Solo Ventures With Vicky – Sri Lanka

Hi, thanks for listening to Solo Ventures with Vicky. Welcome to my show where I explore incredible countries around the world and focusing on solo female travel. As a backpacker, adventure aficionado and lover of the world, I found myself in some strange situations and had some wonderful moments that I'm happy to share with you. And of course you can always learn from my mistakes as well as looking at a wonderful country just a little bit closer every week and sharing your memories. I'll be opening up to a question time at the end where you can ask any question, travel related and life advice. If you really want to give me a go and I'll be answering them as best as I can and just get in touch with me via social media platforms which is vicketecarter or omansradio. Stn our Instagram and Twitter. Or you could email presentersomensradiostation.com I'll also be looking at the perfect weekend break for you and I'll be playing you music on the move. So music that transports you to a travel memory or travel moment from artists we know and love and original unsigned artists. So this week we are looking a little bit closer at Sri Lanka. It's a beautiful country that has everything you could ever want, really. I mean, there's relaxing empty beaches that, you know, span its coastline, fantastic surf, a rich history, ancient cities, peaceful tea plantations, national parks filled with diverse animals, like rewarding hikes, you know, that really burn your thighs, romantic forts, traditional temples and and welcoming people. But the list really goes on. But it also has eight UNESCO World Heritage sites packed in just one small area, so it's well worth a visit. But what really stole my heart the most about Sri Lanka was the food. My favorite breakfast in the world is in Sri Lanka. String hoppers. Oh my gosh. I actually think about them now, like, oh, so delicious. So they're basically a parcel of goodness made out of like rice meal or wheat flour. And it forms like small discs in a stringy texture that then resembles spaghetti, but it's like cooked really tightly together. And traditional hoppers is served with dao, which is like a creamy thick stew made out of pulses which then you can dip onto your parcel and then you top it up with a coconut chili sambal. So good. My personal favorite location has to be Gaul, which is like a dusty fort soaked in history and culture with European influences. It's kind of like a collision of the past, present and future. Together with chic boutiques and art galleries and unique cafes, they all fill the fort inside. And there's antique shops as well, just highlighting the past that used to be a part of the fort. But to learn more of why Sri Lanka is such a fab destination, let's hear from Sam of SOS Travel. Hi Vicki, I'm Sam from SOS Travel. Check out my blog at www.sostravel.co.uk and please follow me on all social media travel UK. My travel memory is a 16 day tour of Sri Lanka. Landing in Colombo, we made our way to Candelama, staying at the Herritons Candelama, an award winning eco hotel built in the rock face on the edge of a lake, taking in the local wildlife including the resident monkeys. My time here was spent climbing Sigiriya Rock and Dambulla Temple before we were candy bound en route stopping at a spice farm, Kandy provided culture in the form of a local cultural show and a visit to the famous Temple of the Tooth, a shrine to the Buddhist faith. Leaving, we climbed up towards tea country Nuwara Elia, also known as Little England due to its cooler climate. Staying at the Herriton's Tea Factory which used to be a restored working tea plantation where I picked my own tea and observed the process. Amazing tea topped off with a high tea. Descending towards the coast, we took in many beautiful waterfalls including Devon Falls before arriving at our final destination in Kalatara on the coast where I took a river cruise and visited a lovely turtle sanctuary in Ben Tota, enjoying local seafood on the beachfront at Fresh Lobster. Overall, it was a fantastic experience. Thanks Sam from SOS Travel. If you'd like your travel memories shared right here, get in touch. You can email me on presenters@womensradiostation.com you can either tweet us or pop onto our Instagram and message us at womensradiostn or contact me via my social media platforms ickyecarter. So next up, let's look at Music on the move. So because Sri Lanka is my favorite breakfast in the world, I thought it would tie in nicely. And also I'm quite a cheesy person. So rising out of bed for the best breakfast ever, it's Gabrielle with Rise. I know that it's over. That I can't believe. They say the times a healer and I'm better without you it's gonna take time I know that I get over here look in my life look in my heart I have seen the fall apart Now I'm ready to rise Just look at my hopes look at my dreams I'm building Bridge Blonde St. Now I'm ready to Rise again. Harder in my thinking Like a prisoner in my mind. You. You Pa so many questions that the truth is hard to find? I better think twice? I know that I get over you. Look in my life, look in my heart? I have seen them fall apart? Now I'm ready rise again. Just look at my hopes, look at my dreams? Building bridges from these gates Now I'm ready to rise again. Much time has passed between us? Do you still think of me at all? My world of broken promises? You won't catch me when I fall. Working my life, working my heart? I had to see them fall apart and now I'm ready to rise again. Just look at my hopes Looking my dreams Building bridge promise Now I'm ready to rise again. That was music on the move with Gabrielle and Rise. Now let's look at a perfect weekend away. This week I'm looking at Bristol. Bristol, surrounded by rolling hills, flowing rivers, sweeping country lanes, and it's a real hive of culture, music and art. Being home to the most famous graffiti artist in the world, Banksy kind of emphasizes to all those that visit how culturally diverse and liberal Bristol is. As well as hosting a thriving electronic and alternative music scene in eclectic venues, you know, like Motion and Attic Bar, it also also spruces up elegant areas with Cabot Circus and health conscious St. Werbers, Afro Caribbean vibes and St. Paul's and Eastern as well for international cuisine. A sucker for street art. My favorite thing to do here is to go on like a walking street art tour of all the work here because obviously you can spot Banksy work, but it's nice to learn about all the other local artists that are there as well. And if that is up your street, no pun intended, then check out Upfest. It's Europe's largest street art festival. In Bristol, it's every summer with 350 artists from all over the globe. Okay, now back on music on the move. Inspired by personal experience, current affairs and sunsets behind her house, Anna Neal's new album, Wide sky fuses Arabic music with Western pop. And featuring Syrian refugee Rowan on the track Evolution. It's inspired by the journey and experience of the refugees Anna has worked with, helping deal