Sri Lanka Itinerary!

For those of you who'd like to track our Christmas adventure, here it is! We hope these journey details make the distance between us a wee bit shorter over the holidays...

16 December: Finish school (WOO HOO!!!!) and leave for Sri Lanka! (And think of YOU) I am ready to make Phil an "airplane sickness puppet" on the plane, if necessary.

17 December: Meet and greet at the airport. Won't it be fun to see a sign that says "THE PARKINSON'S"?!! Yes, we're STILL newlyweds...and I STILL get ridiculously over-excited about my new name! Drive to Negombo. (And think of YOU)

18 December: Anxiously await the arrival of Emily and Colleen from Vietnam! (And think of YOU) Jump, shout, hug, sing and dance about in happiness. I haven't seen my Cairo sister in SO LONG and I can't wait to make Colleen think "what have I gotten myself into?". Then drive to Sigiriya where we will celebrate my 25th on the 19th! Today, we wish a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to TAYLOR AND JOYCE!

19 December: MY BIRTHDAY! "OH ELEPHANTS, WHERE ARE YOU?!!!!" Proceed to Polonnaruwa to visit ruins and then head to Kaudulla National Park to see ELEPHANTS ("and lots of them", as per the tour guide's words!). Enjoy an elephant ride at Habarana (with party hats, I hope). Night time celebration in Sigiriya (where we will continue to think of YOU!).

20 December: Drive to Kandy to see the Dambulla Cave Temple, Aluvihara Caves, Spice and Herbal Garden, a Cultural Show, and the Gem Museum! Emily will be giving me "fancy camera" lessons that I can put into action at each of these locales! (At each of these places, we will also be thinking of YOU)

21 December: Ah! Christmas is getting nearer! Today we will check out the Botanical Garden, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Elephant Orphanage (Yippee! hey Phil - we do have THREE bedrooms....), and SHOPPING! We will also be attending special Poya Day festivities! (And thinking of YOU)

22 December: To Adam's peak we go! But, first - to a tea plantation! If only the four of us liked tea....BAHA! Memories of my tea-marathon with Emily fill me with GLEE! Please have a cup of tea wherever you are. And think of us. Because we will be thinking of you!

23 December: CHRISTMAS-EVE-EVE!!! Let's go visit some waterfalls in Nuwara Eliya! (And think of YOU, of course!)

24 December: CHRISTMAS EVE! Off to Mirissa Beach for some early morning whale watching! Eeeee - it will be my very first time! In the evening, we're looking forward to Christmas tales, Christmas songs, and.........hmm....SAND ANGELS?! We won't forget to put out treats for Santa. This year, I'm thinking "pineapple and tea" as opposed to "milk and cookies", although I will have to confirm with my fellow travelers. (Don't worry - we haven't forgot to think of YOU on the busy day!)

25 December: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sure the day will consist of some tears (WE WILL MISS YOU!), but we can't complain about Christmas Day on the Indian Ocean! I believe a day of nice meals is in order...and if we can find a way to reach you, WE WILL!

26 December - 30 December: Boxing Day! 364 Days until CHRISTMAS! While you're out shopping, we will be heading to the much anticipated town of Hikkaduwa to lounge, lounge, lounge until we depart for Kuwait! On December 28, it is HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAEME!!!

31 December: Head back home. A sad farewell to my Cairo sister, but an optimistic beginning to another great year! When the clock strikes midnight, a very HAPPY NEW YEAR to YOU!