I went on a jeep safari at a national park in Sri Lanka last month. The park that I went to was Kaudulla because the elephants were located here when I was in the area. This park has other mammals and birds to see as well; I did see peacocks, watr buffalo, an eagle, monkey, jackals, iguana, and also a crocodile. The elephants got very close to the jeeps, and the youngest elephant was only two or three months old. The tour guide/driver pointed out the different animals and birds. All of the safari drivers and jeeps kept back from the elephants and respected these creatures.

According to the guide, seeing crocodiles here was not common.

This was a wonderful experience to see the elephants in the wild. Elephants are native to Sri Lanka and do live in the wild.

Polonnaruwa is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Sri Lanka and the next stop on my Sri Lankan road trip after the first day. The city was founded by the Cholas dynasty (from southern India) after Anuradhapura was detroyed in 993. It was known as a garden city and contains the ruins of palaces, temples, and monastaries.

The trip started early in the morning after a quick breakfast, and we drove from Anuradhapura to this ancient city Polonnaruwa. 

We met our guide who led us through the history and some of the ruins of the city. This started with the lake that was built. The lake house was visited by the queen of England.

We also had a quick look around the museum to see how a few of the ruined buildings would have looked and to see some of the exhibits.

The Royal Palace of Parakramabahu I was the first stop. This palace would have been built up from multiple levels, and the scale of the remaining walls can help us see that this would have been an impressive structure. It would have been taller than the present remains.

We could see one of the toilets in the palace. Remains of plaster with some details and bits of coloured paint were also present.

The next building ruins were nearby, and this was the council chamber of the king. It retains the carvings around the sides of the building and a colonnade structure from the stairs.

There was a well next to it.

Below was a pond.

Next, we were taken to the temple complex. This area had a lot of very different temple ruins to visit.

The Galpota stone book was impressive; this is the largest stone carving inscription in Sri Lanka.

Sathmahal Prasadaya is one of the temples in the complex but with scaffolding.

Vatadag is a circular temple with Buddah statues on the four entrances.

Nissanka Hatadage is another one of the temples.

I also visited the others; all were very different.

There were also some Hindu temples.

Afterwards, we went to the monastaries location.

We saw some buerial stupas and the monastary ruins.

We saw another temple too (Alahana Pirivena) with the remains of a very large Buddha.

We also saw a chameleon.

The last stop here was a location with three very different Buddha statues - one meditating/sitting, one standing, and one at the moment of passing away. There was also another inside the cave carved from the stone.

This was a fascinating place to visit with a wealth of history and not to miss if visiting Sri Lanka.

I had a road trip around Sri Lanka last month, and the first day was the trek from Colombo to Anuradhapura. I had the afternoon and evening at Anuradhapura, which is a world heritage site for the well-preserved ruins. Th city was founded around 437 B.C. but was inhabited for much longer and is considered one of the most longest inhabited cities in Asia and was once the capitol of the country. It serves as a Buddhist pilgrimage site and contains the ruins of monastaries and temples, though the temples are now maintained and recovered from nature. The guide I had told me that they were maintained in the later 1990s and early 2000s after years of neglect when they were covered in mounds of dirt when he was growing up.

The city was destroyed due to invaders from southern India. It was not populated for centuries until the British colonial area in the late 1800s, but it never recovered its original status. Today it is primarily a historical and pilgrimage site.

The first stop was to get a late lunch, and I had different dishes at a local Sri Lankan restaurant.

They also had a resident cat who was very pregnant or who had just had kittens.

I crossed through several towns and villages and admired the scenery.

We finally got to Anuradhapura, and below is the museum and information centre. We went into the museum at the end. 

At the back of the museum is the entrance to the ruins and the temples.

We saw a land monitor, a type of giant lizard. There was a water one too, but I did not get a photo.

We went into the first temple, which had the statues of Buddha and a shrine.

We also went to another temple, but it did not have a shrine inside.

Around the temple were various grafitti carved into the walkway - inscriptions and game boards.

We then went by car to another location where there are pools. We were told that the monks would sit here.

We also saw some Buddha statues. There were four that would have been in this shrine area. Only one remains intact.

There were many wild monkeys everywhere.

We also went to a part of the former monastary.

