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Follow us everywhere, Porto (2026)

26/05/2026

In mid-February we arrived in Kandy just as the afternoon sun rolled across the hills. The city felt alive with history and color, from the busy markets to the peaceful lake at its center. Our hotel room had a beautiful view of the lake and near a small park to enjoy. From here we explored the city for a few days.

The first placed we visited there was the Peradeniya Botanical Garden that was established in 1821 and holds a rich historical significance. Initially conceived as a pleasure garden for Kandyan royalty, it has evolved into these prominent gardens later by the British. The garden boasts an extensive collection of plant species that covers over 147 acres and has over 4000 varieties. We spent hours wandering beneath towering palm trees, admiring beautiful orchids, amazed at all the variety of fauna and the peacefulness of the gardens. It is truly a botanist's paradise and one of our favorite gardens from around the world.

Next, we visited the Sri Dalada Maligawa (The Temple of the Tooth), which is one of the most spiritual places to visit in the Buddhist world. It holds the sacred tooth of lord Buddha. This relic is as powerful as a magnet to draw the worshipers here. It is worshiped not only by buddhists in Sri Lanka but by Buddhists from all over the world. Then we went over to the Museum beside the sacred temple that houses some of Buddhism’s most treasured relics. Ancient artifacts, royal gifts, and detailed paintings told the story of Kandy’s importance as the last royal kingdom of Sri Lanka.

Now we are making our way to the highest point in the country, Nuwara Eliya. Here we visited two different tea plantations where we watched workers pluck fresh tea leaves from the green hillsides. Then we learned about the different qualities of tea and how they are produced before joining a tea tasting session. The rich tea aromas filled the room as we sampled smooth Gold & Silver tea, strong Ceylon black tea and delicate green teas learning why Sri Lankan tea is famous around the world. Of course we bought some gold & silver tea since it is hard to find out of the country. Some videos below ⬇️

15/05/2026

While staying in Sigiriya we also visited 2 famous UNESCO World Heritage sites that are nearby and draw lots of visitors each day. The first was the Dambulla Cave Temples, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla and is one of Sri Lanka’s most important historical and religious sites. Built in the 1st century BC by King Valagamba, the temple consists of five caves carved into a large rock and filled with over 153 Buddha statues and ancient wall paintings. The caves have served as a sacred Buddhist sanctuary for more than 2,000 years.

To reach the temples you have to climb up the rocky hill on a scenic stairway where there are approximately 300 to 360 to the top and can be physically demanding in the heat. The bonus is the panoramic views of the surrounding countryside that add to the experience. But once you reach the top, the caves are beautifully preserved with golden Buddha statues, intricate ceiling paintings, and colorful frescoes covering the walls, creating a peaceful and zen-inspiring atmosphere. Just make sure you don’t visit around 10:30am as there is a ceremony each day where the monks close the caves for around 20 minutes.
Watch video below 👇🏻

The next place we went was the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. The ancient city is one of Sri Lanka’s most important historical and archaeological sites. Polonnaruwa was an important political, religious, and cultural center that reflects the rich heritage of ancient Sri Lankan civilization. It became the capital of the island in the 11th century after the decline of Anuradhapura and reached its greatest glory under King Parakramabahu I. The city was famous for its advanced irrigation systems, large reservoirs that supported agriculture and trade of the medieval capital of Sri Lanka as well as beautiful palaces and temples.

Luckily, we were able to have our driver Mali take us from site to site in the car since it covers over 8100 acres. Otherwise, you would have to rent a bicycle or tuk tuk to tour the ruins. Here we saw the ruins of city and all the splendor that it was. On some of the buildings you could still see the original carvings in the 900 yr old stone, while other buildings were still being renovated. The most impressive site was the massive Buddha statues that were carved into the existing rocks and are beautifully carved and preserved. We were wondering why we keep seeing lakes everywhere in Sri Lanka and it turned out that they were actually reservoirs built for farming during this period. This was a very advanced concept back in the 11th century to have the forethought of creating these and they are still used today.

