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sigiriya

Exploring Sri Lanka

October 29, 2024October 29, 2024 by Sampath Menon
Sri lanka travel

Earlier this year, a few friends and I visited Sri Lanka. We visited Colombo, Kandy, Sigiriya, and the historical town of Anuradhapura. If you are seeking a luxurious, adventurous, and spiritual 7-day itinerary for Sri Lanka, read on. I was too lazy to jot down my experience, but I had shot some videos during the …

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Categories Travel Tags colombo, kandy, sigiriya, sri lanka, sri lanka travel blog Leave a comment
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sampathmk

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Life= Travel, Photography/Film, Food, Outdoors, Empathy
🌐 Bangalore/ Kochi
📑 Featured: Livemint, HuffPo, Yourstory, DH, BetterIndia

Sitting at the window of my quiet hotel room, watc Sitting at the window of my quiet hotel room, watching the world go by. Mumbai's Western Expressway.

#mumbai #westernexpreeshighway #travel #traffic
Cream roll: sugar-loaded and one of the most unhea Cream roll: sugar-loaded and one of the most unhealthy sins one can indulge in. But it is also one of my fav sweets. 
And biting into a sweetie like this almost always takes me back to my childhood days. 
This delicious cream roll was from Wenger's in Connaught Place, New Delhi.

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#creamroll #wengers #bakery #creamrolls
#wengersdelhi #delhifood #travel
Did white water rafting for the first time in Dand Did white water rafting for the first time in Dandeli (on river Kali). what fun it was!

#dandeli #dandelirafting🚣 #rafting #whitewaterrafting #karnatakatourism😍 #junglelodgesandresorts #jlrdandeli @junglelodgesjlr
The skyscrapers of New York City always remind me The skyscrapers of New York City always remind me of the first serious novel I read—"The Fountainhead" by Any Rand.

It was around 1998 when I read this philosophical novel during my first trip to the United States. I was on assignment at BankBoston, and this novel kept me company in that strange new land. 

Although it wasn’t really my type of book, I laboured through it for a few reasons: first, I wanted to understand why it was considered a rite of passage for genuine readers; second, a friend had challenged me to finish it; and third, I felt lonely in Boston with not much else to occupy my time. 

I have long forgotten the plot of "The Fountainhead." However, what remains in my mind when I think about the novel are feelings of love, the name and general characteristics of the protagonist, Howard Roark, and towering buildings. 

It’s remarkable to think that I could sit through this rather dull philosophical novel in my twenties! 

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Whenever I visit the U.S.—which is quite rare—especially New York, memories of this book come rushing back. 

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I enjoy walking through the city, taking in the various scents from different blocks—except for the overpowering smell of weed that has become so pervasive. 

I like to watch the lights and listen to the sounds of the crowds around me: some tourists having fun while suited corporate employees rush to catch a ferry, train, or bus.
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#nyc
#newyork
#traveldiaries #fountainhead #aynrand #newyorkcity #skyscrapers #reflections #book
M&m experience store in NYC. (Trivia, from Google M&m experience store in NYC.

(Trivia, from Google: M&M's were created in 1941 by Forrest Mars and Bruce Murrie, who named the candy "M&M" to represent their partnership.)

#m&m #mnm #mm #mandms @mmschocolate #nyc #newtork
New York-style pizza is such a treat! It is huge, New York-style pizza is such a treat! It is huge, and has a thin, slightly crispy crust that is perfect for folding. I thoroughly enjoyed digging into one at the very popular Joe's pizza. 😋
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#pizza
#joespizza #newyorkdiaries #nyc #newyork #newyorkstylepizza #nypizza #yum #travel @joespizzanyc
Tossed in the NYC sights I soaked up over the week Tossed in the NYC sights I soaked up over the weekend and slapped the latest @hanumankind hit song over them to see how it turns out. Not bad, what say?
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#nyc #newyork #newyorkdiaries #hanumankind #runitup #travel #traveldiaries #timessquare #travelphotography #subway #weekendvibes
The cheerful creature in front of me, smiling at t The cheerful creature in front of me, smiling at the camera, is Neethu—a blast from the past.

She was my classmate in engineering college and a colleague, albeit briefly, at my first job. 

Neethu is now happily settled in New Jersey, and we recently met at a coffee shop in Koreatown. Despite our efforts, neither of us could recall when we last met, but it has definitely been over twenty years!

It seems like she follows a different time scale when it comes to aging; she doesn’t look a year older than she did all those years ago!

