Guest Book - Luxury Culture Tours' and Walking Tours' Comments

Loraine Blakeney, MRPharmS
Peter Blakeney, CChem, MRSC
Tom Blakeney, 18 years old
Ed Bakeney, 16 years old
Sussex, UK

THE BLAKENEY FAMILY HOLIDAY IN SRI LANKA
1st August 2009 - 16th August 2009

We were looking for a luxury cultural tour of Sri Lanka with our two teenage sons, and were put into touch with "Walk With Jith" by Responsible Travel.com. I was a little hesitant about booking when I spoke to Prasanjith and he said that he wasn't ATOL bonded but my fears were completely unfounded. We simply paid a travel deposit before we arrived in Sri Lanka and the rest in Travellers Cheques upon arrival - ho hassle!!!!

We have had everything we could possibly have wished for. The changing landscapes of this beautiful country are more diverse than anything we had imagined from "Ancient Greece" as seen in Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, to "Little England" in Nuwara Eliya, to "African Scrubland" in Uda Walawe National Park. It has been absolutely amazing!!!!

All four of us have been captured by the endemic animals and plants we have seen - forerunners were wild elephant at the side of the road, the endangered Rhinoceros' Lizard we saw on out trek in Horton Plains, the bravado of the Toque Monkeys in Sigiriya!!!! Also, a crocodile we was on our Boat Safari in Balapitiya.

Jith is most accommodating in giving the client just what they want - he changed our tour for us at very short notice to take in the Perahera Esala at Kandy a couple of days after our arrival - this meant rejigging the itinerary and rebooking hotels - but nothing was too much trouble.

Silva our driver, was an absolute gentleman, despite the atrocious driving conditions in Sri Lanka! I couldn't imagine an Englishman driving here without a few swear-words beeing uttered!!!

Favourite hotel - Sigiriya Village Hotel; Favourite Meal - Chilli crab @ Tropical Anoushka Riverside Guesthouse in Bentota; Favourite Wild-life Moment - the Rhinoceros Lizard; Favourite "spiritual" moment - receiving wrist bracelet from Buddhist monk at ceremony in Anuradhapura!

What a wonderful holidy!!!
One we will never forget!!

"isthuthiy!" (Thanks!)

David Pitt &
Lucy Havard-Williams
Head of Personal Financial Services
HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd.

7th November 2008

Dear Prasanjith,

Thank you for arranging such a lovely holiday for us. We saw every thing we wanted to see & Jayawardene made some good suggestions for additions to the itinerary. He looked after us very well, was extremely courteous & helpful & drove carefully. He was informative about the sights and their history.

The hotels were fine and we  particularly liked Sigiriya Village & the Galle Face Hotel. You may want to let Sigiriya Village know that we were bitten by bedbugs - which they need to sort out! We were in room 129.
We would definitely recommend you to friends coming to Sri Lanka & will make sure that we update www.responsibletravel.com

Thank you for an excellent holiday!
Best Wishes!

Top right: Sue & Danny Hadas

Sue & Danny Hadas
Arava, Israel

18th July 2008 - 2nd August 2008

Dear Jith,

We came to Sir Lanka with great expectations after reading so much about your beautiful country and you have arranged a trip for us that exceeded these expectations!

We asked for beautiful scenery, wildlife, culture and good food and we received every thing. Every hotel room had an amazing view, we have seen over 100 different birds, so many animals and several historical sites. There were so many highlights to this trip: the boat trip on the firs day and our introduction to bird watching, the visit (unscheduled) to Minneriya N.P. and being so close to so many elephants, climbing Sigiriya - an amazing place, the hike during the wind/rainstorm in the Knuckles - a never to be forgotten experience, the stay in the magical Sinharaja forest and seeing the Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, the sajan in Yala N.P. with the beautiful painted storks and their chicks, releasing baby green turtles into the at Kosgoda.

We really appreciate your thoughtfulness in organizing the trip, from views, to the flexibility (giving Danny more opportunities to take photos) to the treats along the way (ice cream, Collared Scopes Owl) and your patience as Danny asked to stop the car again and again! for photos.