03/05/2026

Now we are journeying into the heart of the country. Our second adventure trip here was an elephant safari in Minneriya NP which offered a unique chance to observe these majestic animals in their natural habitat. Here herds of elephants roam freely across grasslands and gather near water sources. No sooner we drove into the park we saw a small group of females at a water hole putting on mud to protect themselves from the sun and insects. Several babies were with them and they were teaching the young the sunscreen technique. Then we went to see if we could find a male since they live alone in the wild. In the forested area about a kilometer away he was feeding. Seeing these magnificent creatures in the wild is definitely an experience we will never forget. (See videos in comments below 👇🏻)

We were going to hike up the Sigiriya Lion Rock but our driver Mali advised against it for 2 reasons. First, they charge $36 per person 😮 and 2nd there is a line of people all day going up and down the singular staircase so very crowded. Instead, he suggested the rock next door Pidurangala Rock. It was a good call since there were very few people there and wide steps carved into the rock itself. As we neared the top there was a 7th century reclining Buddha carved into a small cave. The last bit of the trail involved actual climbing the rocks to the top. Once we reached the top the views were fabulous from there. We were actually looking at Sigiriya rock and all the people over there.

The next day we went for a boat ride around a small lake to a village to have a home cooked meal. But to get to the boat meant taking a oxen cart to the dock. Of course, Robb had to drive the cart since he’s not a good passenger 🤭 On the boat we went around the lake taking in all the nature. Our boat driver even stopped to make me a bouquet of flowers that grow in and around the lake. We arrived at the home of a local women who was showing us how she was preparing our lunch that day and you know we had kitchen duties too. Her kitchen was a very simple one but could cook a variety of dishes. We had a fantastic lunch before heading back.

28/04/2026

Anuradhapura is one of the most famous ancient cities in Sri Lanka. It was the first capital of the country and is known for its rich history, culture, and religion. The city was founded more than 2,000 years ago and became an important center of Buddhism. Anuradhapura is famous for its beautiful temples, large stupas, and ancient ruins. Here we started our spiritual journey to discover the sacred places of Lord Buddha.

One of the most sacred sites in the city is the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree. This tree was grown from a cutting of the original Bodhi tree (in India) under which the Buddha attained enlightenment and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. Many pilgrims visit this holy site every year. Here we visited the famous Bodhi Tree and the Ruwanweli Maha stupa that was built in 140 BC with a height of 103 meters (338 ft). Inside the stupa lies Buddha in a reclining position that is beautifully decorated.

Nearby in the ancient city we visited Kaludiya Pokuna and Isurumuniya Temple that are both carved rock temples. They were built as a monasteries used by Buddhist monks for meditation, believed to date back to around the 3rd century BCE, during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa. At one time it was believed that 500 monks lived here. The temples reflect the growth of Theravada Buddhism in ancient Sri Lanka and show how monasteries were integrated with natural landscapes. These monasteries existed till the end of the Anuradhapura kingdom around 1017 AD.

Mihinthalaya stupa complex is another ancient site in the area. Here there were several stupas and a large Buddha statue. It was a beautiful place set high on a rocky area with views of the whole surrounding valley. It was a very serene place to see all the happenings of daily life at the temple (see video below )👇🏻 Here was our first encounter with tufted grey langur monkeys. Little did we know they are everywhere in Sri Lanka.

13/04/2026

In February we left Bali and flew over to Sri Lanka to spend a month exploring this large island. Our first stop was Negombo Beach, along Sri Lanka’s western coastline with gorgeous views of the Indian Ocean. Here we spent 5 days relaxing before our Sri Lankan adventure was to begin. One of the highlights in Negombo is the abundant seafood as local restaurants set up tables right on the sand serving up the freshest catches of the day. Crab dinners are a must-try here either steamed or curried. I believe we had crab every night we were there because it was so good!

