Day 4 of our ride began with an unexpected delight. Over breakfast, just as everyone was preparing for the long ride ahead, I brought out a bottle of Seeni Sambol—that bold, fiery essence of Sri Lanka. The surprise lit up their faces, and soon it was being heaped generously onto eggs and toast. In that…
Tag: Travelblogger
From River Valley to Crane Country. Gangtey Bhutan
It’s Day 03 of our ride, and we’ve still not hit the halfway mark. The journey through Bhutan is slower than expected—but not in a bad way. Everyday brings new experiences and memories to keep for a long time. We rolled out of Punakha early this morning, reluctantly packing up after an indulgent night at our resort….
The Last Shangri-La and Its Sacred Climb. Paro Bhutan
There are airport landings—and then there’s Paro. Nestled in a narrow valley flanked by towering Himalayan ridges, Paro International Airport is one of the most dangerous and visually spectacular runways in the world. Only eight specially trained pilots are certified to land here, navigating between 5,500-meter peaks using only visual guidance. No autopilot. No instrument landing system. Just raw skill…
Scenic Views and Surroundings. Pekoe Trail 17. Hali Ela Sri Lanka
We kicked off Stage 17 of the Pekoe Trail just after 6:20 a.m., fueled by excitement, good company, and the cool, sweet air of Demodara. But before taking even one step, we paused for a bit of Sri Lankan magic: the moment the iconic blue train snaked its way (sharp on time at 6:24 a.m.),…
The Soul of Sembuwatta. Elkaduwa Sri Lanka
After a couple of hours of twisting uphill from Kandy, we finally arrived at what felt like the edge of a storybook, Sembuwatta Lake. Tucked away in Elkaduwa, Matale, and perched at a breezy 1,084 meters above sea level, Sembuwatta is one of those places that makes you pause, and remember how beautiful Sri Lanka…
Dust & Detours. Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda
At this point in the journey, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve washed my clothes. T-shirts have been rinsed and wrung out more often than they’ve been worn fresh, and let’s not even talk about the socks. Safari life is glorious—but it’s also dusty, sweaty, and delightfully unpredictable. We started day 13 with a…
Craters and Contrasts. Ngorongoro Tanzania
Some journeys test your limits before they reward you. After hours on the road, we finally cross the border from Kenya into Tanzania—and just like that, everything changes. The dry, golden plains give way to a landscape bursting with life: rolling green hills, thick vegetation, a kind of wild beauty that feels almost surreal. By…
Mount Kilimanjaro in the Frame. Amboseli Kenya
We’ve been on the road a while now—twelve travelers, two jeeps, one epic route through Kenya’s wildest corners. The Maasai Mara kicked things off with drama and glory: golden savannahs, endless horizons, and predators everywhere. Lake Naivasha followed, calm and gentle like a long exhale—hippos bobbing in the water, fish eagles diving into the water, and boat rides that…
East Africa Bound. Maasai Mara Kenya
As Qatar Airways Flight QR 1336 descended into Nairobi under the cover of darkness, a wave of nostalgia swept over me. It had been fifteen years since I last touched down in Kenya, back in 2010, with Anya Ratnayaka. This time, I wasn’t alone. I was traveling with twelve others for a 15-day escapade through…
Hiking Against the Forecast. Pekoe Trail 21 Kandapola Sri Lanka
Stage 21 of the 300km Pekoe Trail is typically hiked from Uda Pussellawa to Kandapola, but for our adventure, we decided to do it in reverse—to avoid much of the climb. Covering a total distance of 19 kilometers over seven hours, this hike turned out to be a journey of changing landscapes, local hospitality, and…
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