Sri Lanka, also known as Ceylon, is an island nation southeast of India. Renowned for its lush tea plantations, aromatic cinnamon, and the world’s most scenic train ride, it took me by surprise. Originally not on my travel radar, its close proximity led me to change plans and explore my 98th country.
The Nine Arch Bridge was built during World War I when Sri Lanka was a British colony. I walked the tracks from the village of Ella through jungle and bat-packed rail tunnels to get to this location. Worth it!
I was talked into this Sri Lankan arts, dance, and cultural heritage show by a guy on the street. I’m glad I took a chance and followed him into the dark theater to view this spectacle! Dancers breathe fire and whirl plates while performing dances depicting elephants, cobras, and peacocks – all to the continuous beat from a chorus of hand drums.
I have to admit this is my favorite shot. I captured this in the morning at the Royal Botanical Gardens before the hordes of tourists arrived. This is the best botanical garden I’ve ever experienced. The park receives over a million visitors a year, is immense, and has incredible collections of orchids, palms, ferns, bamboo, and pretty much every type of vegetation God created.
Although this is a cool palm tree and not a much less spectacular-looking cinnamon tree, I figured this might be a good place to let you know that most of the world’s cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka.
I saw both these creatures while out walking. The snake was in the botanical garden and this monitor lizard was chilling by a city lake. A bit startling.
The Ella to Kandy train, the pinnacle of my adventure! It is considered the most beautiful in the world due to the stunning landscapes of endless tea plantations, misty mountains, and charming villages. This 7+ hour journey winds through diverse terrains with breathtaking views of the island’s natural beauty.
Sri Lanka is one of Asia’s surfing hotspots. In the South, there are epic waves, right and left reef and sand breaks, and a thriving surf culture. There are some challenging surf breaks as well as loads of schools that help bring beginning surfers up to speed. Like in Encinitas, where I grew up, the waves are nice and glassy before the wind picks up, although Sri Lanka has the great advantage of warm water all year long.
I could see and hear them fighting outside, but I obeyed this sign in my room and slept alone, just like every other night on this trip…
Sri Lankan tea is said to be the best in the world, due in part to the altitude at which it is grown and the focus on quality. Tea bushes like these cover 25% of Sri Lanka’s surface, so it’s a big deal here. Sir Thomas Lipton established his tea empire in the country in the 1800s, and the rest is history.
Because of my quick pace, I couldn’t stay in any one place for more than a day or so. After looping around about a quarter of the country, I ended up back in the capital. Trading the actual jungle for this concrete jungle seemed a little gnarly after spending so much time in Sri Lanka’s natural beauty.
My trusty guide dragged me all over the capital city of Colombo. I learned about the country’s recent civil war, colonial history, and the current economic plight many experience. At one point, we stopped at this super important historical site… I just can’t remember what it was about.