Each morning while having breakfast at the rooftop restaurant we watched the catamarans sail out in the ocean and then head south towards the lagoon. We followed this by a walk on the beach and coffee with our toes in the sand. As sunset arrives, the beach transformed into a breathtaking canvas of color. Sunsets here were truly spectacular, painting the sky with brilliant hues of orange, pink, and gold.

Our first safari adventure was to Wilpattu National Park, Sri Lanka’s largest and oldest park and is a true paradise for wildlife lovers. Famed for its unique landscape of natural lakes called "villus," Wilpattu offered a serene and wild escape similar to Africa. We took two safaris in the park, one afternoon and a morning one. As we journeyed through the park’s thick forests and open grassy plains we saw a diversity of animals that call this untamed wilderness home.

Wilpattu is famous for its elusive leopards, making it one of the best places in the country to spot these predators. We only caught a glimpse of one crossing the road and then frolicking in the thick grass where he was barely visible. While on safari we saw an elephant near a lake, spotted deer & water buffalo grazing in the open, and a couple of different types of monkeys playing in the trees. The park is also home to mongoose, crocodiles, monitor lizards and a variety of birdlife that includes peacocks, eagles, and kingfishers. Each safari we did was new adventure, truly making it an awesome trip in the wild heart of Sri Lanka.

03/04/2026

Headed over to Bali to spend some time on the beach in January. Normally it’s the rainy season there in January but we got lucky with some beautiful weather for the month. Some days were cloudy and windy but made the temperatures perfect. We even enjoyed a couple of thunderstorms since we haven’t seen any rain since Bangkok in November.

The first 3 weeks there we stayed in Sanur on the SE side. The last time we were in Bali we stayed on the SW side of the island near Seminyak which was not to our liking since it was so overcrowded and a party town. Sanur is a much more laid back area with a beautiful beach promenade and lots of great restaurants. Stayed at a cute little villa with a pool for 5 days until our 2 week house swap began. We had been doing this house swap thing for about 2 yrs now with our apartment in Porto. Now because we will no longer have our apartment in Porto we are trying to use up all of our credits. The Australian couple’s villa was a perfect location since we could walk everywhere from there. Every morning we would start with a walk on the beach and coffee. Then lunch and a dip in the pool at least twice a day. It was nice to be able to barbecue some fish on the grill for dinner and enjoy a movie on their big screen TV.

For our final week in Bali we decided to go north to the Lovina Beach. This is definitely a local beach area where all the Balinese people go for holidays. It was a nice change to get away from the touristy south of the island. Here again we had plenty of time for relaxation and getting some Spring travel planning out of the way. On the way up, we stopped at a very famous temple complex called Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. If you have seen some instagram pictures from Bali no doubt there were pictures of this place. It is set on a volcanic crater lake which gives it this mystical beauty. Our time in Bali was relaxing and productive to get us ready for the next few months of travel in Sri Lanka, India and Nepal. (See some videos in the comments below) 👇🏻

23/03/2026

Last year we spent Christmas and New Years in Thailand. This time we visited our 2nd family in Pattaya and a guy we knew from the Farmington Post Office that now lives in Hua Hin. Since both places are on the ocean we got some beach time in too.

So many people may want to know how we acquired a 2nd family in Thailand. Well, we all met in Vientaine, Laos during Covid. We were staying in a hotel there and the government told them to close because of Covid. We went out searching for an apartment at once since it looked like we would be stuck there for we didn’t know how long. We found an apartment that afternoon and returned to the hotel. There we overheard this young man (Daniel) who was asking the hotel where his family could go since they had to leave. Robb went over to talk to him and let him know that we found and apartment and they had one unit left for rent. He got in the cab with us and went to look at the apartment which in turn he rented. It was himself, his girlfriend (Joy) and baby daughter (Alesha) and they moved in a couple of floors above us. They were saying how hard it was to go shopping with the baby so we volunteered to babysit. We all became friends and their daughter became our quasi granddaughter. Sad to say they are no longer a couple, but we still visit Dan in Laos and Joy & Alesha in Thailand.

