Sri Lanka

Sigiriya in 2015

 

Country Information:

The capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo. There are approximately 22 million people living here. The majority of Sri Lankans practice Buddhism. The official languages of Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil, while English is used often in government sectors.

Major exports of Sri Lanka include textiles and apparel, tea and spices, rubber manufactures, precious stones, coconut products, and fish.

Jim’s Perspectives:

Sri Lanka is ripe with natural beauty. When visiting, adventurers will enjoy Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress located in the Central Province. Also of interest is the Temple of the Tooth, a temple located in the city of Kandy. The temple is home to the tooth of the Buddha!

I got a very warm welcome in Sri Lanka and had a wonderful nights rest. Woke up early the next day for a flight to Sigiriya to visit the “Cultural Triangle.” Then went to the rock fortress built in the 5th century (probably modeled after Romans).

 

 

I learned how to snake charm a cobra! Then climbed up the Dambulla temple where there are huge rock sculptures of Buddha. The highlight of the day was going to the elephant orphanage at Habarana.  Priceless adventure and time in Sri Lanka!

 

 

At elephant orphanage in Sabaragwmuwa

Guinea Bissau

Having fun with some local kids at school in Guinea Bissau ('17) Country Information: The capital of Guinea Bissau is Bissau. There are approximately 2 million people living here. The official language is French, and Crioula is the most widely spoken language. The...

Togo

Country Information: The capital of Togo is Lome. There are approximately 9 million people living here. The official language of Togo is French, with Ewe and Mina spoken in the South; Kabye and Dagomba spoken in the North. The majority of Togolese practice an...

Ecuador

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, 1995 Country Information:  In Ecuador, there are roughly 16 million Ecuadorians in a country slightly smaller than Nevada. The capital is Quito which is situated at the base of a volcano, making the city prone to earthquakes! In fact the...