic train tracks from Kandy to Ella that we were going to take in February. Luckily, the route from Ella to Badulla that goes over the Nine-arch bridge was still intact and was about an hour’s ride one-way. Here we got to experience the beautiful jungle mountainside while riding this historic train. (See videos below) 👇🏻

Our journey on the train took us to Badulla a small town in the mountains. We strolled around taking in all the activities, visited the local temple and had fresh coconuts. Did you know that many of temples in Sri Lanka have a resident elephant for luck. The day we were there it was spa day for the elephant as we watched them hosing her off and scrubbing her feet 🐘

Speaking of spa day we also went back to a different Ayurvedic spa for another treatment. This time we did the traditional treatment along with the hot box. Yes, the hot box is exactly what it sounds like and the steam is created by coals and a water pan under the unit 😳 We wanted to do some hiking in the area but the rain got in the way. So a spa day and shopping was the perfect fit!

Something we try to do when we travel is to give back to a community in need. This time we visited a school outside of Ella. We asked our driver if he could ask around town and find a school that was in need of school supplies. It was a preschool of Tamil children whose parents normally work in the tea fields and came to Sri Lanka from southern India. Mali helped us find a store where we could buy notebooks, pencils, erasers, crayons, stickers, craft paper & glue for projects. The kids were very excited for our visit and each one wanted to shake our hand 😊 The two teachers were extremely grateful for the supplies and thanked us for the gift. It felt great to know how appreciated these supplies were to them.

26/05/2026

In mid-February we arrived in Kandy just as the afternoon sun rolled across the hills. The city felt alive with history and color, from the busy markets to the peaceful lake at its center. Our hotel room had a beautiful view of the lake and near a small park to enjoy. From here we explored the city for a few days.

The first placed we visited there was the Peradeniya Botanical Garden that was established in 1821 and holds a rich historical significance. Initially conceived as a pleasure garden for Kandyan royalty, it has evolved into these prominent gardens later by the British. The garden boasts an extensive collection of plant species that covers over 147 acres and has over 4000 varieties. We spent hours wandering beneath towering palm trees, admiring beautiful orchids, amazed at all the variety of fauna and the peacefulness of the gardens. It is truly a botanist's paradise and one of our favorite gardens from around the world.

Next, we visited the Sri Dalada Maligawa (The Temple of the Tooth), which is one of the most spiritual places to visit in the Buddhist world. It holds the sacred tooth of lord Buddha. This relic is as powerful as a magnet to draw the worshipers here. It is worshiped not only by buddhists in Sri Lanka but by Buddhists from all over the world. Then we went over to the Museum beside the sacred temple that houses some of Buddhism’s most treasured relics. Ancient artifacts, royal gifts, and detailed paintings told the story of Kandy’s importance as the last royal kingdom of Sri Lanka.

Now we are making our way to the highest point in the country, Nuwara Eliya. Here we visited two different tea plantations where we watched workers pluck fresh tea leaves from the green hillsides. Then we learned about the different qualities of tea and how they are produced before joining a tea tasting session. The rich tea aromas filled the room as we sampled smooth Gold & Silver tea, strong Ceylon black tea and delicate green teas learning why Sri Lankan tea is famous around the world. Of course we bought some gold & silver tea since it is hard to find out of the country. Some videos below ⬇️

15/05/2026

While staying in Sigiriya we also visited 2 famous UNESCO World Heritage sites that are nearby and draw lots of visitors each day. The first was the Dambulla Cave Temples, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla and is one of Sri Lanka’s most important historical and religious sites. Built in the 1st century BC by King Valagamba, the temple consists of five caves carved into a large rock and filled with over 153 Buddha statues and ancient wall paintings. The caves have served as a sacred Buddhist sanctuary for more than 2,000 years.

