279 Days And Counting.....

A year from today we would be in Colombo, Sri Lanka.  One of the interesting tours is a visit to the Kelaniya Temple, an active Buddhist temple purportedly built on a site visited by the Buddha over 2,000 years ago. He is said to have preached his doctrine to a gathering of serpent kings here. Today, worshipers come to lay sprigs of lotus flowers around the great white 'dagoba', light oil lamps and sprinkle the base of the Tree of Enlightenment with purified water.

We have also been looking at interesting excursions in other ports.  We are both keen to get authentic Panama hats.  It turns out that these hats are made in Montecristi, Ecuador by weaving plaited leaves of the toquilla palm.  There is an excursion that offers highlights of the port of Manta, Ecuador as well as a visit to Montecristi where artisans demonstrate the Panama hat making process.  Below is a picture of an authentic Ecuadorian Panama hat.