It has been a real pleasure travelling with you and Mr. Silva the last two weeks. We had so many experiences and learnt so much thanks to your knowledge of all things Sri Lankan and your sharp eyesight!

We plan on visiting again will definitely recommend you to all our friends.

Wishing you lots of success with the business
Sue & Danny Hadas

At Polonnaruwa archeological site John & Marian Lee. Right: Madu river boat ride John & Marian Lee

John & Marian Lee
Helmsley, North Yorkshire
England See more pictures of their tour here >>

11th to 24th April 2008

Jith. We arrived in Sri Lanka with a very limited knowledge of the country and its people.

We leave now with an insight into the history, culture, religion and everyday life of its exceptionally friendly people, thanks to you help and guidance.

Our tour has been full of highlights, from ancient sites to New Year celebrations to dozens of new birds (which were interesting to us as non-birders previously) and animals (turtles and elephants especially). We really appreciated your efforts and organization, even when you were not fully healthy! Our trip has been an excellent mixture for us for a taste of Sri Lanka.

Thanks also to our ever-cheerful and skilful driver Silva, who steered us along roads good and not-so-good, and had our complete trust.

We have much to reflect on, all of it positive, and will certainly never forget the great experience. [We may even become quite keen "birders"!]

John Ward, Joanne with Jith

John Ward and Joanna Pienescu
UK See more pictures of their tour here >>

18th - 31st March 2008

This holiday has been the holiday of a lifetime. Jaya has been more than just a guide or driver; he has been a true friend to us. He has been patient, kind, considerate and a real gentleman, and we will miss him when we leave.

We have enjoyed everything. Jaya is very knowledgeable about Sri Lankan history and culture, especially Buddhism. We loved visiting Polonnaruwa and the cave temples at Dambulla and felt humbled at the temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy - it was a fantastic experience.

Jaya is also very knowledgeable about Sri Lankan wildlife and the walk across Horten Plains and the Elephant safari were amazing.

We were very grateful to Jaya for the extra days he spent with us in Hikkaduwa, he arranged a brilliant river safari which included a visit to a Buddhist temple en route and of course the splendid visit to Galle to watch some excellent cricket.

We will do our best to promote walkwithjith to our friends, families and colleagues when we return in the hope that some will come to a beautiful country and enjoy some of the very best hospitality and expert guidance.

Jaya, we have thoroughly enjoyed your guidance and friendship, your excellent driving, your patience and humour.

We regard you as a true friend and will miss you - we hope to return some time in the future and enjoy your excellent company once more.

With much appreciation & respect

Lynn and Bill at Pedro Tea Factory in Nuwara Eliya. Right: Crossing a stream at Knuckles

Lynn & Bill
Glasgow, Scotland See more pictures of their tour here >>

10th to 17th March 2008
Dear Prasanjith,

Thank you for a truly enjoyable holiday despite the daily downpours from 2 o'clock onwards. It is the tropics after all. However, we really appreciated the way you adjusted our itinerary to compensate.

Your tours of Sigiriya and the Royal Palace gave us an interesting insight into the history, culture and religion of Sri Lanka.

We enjoyed the works in the Knuckles and Horton Plains. Your knowledge of the flora and fauna, and ability to spot and identify the smallest of birds enriched our experience.

We would also like to thank Silva for his careful and considerate driving which filled us with confidence as he skillfully negotiated the narrow twisting highland roads.

Finally Prasanjith, we would like to thank you again for an enjoyable holiday and to wish you success for the future.