Alesha calls us Nanny & Papa and she sure loves her papa! We got to do all kinds of fun stuff with Alesha & Joy all week while we were there. Of course, we went out to dinner just about every night just to spoil them both. Had to go shopping for a Xmas present and find a Labubu for Alesha since you know that was the hot toy here in Asia. We spent an entire afternoon at the Nongnooch Tropical Garden with all the beautiful gardens, Buddha statues and a whole area of dinosaurs. We also saw 2 shows at the park but Alesha’s favorite was the elephants. Then we spent a few afternoons just going to the pool so our little fish could swim. Going to miss them both since it may be a couple of years again before we see them 💕

Next, we took a car over to the other side of the Gulf of Thailand to Hua Hin. It is definitely a big expat community with lots of Americans, Canadians and Aussies living there. We spent New Years partying on the beach and watching fireworks with Dan and his friends. It was time to relax by taking walks on the beach each morning and then lunch. Dan has lived in Hua Hin for about 5yrs and said that no one he knows has ever visited him but us. Too bad because they don’t know what they are missing. Until we see you next time Dan 👋🏻 see videos below ⬇️

01/02/2026

Oktoberfest began in 1810 as a celebration far removed from the massive beer festival we know today. Its origins trace back to the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. To mark the occasion, the citizens of Munich were invited to a grand public celebration held in fields outside the city gates. The festivities included music, food, and plenty of local beer. The event was such a success that it was decided to repeat it the following year, and the fields where it took place were named Theresienwiese (“Theresa’s Meadow”) in honor of the bride and is still the official location of Oktoberfest today.

This has been on my bucket list for years and we spent 2 days there in awe of this festival. Walking around the grounds you’ll find German food galore including many different types of sausages. What you won’t find is beer being sold outside of the tents. If your thirsty, you need to drink in one of the many beer tents there. Everyday they have 2 seatings at 11am & 5:30pm in the tents that can hold up to 3000 people 😱 We were able to get tickets for the 11am seating that lasts for 4 hrs. It was as much fun as we thought it would be🍺 We even shared a table with a couple from Mexico that was there on their honeymoon.

Modern Oktoberfest now attracts millions of visitors from around the world, yet it remains rooted in tradition. Only beer brewed within Munich city limits and meeting strict purity laws is served. Customs such as traditional music, folk dancing, and the regional costumes lederhosen and dirndls are still seen today. What began as a wedding celebration has become the world’s largest Volksfest - a blend of history, culture, and celebration that continues to honor its Bavarian origins 🍺 Prost!

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27/01/2026

We arrived in Munich the end of September. The capital of Bavaria, was founded in 1158 when Henry the Lion established a market near a settlement of Benedictine monks, from whom the city takes its name (“bei den Mönchen,” meaning “by the monks”). From 1506, when Munich was named capital of Bavaria, the city became a centre for the German counter reformation and for renaissance arts. During the period of 1550-1650 the city flourished under the control of the Habsburgs and developed into a hub of life with Baroque buildings being built. Later expanding rapidly in the 19th century as Bavaria’s royal capital it became a hub of science, industry, and the arts. Munich played a dark role in the 20th century as the birthplace of National Socialism and much of the city was polarized between the extreme right and extreme left. This situation saw the rise to power of Adolf Hi**er. It suffered heavy destruction during World War II. After the war, it was meticulously rebuilt, preserving its historic character while modernizing.

Munich is the kind of city that sneaks up on you. At first glance, it feels polished and orderly with elegant buildings, people efficiently getting on with their day. But stay a little longer, and Munich opens up into something warm and social. Since the city was already in the OctoberFest mode the atmosphere was especially festive. We started in the heart of the city at Marienplatz, where the Glockenspiel puts on its charming little show (See video below👇🏻) and sets the tone for Munich’s love of tradition. From there, we wandered without a plan and stumbled into Viktualienmarkt with courtyards, cozy cafés and bakeries where the smell of fresh pretzels felt impossible to resist.