One temple had a well-preserved moonstone. This is the entrance to the temple that is meant to help you think good thoughts when entering.

Carved figures also are marking the entrance.

There were also monks visiting.

Below was irrigation and water set up. It was an advanced community.

The reservoir was also built to supply water.

After we finished, we had a quick look around the museum.

I headed to the hotel for a quick break and we planned to meet in the evening to go back to the site and to see the new temple pilgrimage site.

The temple was busy.

As we left to go back to the hotel, we had a nice viewpoint over the temples from the other side of the lake.

I was impressed at the ruins and the infrastructure for such an ancient site with many ruins well-preserved. I enjoyed visiting the temple in the evening as well.

Sri Lanka was a beautiful country, and I just returned from my trip a few days ago. I spent nearly two weeks in the country with a couple of days to relax in Colombo, the main and largest city in the country. Colombo is a working city, but it does have some places to visit - temples, markets, malls, museums, and historical places left over from the occupations by the Dutch and English.

On my first full day, I went to explore the city via tuk tuk tour. This was my first visit to Asia and riding in a tuk tuk. The guide showed me a lot of interesting places around the city.

I saw the Lotus building, which is coloured like a lotus flower. There is a restaurant and bar on the top, but I did not go inside it. 

We then went into a Hindu temple, and I had a quick look inside it and got some photographs of the temple with the lotus flower tower.

I was shown some of the buildings in Colombo - churches, temples, hospitals, etc.

Then I was driven around the markets. Each area specialises in something different - electronics, sweets, oil, plastics, clothing, shoes, hardware, lighting, etc.

Traveling through the streets on the tuk tuk was insightful and colourful.

I also went inside a newer Hindu temple, and there were bats living inside it. 

In the spice market area, the guide treated me to a coffee shop. I don't like coffee, but I had hot chocolate. They had different types of coffee bean.

I liked to see the spices.

BELOW

In on of the market areas was a red and white brick mosque.

Near the harbour are the varioud buildings dating from the Dutch and English occupation with the majority of the remaining buildings dating from the English time. These are beautiful buildings. Some of them are abandoned.

I also went to the Dutch fort. It now has shops and restaurants inside it.

The guide treated me to a coconut drink, and I had this whilst looking over the Colombo skyline.

Next up was the Maritime museum. Inside was information about the people of Sri Lanka and its history as well as the contributions (or otherwise) of the Europeans. Next to and above the museum is a temple, built suspended in the sky so that people could see the temple's "spire" from the harbour. The country is primarily Buddhist faith.

There were so many bats hanging out in the trees. I saw these by the lake.

I went to the large Buddhist temple Gangaramaya. This temple has a museum and a lot of important figures and items from the different cultures. There was the smallest Buddha in the world. It was impressive with different styles.

I had lunch in a small cafe called Curry Pot. This is traditional Sri Lankan food.

One of the final stops was Independence Square and the structure built here.

The last stop was a small market in the wealthier part of town and near the cricket club, but I didn't get the name of it. It was not far from the hotel.

Near the hotel was also a chocolate shop and doughnut shop.

The following day, I went to the National Museum to se the different historical and cultural exhibits, and these were interesting.

I enjoyed my two days in Colombo, and I have more photographs to post over the next few weeks.

I've been a bit slow to post my photos this summer because the weather has been so warm, and I've not wanted to spend more time in front of a laptop after working in front of it inside a hot and humid house all day. I've just wanted to relax in the garden where it is cooler, but it's not so easy to see the laptop screen. Last month, I visited my friend in Fordingbridge in Hampshire. 

This time, I drove and went to the Fighting Cocks pub a few miles outside of Fordingbridge. There were many horses, New Forest ponies, and donkeys hanging around.

I had one glass of drink outside in the pub garden in the sun after work.

The donkeys were loving the dirt and dust because the weather has been so hot and humid and the grass is dry. 

We had a quick walk in the New Forest but did not get too far because there were a lot of horses and ponies around, and I did not trust them.

Last time I visited Fordingbridge, we went to the George pub next to the bridge. We did not go this time, but we had a walk around the river. It is so low due to the hot weather, so I was able to walk around where the water normally covers.

I always have fond memories of this little town.