To reach the temples you have to climb up the rocky hill on a scenic stairway where there are approximately 300 to 360 to the top and can be physically demanding in the heat. The bonus is the panoramic views of the surrounding countryside that add to the experience. But once you reach the top, the caves are beautifully preserved with golden Buddha statues, intricate ceiling paintings, and colorful frescoes covering the walls, creating a peaceful and zen-inspiring atmosphere. Just make sure you don’t visit around 10:30am as there is a ceremony each day where the monks close the caves for around 20 minutes.
Watch video below 👇🏻

The next place we went was the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. The ancient city is one of Sri Lanka’s most important historical and archaeological sites. Polonnaruwa was an important political, religious, and cultural center that reflects the rich heritage of ancient Sri Lankan civilization. It became the capital of the island in the 11th century after the decline of Anuradhapura and reached its greatest glory under King Parakramabahu I. The city was famous for its advanced irrigation systems, large reservoirs that supported agriculture and trade of the medieval capital of Sri Lanka as well as beautiful palaces and temples.

Luckily, we were able to have our driver Mali take us from site to site in the car since it covers over 8100 acres. Otherwise, you would have to rent a bicycle or tuk tuk to tour the ruins. Here we saw the ruins of city and all the splendor that it was. On some of the buildings you could still see the original carvings in the 900 yr old stone, while other buildings were still being renovated. The most impressive site was the massive Buddha statues that were carved into the existing rocks and are beautifully carved and preserved. We were wondering why we keep seeing lakes everywhere in Sri Lanka and it turned out that they were actually reservoirs built for farming during this period. This was a very advanced concept back in the 11th century to have the forethought of creating these and they are still used today.

03/05/2026

Now we are journeying into the heart of the country. Our second adventure trip here was an elephant safari in Minneriya NP which offered a unique chance to observe these majestic animals in their natural habitat. Here herds of elephants roam freely across grasslands and gather near water sources. No sooner we drove into the park we saw a small group of females at a water hole putting on mud to protect themselves from the sun and insects. Several babies were with them and they were teaching the young the sunscreen technique. Then we went to see if we could find a male since they live alone in the wild. In the forested area about a kilometer away he was feeding. Seeing these magnificent creatures in the wild is definitely an experience we will never forget. (See videos in comments below 👇🏻)

We were going to hike up the Sigiriya Lion Rock but our driver Mali advised against it for 2 reasons. First, they charge $36 per person 😮 and 2nd there is a line of people all day going up and down the singular staircase so very crowded. Instead, he suggested the rock next door Pidurangala Rock. It was a good call since there were very few people there and wide steps carved into the rock itself. As we neared the top there was a 7th century reclining Buddha carved into a small cave. The last bit of the trail involved actual climbing the rocks to the top. Once we reached the top the views were fabulous from there. We were actually looking at Sigiriya rock and all the people over there.

The next day we went for a boat ride around a small lake to a village to have a home cooked meal. But to get to the boat meant taking a oxen cart to the dock. Of course, Robb had to drive the cart since he’s not a good passenger 🤭 On the boat we went around the lake taking in all the nature. Our boat driver even stopped to make me a bouquet of flowers that grow in and around the lake. We arrived at the home of a local women who was showing us how she was preparing our lunch that day and you know we had kitchen duties too. Her kitchen was a very simple one but could cook a variety of dishes. We had a fantastic lunch before heading back.

28/04/2026

Anuradhapura is one of the most famous ancient cities in Sri Lanka. It was the first capital of the country and is known for its rich history, culture, and religion. The city was founded more than 2,000 years ago and became an important center of Buddhism. Anuradhapura is famous for its beautiful temples, large stupas, and ancient ruins. Here we started our spiritual journey to discover the sacred places of Lord Buddha.

One of the most sacred sites in the city is the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree. This tree was grown from a cutting of the original Bodhi tree (in India) under which the Buddha attained enlightenment and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. Many pilgrims visit this holy site every year. Here we visited the famous Bodhi Tree and the Ruwanweli Maha stupa that was built in 140 BC with a height of 103 meters (338 ft). Inside the stupa lies Buddha in a reclining position that is beautifully decorated.

