We have new features. See:

Dondra Head, the extreme southern most point of Sri Lanka. Nothing between here and the Antarctic but sea!

Sights and Sites for first hand accounts of little known Buddhist, Hindu and other religious sites – Bible Rock is the first in a series followed Mulkirigala Rock Temple.

Tips for Travellers - which will give you advice and warnings of risks, ideas for avoiding over charging and suggestions for making the most of your money whilst in Sri Lanka!

Sid has a new Facebook page called: Sri Lanka Abode Tours. Check out his wonderful photos and ideas for trips and tours to remote regions, and his website: http://www.abodetours.com/ As ever you can contact him directly on Sidabode@yahoo.com

Our previous tour was back in October 2011 and was another amazing trip to Jaffna’s Islands,  Kilinochchi and the extreme north east, Triconmalee, Batticaloa, Gal Oya, Central Highlands and of course to see our friends at The Abode.

New information on the site from October 2011 includes:

The Travel and Security section on this page (which will be updated in Feb 2012) to show road works, improvements and places to drive with caution….

Boat Safari at Gal Oya to see the elephants…..

Beautiful Batticaloa – its beaches are magnificent!

And one of our guests has given us permission to show you his photos of the Waterfall Trek in the Knuckles he did with Sid and some friends in September 2011. They are fantastic. Take a look!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150440645084358.470264.763729357&l=d3f71147f4&type=1#!/media/set/?set=a.10150440645084358.470264.763729357&l=d3f71147f4&type=1In

September 2011 the New Zealand Listener published an article by one of our friends about The Abode. See: http://www.listener.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/sri-lankas-untouched-walpolamulla/

We have been featured again in a front page article in the Guardian. See:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/aug/26/sri-lanka-family-knuckles-mountains/print

The Tarring family spent four days in the Knuckles Mountains with Sid and the grandparents earlier in August and had a fantastic time by all accounts. Read all about it by following the link above…

Sid helps to get the harvest in at The Abode. Read below his first hand account of two week’s hard work in a traditional harvest in the remote Knuckles Mountains, the celebrations and Buddhist thanksgiving ceremony.

And great news! Sid has been featured in the Guardian Travel Magazine in a three page article with a glorious front page photo of sunset at Mannar. It tells of our homestay accommodation on Mannar and our efforts to bring sustainable tourism to this remote and previous war torn area of the NW. Read it here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/mar/12/sri-lanka-mannar-island-pesalai

Following our brief visit to Mannar Island in April 2010 we have set up a new retreat, we call Hibernation, for our hardy visitors. It is located in Pesali, a Catholic fishing village which has one of the largest churches in Sri Lanka. Rebuilt in 1999, the church has an image of Christ under a mosquito net and passion play is performed here every Easter using life sized dolls!

It is a beautiful place, untouched by tourism but, sadly, not untouched by the 26 year long civil war.  Tens of thousands of people were displaced and the area is still very much in need of serious infrastructure investment. Beaches are beautiful and the people very welcoming and offer every hospitality though there are no western standard facilities.

But we love it just like this:

Mannar is joined to the mainland by a causeway to the east and by Adam’s Bridge, a series of rocks and shallows, to India.  There are two theories about how Adam’s Bridge came to exist – so take your pick!

One story says Adam’s Bridge was made by an army of bears and monkeys who laid stones for the passage of Rama and his army when they came to Ceylon to rescue Sita from the demon Ravana. The squirrels helped in the work by rolling in the dust at either end of the bridge and shaking out their coats on the stone causeway until every cranny was filled up and made smooth.

The monkeys then tormented the squirrels to such an extent that they went and complained to Rama. Rama gently stroked them by the hand and left upon them their soft back stripes made by his fingers, which squirrels still carry to this day.

The other story shows NASA space images revealing the crossing to be man made because of its composition and curvature, thus proving that settlers arrived in Sri Lanka at least 1,750,000 years ago.

Whatever the truth, there is talk locally of making a modern bridge from Mannar but for now the only way is by fishing boat.

Fishing is the main source of work for the Tamil Catholics who live on Mannar. Below you see the day’s catch waiting to be gutted on the beach.

A kilometre north of  Talaimannar town is an old pier from which, until 1984, ferry boats crossed to India. And close by is a Muslim shrine, which legend says, is the burial place of Adam and Eve. Below is the pier.

And fresh lobster is a speciality!

If you would like to stay in our Hibernation -  quiet, unspoilt and absolutely spectacular – please contact:

Sid@theabodetrust.com  (in Sri Lanka)  or Sue@theabodetrust.com (in the UK)

Tips for Travellers

This section has been split between Travel and Security updates and Advice to Travellers about avoiding scams and exploitation by unscrupulous opportunists who disgrace the majority of Sri Lankans.

