Sri Lanka – where tourism is in it’s infancy after the end of a 30 year civil war in 2009. Beautiful scenery, UNESCO World Heritage sites, super friendly people and flavorful food make this country a must see.
It feels like India without the hectic, overcrowded atmosphere.
Trains clank and shuffle through rainforests to stunning beaches. Slow travel. In contrast the tuk tuks buzzing around as if they were on a race track jockeying for a first place finish.
*click on any photo to enlarge.
Bats the size of eagles and the sounds of thousands of crows ring in your ears no matter where you are – both giving you the sense that Alfred Hitchcock must be filming nearby. My mother’s fear of birds would have left her horrified.
Colombo’s (capital city) historic landmarks include Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple housing a Hair Relic of Lord Buddha and Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara where Buddha visited Sri Lanka his third and final visit – 8 years after gaining enlightenment. The peacefulness and custom of leaving flowers as gifts left a lasting impression.
The temple’s elephants left us feeling like children.
Kandy’s UNESCO Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic found us unprepared for their dress code. I brought a scarf which was too sheer, my skirt which covered my knees too short, Bill’s Buddha t-shirt blasphemous and his shorts just a wee big too short. For $2 we rented colorful sarongs and made the Buddha gods happy.
The monkeys around Kandy Lake were charming for all of 5 minutes until we realized what pesky animals they really are – stealing food from people and attacking with vigor.
Galle is a stunning beach town at the southern tip of Sri Lanka attracting hundreds of surfers.
Unfortunately, I was sick and spent the whole time in bed – missing out on photographing the famous stilt fishermen. Next time…
Thanks for the Sri Lanka adventure as I won’t be going. Bats ok, big black birds not so much.
Picture a bat the size of an eagle! Creepy.
It is so much fun traveling with the two of you and never leaving the comfort of my home. Locating your destinations is a continuous geography lesson. Look forward to each post. Thank you.
It’s going to get more interesting. Stay tuned.
You two know how to make us looked oners,a real happy bunch.
That looked liked my kind of place. Sri LANKA, I MEET YOU THERE SOON. LOL. WHE.N WILL YOUR AISIAN TRIP BE EXPLORED ENOUGHH?? STARTING TO MISS CHINA ALREADY. SAFE TRIP ON WARDS. IF YOU NEED MONEY,SELL BOL KEEP THAT CAMERA IT’S PRICELESS.
On Nov 5, 2017 2:03 AM, “Zigzagging with Bill and Paige” wrote:
Bill and Paige posted: “Sri Lanka – where tourism is in it’s infancy after the end of a 30 year civil war in 2009. Beautiful scenery, UNESCO World Heritage sites, super friendly people and flavorful food make this country a must see. It feels like India without the hectic, ov”
Wow! Your stories, your pictures makes us feel like we are right there with you. One day we hope we will be 😉 Your pictures are so beautiful. We feel this sincere peace scrolling through them. My favorite, well I have a lot, BUT I think the temple elephant is so cute! I LOVE elephants!
Thanks Kayla such a wonderful compliment. The elephants are so fun. The one getting the bath was in heaven!
Thank you for sharing your journey! I am sorry that you got sick while on the island but I’m glad that you enjoyed yourself : ) Thank you for sharing with us!
Loved Sri Lanka. It should be on everyones travel list.