Nearby in the ancient city we visited Kaludiya Pokuna and Isurumuniya Temple that are both carved rock temples. They were built as a monasteries used by Buddhist monks for meditation, believed to date back to around the 3rd century BCE, during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa. At one time it was believed that 500 monks lived here. The temples reflect the growth of Theravada Buddhism in ancient Sri Lanka and show how monasteries were integrated with natural landscapes. These monasteries existed till the end of the Anuradhapura kingdom around 1017 AD.

Mihinthalaya stupa complex is another ancient site in the area. Here there were several stupas and a large Buddha statue. It was a beautiful place set high on a rocky area with views of the whole surrounding valley. It was a very serene place to see all the happenings of daily life at the temple (see video below )👇🏻 Here was our first encounter with tufted grey langur monkeys. Little did we know they are everywhere in Sri Lanka.

13/04/2026

In February we left Bali and flew over to Sri Lanka to spend a month exploring this large island. Our first stop was Negombo Beach, along Sri Lanka’s western coastline with gorgeous views of the Indian Ocean. Here we spent 5 days relaxing before our Sri Lankan adventure was to begin. One of the highlights in Negombo is the abundant seafood as local restaurants set up tables right on the sand serving up the freshest catches of the day. Crab dinners are a must-try here either steamed or curried. I believe we had crab every night we were there because it was so good!

Each morning while having breakfast at the rooftop restaurant we watched the catamarans sail out in the ocean and then head south towards the lagoon. We followed this by a walk on the beach and coffee with our toes in the sand. As sunset arrives, the beach transformed into a breathtaking canvas of color. Sunsets here were truly spectacular, painting the sky with brilliant hues of orange, pink, and gold.

Our first safari adventure was to Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka’s largest and oldest park and is a true paradise for wildlife lovers. Famed for its unique landscape of natural lakes called "villus," Wilpattu offered a serene and wild escape similar to Africa. We took two safaris in the park, one afternoon and a morning one. As we journeyed through the park’s thick forests and open grassy plains we saw a diversity of animals that call this untamed wilderness home.

Wilpattu is famous for its elusive leopards, making it one of the best places in the country to spot these predators. We only caught a glimpse of one crossing the road and then frolicking in the thick grass where he was barely visible. While on safari we saw an elephant near a lake, spotted deer & water buffalo grazing in the open, and a couple of different types of monkeys playing in the trees. The park is also home to mongoose, crocodiles, monitor lizards and a variety of birdlife that includes peacocks, eagles, and kingfishers. Each safari we did was new adventure, truly making it an awesome trip in the wild heart of Sri Lanka.

03/04/2026

Headed over to Bali to spend some time on the beach in January. Normally it’s the rainy season there in January but we got lucky with some beautiful weather for the month. Some days were cloudy and windy but made the temperatures perfect. We even enjoyed a couple of thunderstorms since we haven’t seen any rain since Bangkok in November.

The first 3 weeks there we stayed in Sanur on the SE side. The last time we were in Bali we stayed on the SW side of the island near Seminyak which was not to our liking since it was so overcrowded and a party town. Sanur is a much more laid back area with a beautiful beach promenade and lots of great restaurants. Stayed at a cute little villa with a pool for 5 days until our 2 week house swap began. We had been doing this house swap thing for about 2 yrs now with our apartment in Porto. Now because we will no longer have our apartment in Porto we are trying to use up all of our credits. The Australian couple’s villa was a perfect location since we could walk everywhere from there. Every morning we would start with a walk on the beach and coffee. Then lunch and a dip in the pool at least twice a day. It was nice to be able to barbecue some fish on the grill for dinner and enjoy a movie on their big screen TV.

For our final week in Bali we decided to go north to the Lovina Beach. This is definitely a local beach area where all the Balinese people go for holidays. It was a nice change to get away from the touristy south of the island. Here again we had plenty of time for relaxation and getting some Spring travel planning out of the way. On the way up, we stopped at a very famous temple complex called Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. If you have seen some instagram pictures from Bali no doubt there were pictures of this place. It is set on a volcanic crater lake which gives it this mystical beauty. Our time in Bali was relaxing and productive to get us ready for the next few months of travel in Sri Lanka, India and Nepal. (See some videos in the comments below) 👇🏻

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