Our Asian Adventure was capped off with a journey through Sri Lanka. It turns out - we saved the best for last. Sri Lanka, formally known as Ceylon, is an island near India. The country itself is magnificent with rolling tea fields, lush mountains, expansive beaches and turquoise lakes. However, more impressive than the scenery, are the people who stole our hearts the moment we arrived.
Since this was our last trip, we splurged and spent four fabulous nights at the Ceylon Tea Trails. Easily, the best decision we ever made. The hotel is comprised of small bungalows converted from the homes of former British tea plantation owners. We stayed at three of the six bungalows, and each one was better than the last.
Four glorious days began with in-room tea, followed by kayaking, long hikes through the tea fields, croquet, amazing meals courtesy of a private chef, games by the fire, and of course - afternoon high tea.
Alas, the time came to leave the gorgeous tea country of Ceylon and head down to the coast. We stationed ourself in Galle, a seaside town in southern Sri Lanka. We were super happy we hired a very reputable driver with a nice car (probably would have been happier if we splurged for the sea plane transfer, but hindsight is 20/20). By the time we arrived, we were in desperate need of a cold beverage and shower from nervous sweat.
Our hotel was located within the Galle Fort, originally built by the Portuguese in 1558. Sadly, most of the area has been/is being rebuilt after the devastating 2004 tsunami that killed tens of thousands of people. It was incredible to see the progress made in rebuilding the area, and humbling to hear some of the stories of the day. Definitely a history lesson that will not be forgotten anytime soon.
 |
| Not built for the heat |
After 48 hours in Galle, we boarded an open-air train to Columbo, which was a MUST on our trip. The entire experience was an adventure, in particular, the actual getting on the train portion.
Now, anyone who ever said I wasn't competitive, has never seen me boarding a train. The struggle was real as I fought my way through the crowds of a billion people and secured 2 seats for Jim and myself. (Jim trying to find me once on the train was another story).
Honestly once the seat drama was sorted, we were in heaven. The sights and sounds of the ride were incredible. There was beach/ocean on one side and fantastic towns on the other. I'll let the pictures do the talking.
 |
| 2 tickets please.. |
Since the only airport in Sri Lanka was under construction, it was required to check into flights 6 hours ahead of time. Due to this, we opted to spend our last 24 hours in Columbo. Colombo is an incredibly large city, and feels much different from the other parts of Sri Lanka that we explored. There are fantastic restaurants, monuments, parks and most importantly - shopping. And in a first, Jim ended up doing most of the shopping and left Sri Lanka in a full Cricket Costume.
Sri Lanka was the perfect ending to our travels abroad. We loved each minute - from the tranquil tea county to historic Galle and chaotic Colombo. I sincerely hope that someday Jim and I will be able to return and experience its magic again. Until then, we have some fabulous pictures and memories to get us by.
No comments:
Post a Comment