So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Tea Factory Visit - Dambatenne

By Jonny Blair


Tea is a national obsession in Sri Lanka and here where it is grown is a great spot to visit on your travels. Sri Lankan tea is famous the world over and when in the country you should head to the Hill Country and visit tea factories and plantations. It's just marvellous! Head to Haputale which houses the impressive Dambatenne Tea Factory, built and created by Thomas Lipton who came from Scotland and made it his base over one hundred years ago. You can get a tour of the factory up in the hills![]

The Dambatenne Tea Factory is actually up in the mountains at Haputale and hard to get to. If you are an avid tea drinker, I assure you however that it is worth the trip!

How to get to Dambatenne Tea Factory

Getting to the Dambatenne Tea Factory is tricky for tourists. Up in the mountains and valleys there is no rail system here. The bus system does run, but the roads are so narrow you are better off finding a local driver. Get a local driver to take you and save the hassle! He will know what he is doing! []

How much does it cost to visit Dambatenne Tea Factory?

You will be charged 250 Rupees to enter which is fair enough. You must pay in cash at the main entrance. You might also have a short delay before starting the tour as the workers may be busy and not ready to give you the guided tour yet. However it will be worth the wait.

What length of time is a tour of Dambatenne Tea Factory?

Your tour will be split into three main parts and should take around 25 minutes:

1. Visiting the upstairs rooms where the tea leaves are brought into the building and they are placed into the massive circular machines before going through the refining process.

2. Secondly you are in a large room downstairs to watch the process of the tea being refined before it is heated at the end.

3. Lastly all the tea will be heated then let to cool. Once cooled, it goes into bags to be distributed around the globe!

Photos are banned inside for parts 2 and 3 of the tour which is fair enough as it's their secret factory and the staff are also busy working. In terms of opening times for the tour, then it's probably 9 - 5 but just make sure you check before you head there!

What other things are there on the tour?

The tour is short and once it's over that's you done! Yes really there is no restaurant, cafe or tea room to even have a sample of the Sri Lankan tea. Your only consolation will be being able to buy a packet of Dambatenne tea direct from the factory in a small box.

You can buy a packet of fresh Dambatenne tea for 300 Rupees, but the better stuff Simondou, which is tea bags costs an enormous 1,100 Rupees! Ouch! You can get it cheaper in the nearby towns by the way, you're just paying for the packet, the freshness of it and the fact that it was bought there.

What other things can you do in the area nearby?

It's such a mountainous region so there are four other things to do which is best done with a driver:

1. Savour the mountain views

2. Stroll along the hills of tea plantations

3. Have a cup of tea with a great view over the landscape

4. Visit the actual town of Haputale (there are hotels, markets, shops and even an ATM there!)

There you have it - the tour is short and over quickly but is worth a trip and provides you with great travel memories.

OK it's tea time!




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How To Find A Native American Store

By Jana Serrano


It is definitely beneficial for people to be truly interested in crafts. This can be a way for people to spend their time in a leisurely manner. It can turn into a hobby that people can indulge into. If you are amazing at crafts-making, then you better consider selling the products you have to others as well. It should help earn a profit.

Regardless of whether you thought to sell the crafts or buy some of great quality, you must look for a great shop where you can fulfill your purpose. A perfect example of where you are able to make this purchase is at a native American store. You can either sell your crafts here or buy some jewelry you can wear personally.

It is actually not that difficult to get your hands on some information regarding the places you can buy or sell your crafts. You have a lot of good places worth taking into consideration nowadays. When you aim to get to the right place for the said trade, then here are a few of the best methods for searching you can use.

First, there is the classified ads. You should be able to see some advertisements published in either the newspapers or the magazines that showcase businesses wanting to sell their products or offer their services. When it comes to these print media, there are surely lots of classified ads being published in these print media.

Another option that you should be able to use in your search for the best place where you can sell or buy your craft would be the Yellow Pages. This is an enterprise directory listing that should allow you to browse through various stores with one flip of its pages. You can easily find more than one lead when you use this option to search.

It will also be useful for you to utilize referrals when you are interested in making this purchase. Referrals are basically given to you by the people around you. If you trust in these people, you will find their leads more valuable. The referrals may come from your friends, family members, relatives, neighbors, associates, and colleagues.

