Sri Lanka

I visited Sri Lanka, an island steeped in history, with different cultures, jungles & wild animals

After clearing customs I was greeted by my driver who took me to my 1st Hotel for the night.

We travelled along roads dotted with Buddhas and Indian Goddess shrines. We stopped for comfort breaks along the way throughout the tour which were chosen by my guide. Your guide will also take you to Herb & Spice Gardens, Clothing factories & Cultural shows if you wish.

We arrived at Kandalama and the Heritance Kandalama Hotel and was greeted by the staff with fresh fruit drinks. I woke to see monkeys on the balcony and in the trees . At breakfast I could see wild bison and other animals grazing at the Lake that the Hotel overlooked. I met my driver and we set off for the ancient city of Anuradhapura & the 11th century med evil capital of Polonnaruwa a must for archaeology enthusiasts. I returned to the hotel exhausted but happy to take a swim in the wonderful infinity pool. The evening being spent relaxing in the calm surroundings and taking dinner at the buffet restaurant.

After breakfast the next morning we went on to the Lions Rock at Sigiriya not for the faint hearted. An ancient Rock fortress and Palace ruins with its cave paintings and numerous steps. Steeped in history it has a fascinating story to tell. The climb was exhausting but the view from the top more than made up for it. On this evening whilst enjoying a swim, we were joined by a Flutist dressed in cultural attire who sat upon a rock and played his Flute beautifully it was bliss!

Next day we travelled farther on down to Kandy a typical Indian City, I visited a Cultural show. Staying overnight in another wonderful Hotel that overlooked the man-made Lake inspired by an ancient King . The next morning I went to see Buddha at the Temple of the tooth relic in all its glittering splendour. There were lush paintings and artifacts that were awe inspiring.

Across the City we then went to the beautiful Royal Botanical gardens which was Lord Mountbattens home during the 2nd World War. You can take a leisurely walk around the gardens, enjoy the flora and fauna, watch the monkeys play among the vast trees and marvel at the array of Orchids in the Orchid Farm.

The following morning we were off to a different climate to the one I had become accustom to. We Drove on down to Nuwara Eliya situated 2000m above sea level. The higher the road climbs the cooler you become. The area is famous for its many Tea Factories and Tea Plantations layered into the Hillside, looking much like the Bonsai in Japan. I toured the factory to see how they produced tea years ago and watched the pickers return with their sacks full ready to be weighed in. I stayed overnight in a converted Tea Factory with all its original engineering and marvelled at the information displayed throughout the Hotel for its past.

Next we were en-route to one of the many National Parks where you can enjoy a Safari experience and stay in Lodges or Hotels whichever you prefer.

After having such an amazing time you can add a beach stay and relax in a luxury hotel on long golden beaches and the warm Indian Ocean. You can enjoy massages by the pool or indulge in the Hotels Spa facilities.

Whilst at the beach hotel I witnessed many Weddings, which were individually done to the couples requests, it was lovely to see such an array of colours and sounds from the dancers and musicians leading the couple to the registrar. After their ceremony they would offer a bunch of bananas to an Elephant before climbing aboard and given a ride out of the Hotel onto the beach a truly memorable occasion, and such attention to detail by the staff.