Left: Peter, Prasanjith and Erica. Right: Norman David, Peter Golden, Erica De La Harpe, Shane Carter, Davida De La Harpe Golden, David De La Harpe, Neil Golden

See more pictures of their tour here >>

1st - 14th December 2007
The Dela Harpe - Golden - Carter Group

Prasanjith,

You made certain our visit was one of the best experience we have had - You patience with expatriate Sri Lankans will go down in family history as a legend. I hope we will feature in your family history also as a legend - especially Norman!!
- Davida de Dela Harpe - Golden

 Thank you for a great & very interesting holiday and for your care and consideration
- Neil Golden

Dear James, Thank you 4 everything, I'll be back because I'm your Burger brother!
- David

Hey Jith! Thanks for a great tour! Keep up the swimming. Can't wait to be back!
- Shane Carter

Dear Jith,
It was a pleasure to meet you, your company & knowledge was great. Hope to meet again.
Norman

Tina Reynolds, Exmoor Zoo, UK
and Phil Rowtcliff, Barnstaple, UK

26 June 2007

Well, for 2 students we had a fantastic and a GREAT time. Not many places in the world you get to hand feed an elephant or pooed on by a playful baby elephant! Seeing baby turtles was a wonderful experience, the safari was definetly a highlight, you said it's rare to find a leopard but we did and it's rare to see elephants & we did' Seeing them in the wild we will never forget! The way you contained all the cultural & wildlife experiences into 6 days, & with explained knowledge & understanding of each experience, we will never know! But if we do come back I won't be climbing Sigiriya Rock!
Thank you so much!

Dr. Julia Saurazas
Campus Director, Abu Dhabi University.

October 26, 2006

Although I only booked the tour an very short notice, it exceeded my expectations. I was amazed at the diversity of sri Lanka, and hope to return for a longer stay. Jaya was aan exellent, patient guide and I really feal that it is time for tourists to return to the island.

John & Paulin Willcox
Jersey, UK.

February 02, 2006

We came here with no idea of what Sri Lanka and this area had to other - tosay we have been surprised and thrilled is an undersatement. The team Jith & Samanta nave proviced the highlights of our stay and we are already plannin to come back. We have so much more to learn. Thank you for all your insights into yuor beautiful country its flora fauna & people. Thank for our enjoyable frank discussions.

Richard Allen (Technical Manager) and
Wendy Howes
Northwich, UK

19th October - 5th November 2005

Thank you Jith for such a wonderful time.
Your Knowledge of flora and fauna never ceased to amaze us.
Your tolerance and understanding of our lack of in depth knowledge is a testimony to your professionalism.
We wish you every success with your business in the future!
Best wishes!

Steve Hootman, Plant Explorer
Rhododendren Foundation
Washington, USA

30th September 2005

Thank you Jith!
I enjoyed our time to gether and you were most accommodating to my needs. I was impressed with your knowledge - not only of birds but of the native flora. My day on the Horton Plains and Thotapola will never be forgotten. Really a highlight in my carrier and travels.
Best of luck in your endeavors, I hope to travel with you again some day.

Christopher Philipson, PhD Student
University of Zurich, Switzerland

17th June 2005

Dear Jith,
Thanks for an excellent walk in Sinharaja. Your botanical knowledge is excellent and it was a pleasure to learn from you in the forest. I hope to come here again, may be even to do a reaseach project. I just love Dipterocarpus! Look after your self and I'll be in contact if I'm comming back.

Janet Poole & Ian Poole
Manchester, UK

19th March – 2nd April, 2005

Thank you JITH for a marvelous holiday and memories time in Sri Lanka. Your expert guiding and knowledge of all things ornithological and natural wa a delight we have really enjoyed your explanation of the daily life of Sri Lankan people and we have been involved with the sprit of the people from simple things such as buying lottery tickets and fruits to the food and culture. You have been very good company for two weeks and we leave with very many happy memories. Very best wishes!

Astrid Becker
Resident Representative
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
Henning Effner
Junior Expert
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
Norma Effner

11 – 13 March, 2005

Dear Jith,
Thank you for a wonderful weekend in Sinharaja Rain Forest! We learned much about birds spiders, butterflies and leeches. And we also have an idea now about the rainforest and how parts of Sri Lanka must have looked like many years ago. Thank you very much for organizing everything so well. We really had a good and relaxing time.

Prasanjith in a 2003 tour Photo by: Ms. Monseratte