See here for: Travel and Security – updated February 2012

Scams and over charging

We must emphasised that you will only probably come across exploitation at the moment in the tourist areas along the south, south west and south east coast as places like Arugam Bay and further up Passikudah Bay are developed, and inland to the ‘golden triangle’ of heritage sites between Kandy, Anurahapura, Polonnaruwa. The recent big influx of tourists from all parts of the developed world to these places means that you have to be on your guard against over charging.

If you travel the remote regions like we do you will only be met with honesty courtesy and overwhelming hospitality that is typical of the majority of Sri Lankan people.

The trouble is the scams are spreading. Since the war ended in 2009 we have noticed particularly that places like Triconmalee, Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi in the northern territories and Batticaloa, Ampara in the east are starting to overcharge in the mad scramble to make the most of tourists coming to Sri Lanka.

For the sake of the vast majority of Sri Lankans we will be fair and illustrate with examples of wonderful hospitality as well as describing the scams. So read on, be on your guard but do not condemn all Sri Lankan people for the actions of a prolific minority.

Harvest at The Abode:

http://www.theabodetrust.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Abode-Harvest-2011.pdf

life-in-the-remote-villages-in-sri-lanka-remains-largely-unchanged-updated-301208

How to deal with bugs and bites in the remote areas!

Things-which-bite

Buddhist New Year in April 2010 saw us being invited to a cricket tournament high in the Knuckles Mountains at The Abode. Read all about speed cricket as it is played between 13 village teams on a very hot day.

Cricket at The Abode

Features:

Gal Oya Boat Safari:

There was clanking of chains, a few heavy sighs and a dragging of feet. Turning to look as we thought we were alone on this steep incline, we saw an elephant.  It was probably the last thing we expected on the walk up to Bible Rock at 3.30pm, but elephants have to eat too.

The view from Bible Rock above…

Read more about this spectacular site by following this link:  Bible Rock Feb 2012 The Abode Trust

Mulkirigala Rock Monastery

The 533 uneven and steps to the summit, in the full glare of the sun and against the white of the buildings, can be a challenge, so it is best to go early, before 9am.  You start on a stone path near where the Buddhist priests (bhikkus) live and up climb to the first level by stepping over a half moonstone.

Read more: Mulkirigala Monastry Jan 2012 Abode Trust

People and Places

What is very special about Sri Lankan people is the warmth and sincerity with which you will be welcomed. We have a new article called ‘interesting-people-and-unusual-places1‘. In it you can see the biggest stupa in Sri Lanka, explore with us some remote and little visited Buddhist sites, read about some very special people and hear about a curious and secretive eco lodge hidden away on the edge of Yala National Park called Kumbuk River.

Their response is as follows:

“I just stumbled upon your spectacular tour diary offering a graphical essay of your travels to South-East Sri Lanka. I found your comments candid and unbiased despite experiencing a difficult situation even though remarks by guides are what folklore is made of. I’m extremely sorry if you have been inconvenienced as you tried to gain entry to KumbukRiver. The security measures were in place to prevent some of the very scenarios you had been detailed by your guides. I suppose the rumor mill has added more color to our destination LOL. Yes, we try to get a dialogue going with our visitors before we confirm bookings as we prefer to have people who understand and appreciate responsible tourism. Hope your next visit would be more pleasant!”

Dinesh Watawana

4.05.10

Now read on:

http://www.theabodetrust.com/wp-content/uploads/Beautiful-Batticaloa.pdf

Dondra Head is a cape on the extreme southern tip of Sri Lanka, in the Indian Ocean, near the small town of Dondra near Galle. It was a gorgeous day, blue waters, clear skies with an occasional puff of white, bright and crisp for the camera, with nothing between us but the sea and Antarctica. It  was once the capital of the country.

A gentle stroll takes you along the coast, past very tall palm trees, and on the day we went, someone mending the power lines by propping their ladder against one.

Now read on by following the link below….Dondra Head Feb 2012 The Abode Trust

To go to Dondra Head contact:

sidabode@yahoo.com (Sri Lanka) or sue@theabodetrust.com (UK)

The Abode Trust is a not-for-profit organisation based in Sri Lanka which offers eco-tourism to fund its work with people who live traditional lives in remote villages. It is named after a simple village house, The Abode, which sits at the top of a remote valley in the Knuckles Mountains to the east of Kandy on the borders of a conservation area.

Read more about us:

the-abode-trust-updated-04091

In November 2008 elephants attacked the The Abode house wrecking the kitchen and bringing down walls and the roof. But we worked desperately hard with the villagers for many weeks to restore it.

Follow the link to read more and see the photos.

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In June a ‘Pirith’, a Buddhist ritual, was held at The Abode, to bless the house and the Trust.

Please click on the link below for more information:

pirith-at-the-abode-updated-301208