We had breakfast at one of the new restaurants, Dominic Cafe. I had scrambled eggs and toast.

In the evening, we went to the Raj of India. This was the first Indian restaurant that I've ever been to. It has changed management since I visited all of those years ago, but it's still really good.

Hopfully I will be able to catch up on my posts soon! 

Shoreditch became the playing ground for August's first weekend and the previous weekend (8-9th) for Pokémon GO. Pokémon GO hosted a "Summer Quest" with timed research and quests in the area around Brick Lane and Shoreditch, and those who completed some of the activities could claim a free drink (coffee or tea). I've been playing the game since it was launched ten years ago, but I am not a die-hard player; I went along to play. Pokémon have stepped it up this summer with events at National Trust properties as well as this event.

 It was a bit hot for either of those drinks, but I did have a tea after I completed the quest. The area was proving to be popular with other Pokémon GO players in the area.

Yesterday marked a partial solar eclipse in London with the totality being nearly at 90% at the peak. I bought some eclipse glasses awhile ago and had some from the total eclipse in America a couple of years ago. I went outside and met up with neighbours on my street in order to watch this event and let them share my glasses since the glasses were hard to find. The peak of the eclipse happened at about 19:20.

The next total solar eclipse will not take place until 2090, but another partial one will take place in 2050.

This summer, Carnaby Street has decorated the street inspired by artist Frida Kahlo, and this coincides with her exhibition at the Tate Modern - "Frida: The Making of an Icon". The South American artist of Mexican heritage painted vibrant artwork featuring floral designs and sensuality and sexuality of strong female forms. She has become an icon, especially in recent years, with her floral-inspired artwork. The entrance at Kingly Court has become a floral and neon centrepiece as a tribute to her work.

Along Carnaby Street, her portrait is hung with several different features of her face rendered in different styles making up the full portrait of her face, which can be seen on both sides and hanging above the street with other dsigns..

The Frida Kahlo installations on Carnaby Street will be up until the end of this month. 

The Old College in Tattershall is located in Lincolnshire, and it was a former grammar school that is now in ruins. The college was set up in the mid-1430s with the ruins dating from the mid-1400s. It was a good example of Gothic architecture. In the 18th century, it was used as a brewery. The importance of the site is that it was one of the first brick buildings in England and one of the surviving examples of a medieval school. The remains of the college are now maintained by English Heritage. I explored the remains of the college and also had a wander around the square of the village of Tattershall.

The college remains are sign-posted and just off the main square.

There is not too much to see except for the brickwork. It is the shell of the building. It was commissioned by Lord Cromwell, treasurer to King Henry VI. This man had a lot of wealth and owned a lot of the land here; he was also responsible for the castle in the town, which I will cover in another post.

The end of the building backs onto private gardens.

Tattershall was a village before the Romans, and it was listed in the Doomsday Book.

Below is the buttercross, and markets would take place here.

Another important item is the little house on top of a roof in the square. It is known as Tom Thumb's House aftr the fictional storybook character.

The town's mayor is Julian Fellowes, award-winner and writer of "Downton Abbey" and "Godsford Park", various plays, and other television/film screenplays. 

Monkesthorpe Chapel is located in Lincolnshire near Gunby Estate, and it is maintained by the National Trust and an important religious site. Visitors who wish to see the interior of the chapel must ask the National Trust volunteers in the Gunby car park for the key and then return it. Monkesthorpe Chapel is a Baptist chapel, and it was built in 1701 but refurbished in the mid-1800s. The interior retains the mid-1800s style. 

The chapel appears to be a farmyard barn to conceal it since Baptists were not permitted to worship at this time. The first Baptist church was locatd in Spitalfields in London in 1612, and this religion spread to Lincolnshire in the mid-1600s. Before the building was constructed, they met in the open air underneath a tree to listen but kept watch.

Near the entrance to the chapel is a war memorial. This memorial is for a 1944 accident involving a bomb exploding as it was being loaded into a Lancaster bomber. All of the men were killed.  

I had a quick look around the buildings, and the ones at the closest point were not open but held some information panels inside the window.

I was able to look inside the chapl, and it had a central room heater on tiled floor and a balcony area.

There is also a graveyard.

This is a peaceful setting with a lot of local history and an interesting chapel disguised.