You can use the Internet to search for the places where the said crafts are being sold as well. Of course, you can use this to search for places where you are allowed to sell your crafts too. With just a click of the mouse, you should be able to get some multiple leads on where one can fulfill one's purpose.

When you are using the Internet, you can also opt for an online shopping. This means you have to look for websites that offer buying and selling of stuff. You should find online sellers there that are reputable enough to purchase the said crafts from.

You can also use these online marketplaces to sell the crafts you have made. You simply have to create your own free seller account. Once you have that free account, you can use it to list the crafts you have made. This should make it easier for you to sell the crafts you have created to interested customers.




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Ways In Shopping In Native American Shop

By Jana Serrano


Traveling can be the best thing that we could do so that we can refresh our mind from the stress we get from work. But before our travel truly comes to an end, it is best to buy souvenirs in the place we traveled. We can buy one in the local stores over town but there are those stores that sell great native souvenir items if we know how to look for one.

Definitely, travelers often prefers to buy native crafts that are made by the residents in the area. Though, we could always visit native American shop which supplies great souvenirs to bring home. But when we decide what to buy, it often give us headaches. So to keep away from experiencing this, follow the tips that are listed below.

You should decide in advance what certain items should you buy upon arriving at the shop. It is good if you choose the common items because each native store sells like this. There are doll carving, great rug designs, and native jewelry. They also have some religious items.

If you already know what to purchase, assure that you have come to this decision basing from your interests. If you like to use the jewelry that you have bought, make sure that it fits your taste of outfit when going to work or school. You should also know to yourself how much is the amount that you will be spending for these.

In searching for the best store, look on the internet a good list of shop names. In here, you will know if the listed shops are in the business for over a long time and trade the same products. You will also know if they are authentic sellers and not just any group that stood a store in the middle of the desert.

You can always ask some of your friends where they have bought their crafts so that you can stop by the shop like they did. Recommendations are really good because these people already have experience buying in these companies. They know what are the crafts being sold and the other features and benefits that they could get from the shop.

Do not trust the shop owners that give a big discount on your desired product. Remember that your money will be divided and give a percentage of it to the craft makers for their labor. If you have observed this, you will probably get an interest for the next one.

Buyers like you should avoid paying the product in advance. There are already professionals who strongly commend this no matter how close you are to the owner. Paying over the counter is still the best thing to do.

As you already know such things mentioned, then you might like to follow all of it to get rid of headaches in choosing what to purchase. With this, you already have a guide in buying products that are best for your outfits and best for room display at home. Take time in creating you greatest outing and bring home the souvenir that you want so much.




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Trailer Graphics: The Do's And Don'ts To Know

By Michael Robert Peterson


Trailer graphics can serve a number of marketing purposes well, which goes without saying. These sorts of items have been utilized by a series of companies, some of them able to stand out more than others depending on their designs. With that said, I think that it's essential to note the do's and don'ts which come with these high-quality items. Make sure that you adhere to these, as they will help you get the most out of these vinyl wraps as possible.

Do clean the surfaces beforehand. When it comes to the application of trailer graphics, everything starts with cleanliness. Specifically, you have to make sure that the surfaces utilized for said graphics are maintained well, keeping such elements as dirt and grime off. Not only do these aspects appear dirty, to say the least, but they make the process of placing wraps more difficult than it should be. Keep this in mind if you're looking to invest in such items.

Don't apply trailer graphics in extreme cold. You should also know that these types of appliances do not bode well with cold weather. Even though it can be argued that high levels of heat can be damaging - this cannot be discredited - companies like JMR Graphics will tell you that the opposite can be just as much of a negative. As a result, make sure that there are heaters on-hand, when needed. It's a great precaution that will help you in the long run.

Do see about taking trailer graphics off. The removal process associated with these wraps cannot be overlooked, either. One of the other reasons why these wraps are so effective is that they can be easily taken off, just as they were initially put on. In addition, they will not leave much of a mess behind, which is an understandably common concern with items featuring adhesive components. Regardless, you will not have a difficult time with the removal process.

Don't overlook the importance of price. There's also the element of cost that's associated with trailer graphics. For those who do not know, these items are usually inexpensive, sometimes more cost-effective than radio, television, or what have you. As a result, it would make for even the youngest brands to take advantage of these graphics. Provided you know which authorities are the most reputable, the investment you put in will be worth it.




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