THE PEOPLE -The first thing I noticed was the warm and friendly nature of the people, their smiling faces and eagerness to help us when unfamiliar with aspects of the local life. Many of the locals were wearing traditional dress, children in their school uniforms, often white (I don’t know how they managed to keep them clean though!)
FORTRESSES & TEMPLES – There are several renowned Temples but two of my favourites were:-
SIGIRIYA –A 370-metre rock formation in the heart of the Cultural Triangle. I did climb to the top and the views were stunning & I loved having my picture taken with a group of local school children. (The climb is not for the faint hearted and beware of the monkeys on the way up!) But so worth it!!
KANDY – TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH – Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist Temple set on the shores of a beautiful lake and said to contain the tooth relic of Buddha.
CEYLON TEA – I really enjoyed the scenic rail Journey from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, watching the women tea pickers expertly removing the tea tips from the bushes and tossing them into their woven sacks, then learning how tea is produced. Then of course sampling various flavours!
WILDLIFE – A trip to Sri Lanka would not be complete without seeing some form of wildlife, we had a trip to MINNERIYA SANCTUARY to watch elephants gathering as they went to drink the waters. We also saw buffaloes, crocodiles and different forms of birdlife.
Overall the experience was fantastic and I would certainly go back to Sri Lanka as there is still so much more to see and do!