The Englischer Garten is a large public park in the center of Munich. At 375 hectares, it is one of Europe’s largest public parks. In the afternoon we strolled through the English Garden and watched surfers ride the Eisbach while locals picnicked with beers in hand. And yes, the beer halls here live up to the hype. Places like Hofbräuhaus are lively and loud, but smaller neighborhood beer gardens often steal the show like the one we found in the park.

Nymphenburg Palace is a magnificent Baroque palace west of Munich. It was built in the 17th century as a summer residence for the Bavarian royal family. We took a tour of the castle’s interior, taking in several rooms such as the marble hall, beauty gallery, banqueting hall and the hunting room. Finally, we visited the Royal Carriage Museum, which displays antique carriages and riding equipment used by the royal family. The museum also has an exceptional historical collection of carriages and sleighs of King Ludwig II. Then we went to see some modern motor carriages at MotorWorld Munich which was a showroom and museum all in one place. There was so much to do in the city that it will take another visit or two to see what we missed.

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03/01/2026

While heading south to Munich we made a stop in Würzburg for a few days. Würzburg is located in the heart of the south of Germany in the Franconian region. The city is not only famous for its picturesque Old Town buts it also holds importance historically and culturally. The reason for Würzburg’s wealth of landmarks is that it was the capital of the Kingdom of Franconia, one of the 5 great duchies of medieval Germany from the 10th century till the 19th century when Napoleon merged Franconia with Bavaria. As home to royalty for many centuries the city benefited and flourished. The University of Würzburg was founded at the start of the 15th century and made the city a hub of education and scientific research.

We saw Würzburg’s famous bridge the Alte Mainbruecke, a huge castle with great views of the Marienberg Fortress as well as a whole bunch of churches as the city is actually known as the “city of 100 churches”. We actually ran out of time for Würzburg’s most famous landmark, the UNESCO Heritage site Würzburg Residenz is considered one of the finest palaces in Europe.

The Marienkapelle Chapel (St.Mary’s Chapel) is probably the most photographed church in the city. It is a late gothic period church built between 1377 and 1480. The Marienkapelle is the final resting place for many Franconian knights and citizens. We love the light and the beautiful stained glass windows.

The historic Rathaus (town hall) building consists of several sections that were built between the 13th and 20th centuries. The Grafeneckart, the oldest part with its striking tower and is particularly worth seeing. Honestly, it’s amazing that they could have so many churches in such a small area. The old town is not even 1 km across, yet we had seen so many of these monumental churches in different architectural styles.

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13/12/2025

By the end of September we were making our way south on the Rhine or the Middle Rhine Valley. For a stretch of 65km covering the river from Kobenz to Rudeshiem, you could spot around 40 hilltop castles and fortresses erected over 1000 years. With a few exceptions, many of the castles in the Middle Rhine Valley were constructed between the 12th century and the first half of the 14th century. I could not sit and enjoy the boat ride since around every curve of the river was a castle 🏰 I was in castle heaven seeing so many in one day.

With the German romance of the Middle Rhine it also became a dream destination in the early 1800s. Tourism was promoted and provided by the Köln-Düsseldorfer (KD) boat company founded in 1827. The construction of the West Rhine Railway between the 1840s and 1870s brought a new economic boom to the Middle Rhine area, which continued well into the 20th century and today. The only paddle steamer still remaining on the Rhine is the Goethe, running between Koblenz and Rudesheim and was the boat we took.

Some of the more famous castles in the valley are the Marksburg Castle which is the only castle never destroyed and shows a complete medieval structure. The Rheinfels Castle was once a giant customs castle but now the largest ruin on the river. Pfalzgrafenstein Castle was a unique toll station built on an island, featuring a well dungeon. One of the most preserved is the Stolzenfels Castle that sits high on the hill overlooking the Rhine. The Burg Katz & Burg Maus Castles were iconic rival toll castles from the 14th century, named for their owners' disputes.

If you ever decide to take a cruise on the Rhine, make sure you get to see this part of the river. It will be the highlight of your trip!

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