with trauma. The message behind this song is I mustn't look back, I must look forward. And here is Evolution by Anna Neal. Left and done, no guidance from the light. There's a darkness in between. Can turn back Live in regret Sometimes it's hard to forget Keep moving, evolution. Don't stop, See a reflection Standing against rejection Keep pushing Evolution. Where do we go into the unknown all alone. Curious mentality. Those good lies Still a dream. Can turn back Live in regret Sometimes it's hard to forget Keep moving evolution. Don't stop See a reflection Standing against rejection Keep pushing. Times it's hard to forget Keep moving evolution. Don't stop the reflection Standing against rejection Keep pushing evolution. Hi, I'm Sarah Austin and I'm the founder of the really Helpful Club, an online and offline community that helps supports and connects thousands of women in our personal and business lives. We are buzzing. Join us to share and discover your best ideas. Come to our events to meet other members and learn something new. Book now for our London workshop on 10 May helping you prepare for and manage the menopause. Membership is free. Join now by visiting really Helpful Club. Please also find us on thewomensradiostation.com hi, I'm Ekaterina Brehova, Head of Conference Production City and Financial Global and I want to tell you about our vote 100 Women in Business Summit at the Royal garden hotel on 17th of April. Opened by her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex, it will be a great day full of useful content and amazing networking opportunities. To book for this fantastic event please go to our website www.ctnfinancial.com or you can find us on womensradiostation.com Women's radio station will give a voice to your brand, advertise your product, services or goods on air with a package tailored to suit you. For more information visit womensradiostation.com hi, my name is Gary Parker and my company is called CNT Associates. We provide fundraising, business support and training services for small businesses, charities and non profit making organizations. We've raised over £20 million since 2003 and we'd like to help you. Visit us and tassociates.com or on Twitter ntassociates. Sale Sale Sale at Queenstyle furniture up to 50% off all our furniture styles. 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So pop on down to Hollywood Babes, Thorpe, Broadway, Essex and get ready to be styled. Hi, I'm Michelle Bartlett, the founder of Live Laugh Love Ladies Club. We're looking for ladies to link arms across the globe. This is a new vibrant brand connecting women socially. Our club members enjoy great food, fun and inspiring speakers whilst making friends in a room of all generations. If you're a social butterfly in the community, this fast growing franchise could be for you. If you would like to know more about stepping into our pink shoes, then look at the business opportunity page on our website. Live laughloveloveladies Club Also at women's radio station. Women's radio station can give a voice to your brand. With a wide range of sponsorship opportunities including individual programs, we can tailor your experience to you. For more information on how you can sponsor a show, go to womensradiostation.com now for question Time. Dum dum da la dum. So what are the public transport scams to look out for? Well first of all, tuk tuks, they like to stop off at like government owned shops, normally gem stores or you know, really expensive shops that have like antiques and stuff like no one can afford. If you're on a backpack of budget where they get in turn like petrol Or a free bag of rice. Just something to be aware of. Also, tuk tuks turn into tour guides. So suddenly your tuk tuk driver will be the best tour guide and he'll say he's done it with loads of people and give you loads of rates and stuff. Also with prices of tuk tuks, always make sure to barter before you get in. You have a fixed price before you get into the vehicle because once you're in, you can't back and change. For some instances, like on Khaosan Road in Bangkok, some tuk tuk drivers literally just sit there all day and they have a fixed price where they won't go under or lower. But people who just stepped off a plane, you know, and they're not really aware of the currency or the exchange rate, they think it's fine. When actually in Thailand, it's quite a small fortune. So go down the road, flag down a tuk tuk and barter with them. Also, taxi drivers don't like to use a meter as well. Or they might say, oh, my meter's broken, you know, just not take it. Find another taxi driver that does have a working meter or fixed rate sheet with all the prices and locations. For example, in Malaysia, just that outside Kuala Lumpur Airport, there's loads of taxi drivers wanting to flag down people who've just stepped off a plane. But the registered company is Bluebirds. So when I, when I went off the plane and stepped out of the airport and those people tried to flag me down, I was like, no, I'm with Bluebirds. And once you say that, then they are aware that, you know, they know that you know about the scam. So it's just being a bit switched on. Also with buses, there's the whole local buses versus tourist buses. So when you do book a bus, make sure you are aware of what you're expecting. If they have pictures of tourist buses also, they can be really cold as well. So make sure to layer up and have your, your ticket agency number or where you're expected to stand and be picked up. Exactly. Local buses kind of range in a whole variety of different conditions. And, and some buses, you won't actually get a seat. You might be standing the whole time. You might be sat next to a whole load of chickens and cages. Like it's really varied. So just be aware of that. With trains and tickets, it's a huge scam in Delhi, but in other areas of the world as well, that you'll book a ticket and then you'll go to the train station and there'll be platforms and people come up to you, oh, very helpful locals, and say, oh yeah, you've got the wrong ticket. And they'll take you to, you know, their friend's shop where they'll get a huge commission from your ticket for buying a new ticket. But stick with your gut instinct. If you bought a ticket from a registered place and you know it's right, then it probably is right. Okay. So if someone comes up to you and tries to change that opinion, then, you know, stick strong with your gut instinct. Also, having a local number wherever you travel is very useful, especially in Delhi because they have tactile, which is a system of booking tickets online and using your phone as well for texting to join a service as well. But yeah, do remember that public transport is very commission based, so some buses, some taxi drivers might charge extra just so they can get a slice of the pie. Now I'm going to end my show on a travel quote. To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the most pleasant sensations in the world. By Freya Stark See you next week. 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