Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka took my breath away.
Enjoy a direct flight from Melbourne or if flying from Sydney, Brisbane or Perth, you can always enjoy a stopover in Singapore.
I learnt 2 weeks was not enough to visit this beautiful country. Endless White sand beaches and pumping surf. Lush tropical jungle and mountain towns. Waterfalls, Biking, golf outing, visiting temples, dolphin watching or luxurious pampering surrounded by lovely scenery, Train rides through tea plantations and not to mention some game drives with elephants and Leopards roam in abundance. The list goes on…….
Travelers will need to know what’s “in season” as this makes a bit of a difference to the experience. Monsoon season from Apr-Sep on the west and south West coast. Nov-Mar usually hits the east coast.
A great time to visit South and Central areas is Dec to March/Apr. Some areas you definitely want to be carrying your insect repellent! This was the only thing expensive to purchase.
It is a country I would recommend to plan ahead and pre book your travel arrangements. You will only then need to worry about just enjoying yourself without the fuss of how to get from A to B and where to sleep as this is not easy to arrange when in Sri Lanka. Although Sri Lanka is relatively small in size, traveling around the island can be frustrating and time-consuming. Chauffeur-driven cars are the recommended way to get around.
Train travel get booked months in advance but wow what an experience it was! The blue train weaving through the thick jungle of ella and Horton is the iconic image you see on all Sri Lanka pictures. First class travel on the trains is my personal favourite for comfort and some epic shots out the window without the crowd.
Accommodation in Sri Lanka can be found to suit any budget. Luxury hotels in Sri Lanka are some of the finest in the world. Just about most of the places I visited had incredible views. Some places even felt like I was in Norway overlooking a gorgeous turquoise lakes, other times felt like I was in middle of Botswana on a safari drive or sometimes it felt like I was in the back streets’ of Rome with cobblestone lanes full of restaurants with vibrant energy. Speaking of Restaurants, I definitely ate the best curries, naan and mouth-watering Dhal, the staple comprising of lentils cooked is spices with coconut milk! Even though most foods have a lot of spice they still cater very well for all. Even if you are not a tea drinker you will no doubt fall in love with the tea after a visit to the Ceylon tea trails.
All in all, the choices are vast when in Sri Lanka. Most people never want to leave. There is something for everyone. Couples, families, solo travellers, all ages, weddings and honeymoons. It definitely has become high on my list of places I never thought about until I visit July 2019. The people are one of the friendliest I have come cross and I am so privileged to have been sent for work to experience the culture, the places and tourist attractions and to witness staying at some of the most gorgeous hotels, and resorts and homestays.
I will be back soon Sri Lanka.