We had a wonderful time sharing stories and catching up. I look forward to seeing Neethu again—perhaps in another twenty years! 😝

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Despite the cold, today was a brilliant, sunny day in NYC. I'm sharing some beautiful sights I captured during my outing to Midtown.

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#newyork #nyc #midtown #traveldiaries #newyorkdiaries #travel #applestore #apple #yellowcab #metmuseum #subway #spring
Tried this plant-based-meat burger for the first t Tried this plant-based-meat burger for the first time. Should say the patty did feel like meat.
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#plantbasedburger #burger #meat #travel #traveldiaries #newyork
3 days so far in NYC. Jet lag (a temporary sleep 3 days so far in NYC.

Jet lag (a temporary sleep disorder that occurs when the body's internal clock is out of sync with cues from a new time zone—source: Google Univ) has kept me wide awake at around 2 a.m. the past few days. 

From my room's warmth and vantage point, it is a joy to observe the city's stillness during the wee hours of the morning, adorned with shiny neon signs and blanketed by cold fog.

And my remedy to get over Jet lag? Coffee and gym! I have been swimming in caffeine lately, thanks to the loaded coffee machine in my room and the multiple coffee outlets in the office! 

I don't know if coffee is helping or causing me more sleep issues yet. But my trembling hands and heightened attention levels during the day due to excess caffeine in my body are helping me stay awake during meetings 😀, and I can live with that for now.

Breakfast has been the same - buttered toast and eggs (one of my most fav foods).
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I have been spending most of my time in the office, huddled in a room with my colleagues, discussing work (mostly). Except for a team dinner we had the other day at a nice fine-dining restaurant a couple of blocks away from the office (called Antica), where I had a lovely Salmon steak (as shown in one of the images) and a short stroll to the famous charging bull statue located nearby, I haven't had a chance to go around the city much. 

I plan to do so and catch up with friends over the weekend. 

So looking forward to el fin de semana!
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#newyork
#nyc #travel #traveldiaries #office #salmonsteak #chargingbull #financialdistrictnyc #coffee #jetlagged
The first thing I picked up after landing in NY? a The first thing I picked up after landing in NY? a pack of M&Ms (a pack of Chips Ahoy! chewy chocochip cookies will be next). 
Li'l flares of happiness to keep me warm and fuzzy in this chilly NYC weather.
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#newyork #nyc #m&m #mandm #happiness #travel #spring
I made another long flight to the US. There is not I made another long flight to the US. There is not much excitement this time, though - I really don't know why. 
I flew Emirates for the first time. A long 7-hour layover in Dubai. I explored the airport end to end. I ate whatever the big, long lounge had to over. Slept a bit. 
Then, the 14.5 hr flight to New York. They even gave us loungewear clothes as soon as we boarded. Found it a bit amusing. I watched a movie - Moana 2. Then, I tried to watch a few others, only to abort after trying them for a few minutes. I tried reading a book. Slept a bit. Ate a lot. 

At the NY airport, the immigration officer asked me why I was there. I had the same question in my mind. Walked out of the airport into the cold waiting area.In my jeans and tee. 
Got my cab after 3 minutes of waiting. Hit choc a block traffic all the way to the hotel. Construction everywhere. Finally, I checked into a hotel in NY's financial district. Right opposite my office. 
5pm NY time. I changed and sat on my bed. I dozed off. When I opened my eyes later, the clock showed 2 am! I tried to sleep again. but couldn't. I lay in bed thinking. And thinking. Hit the gym at 5 am. Had breakfast at 6. I showered, dressed, and got ready for the office. 
It has been an eventful two days! More to come.

#newyork #nyc #travel #emirates #bangalore #hilton
Room with a view: will be living in this matchbox Room with a view: will be living in this matchbox of a room for a few days. will post a few pics of my experiences here over the next few days. stay tuned.
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#life #journeys #hotel #travel
A trek to Kumara parvatha (Pushpagiri), Karnataka A trek to Kumara parvatha (Pushpagiri), Karnataka
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#pushpagiritrek #kumaraparvatha #kumaraparvathatrek #trek #trekking #travel #bangaloretrekkers #bangaloretreks #bangalore
Kumara Parvatha Trek (also referred to as Pushpagi Kumara Parvatha Trek (also referred to as Pushpagiri Trek). Done. 

It felt good walking through the jungle, breathing in crisp, fresh air, and making friends with the forest dwellers (animals and insects we saw along the way). 

Away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Experiencing life the way it should be. I want more of this.

#pushpagiri
#kumaraparvatha #trek #trekking #bangaloretreks #kumaraparvathatrek #pushpagiritrek #coorg #kodagu
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