The travel section of the Guardian last Saturday published an excellent article by travel journalist Ben Tarring about his family visit to Sri Lanka. I thought it was an excellent piece and we were proud to have been involved in suggesting and planning the trip. Have a read: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/aug/26/sri-lanka-family-knuckles-mountains.
(more…)
Archive for the ‘Guest Contributors’ Category
Experience Travel Organise Guardian Trip to Sri Lanka
31 August 2011 by Sam Clark
Cambodian snake wedding spells prosperity for villagers
17 January 2011 by Tom Armstrong
Earlier this month villagers in Cambodia’s central Kandal province celebrated the wedding of two pythons in an unusual ceremony that saw large female python Chamroeun married to her smaller mate, male python Ar Krong Pich. The nuptials were conducted in Svay Ralum commune, Sa’ang district and were witnessed by hundreds of villagers who had flocked to attend the wedding. It is believed that the wedding of the pythons will bring prosperity and ward-off bad luck for the villagers: (more…)
Bicycling Cambodia and Vietnam for MAG International
by Sam Clark
Experience Travel is really pleased to sponsor Anthony Douglas as he cycles through Vietnam and Cambodia to raise money for MAG International (Mines Advisory Group); who deliver landmine clearance programmes in former war-affected countries. MAG aims to make land blighted by war safe again for farming, light industry and for making towns and villages habitable again.’
A Visa for Sri Lanka?
8 September 2010 by Sam Clark
Some of you might have heard that the Sri Lanka Govt (in their infinite wisdom) decided to abolish visa on arrival for tourists. This cunning ruse has been abandoned after very strong protests from the tourist industry of Sri Lanka who pointed out that it might just be a little foolish to destablise a resurgent Sri Lankan hospitality industry – one of the countries top 3 foreign currency earners (after tea and foreign worker remittances I believe).
So just to confirm: visitors to Sri Lanka plannning to stay for under a month are not required to purchase a visa in advance!
Orchid Painting Workshop in Sri Lanka
8 February 2010 by Sam Clark
A reminder from our friends at Moonhill came in today about their paining workshop which seemss to be proving popular. I doubt there are more inspiring places anywhere!
For more details get in touch with us.
Andy from Moonhill writes:
Only a few places still available on Billy Showell’s ‘Orchids & Tropical Flowers’ painting
workshop in Sri Lanka. Course dates 4th-10th & 11th-17th April 2010. (more…)
Sri Lanka Elephants – The capture of the gentle giants
23 September 2009 by Sam Clark
This week we are delighted to have Sidantha Kumara as our guest blogger. Sid is one of our finest guides – a fantastic guy who has taught us so much about Sri Lanka. He shows a side of Sri Lanka not often seen and his passionate belief and strong ideas on the positive power of tourism has led him to develop some quite extraordinary tours. His main project is the Abode, but if you are looking for an alternative view of the cultural triangle or the Kandy region Sid is very definitely your man. He also organises and guides treks miles off the beaten track – for travel hardy adventurers only! One of his treks goes deep into elephant country – and elephants are a subject he feels deeply about as the following article shows:
“Safari tours first came to light in the early 18th centaury. The west made inroads in the spheres of discoveries. Before this large parts of Asia remain obscured form travelers eye. The post war period saw a massive boom in the world population driven by successful runs in the health and pharmaceutical industry. The earth became a crowded house to live in and the ever increasing pressure on natural resources further fueled the diminishing flora and fauna. The notion to create protected sites was born as a result.
The following account has been extracted form various travelers note books and compiled unfolding timeless events in Ceylon. (more…)
Northern Thailand – Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai
27 July 2009 by Harriet Clark
Whoa!
Our visit to northern Thailand was rather short and fleeting, not quite as short as our last minute ski deals holiday but.’ We arrived in Chiang Rai from Laos and were pretty knackered after the Gibbon Experience and so did not do anything too energetic.’ Chiang Rai is a fairly size-able Thai city and although a fair amount of tourists pass through, it retains its ‘Thainess’ more than Chiang Mai.’ (more…)
The Gibbon Experience – Northern Laos
It's 5am and we have seen a Gibbon
After spending a day and a night in the fairly depressing border town (Laos:Thailand)’of ‘Houay Xai we were’really keen to start our 3 day’”Gibbon Experience” trip.’It had been’highly recommended to us throughout Laos so we were keen to see what all the fuss was about.’ (more…)
Luang Prabang – Northern Laos
20 July 2009 by Harriet Clark
Alms Givign in Luang Prabang
The journey from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang was a painful one.’ The air conditioning on the bus decided to break down and the wheel sprung a puncture.’ Not unusual occurrences in Laos, but it did make for a long, extremely hot and sweaty day.’ The pain was, however, alleviated by the extraordinarily beautiful views surrounding us as we wound our way through central Laos.’ They were simply breathtaking!
(more…)
Vang Vieng
18 July 2009 by Harriet Clark
Now Vang Vieng is pretty much all about tubing as the numerous tee shirts you see worn in South East Asia advertise.’ But Vang Vieng does offer some other great excursions.’ The town itself has been shaped with a young western audience in mind and has numerous bars playing Friends on loop.’ However its surroundings are quite amazing.’ There are rolling hills carpeted with lush jungle dissected by the’Nam Song’river and a few spectacular caves. (more…)
