I can't believe I have been back from holiday for over a month and have still not written a blog about it. I feel like I have just been reeling from how incredible it all was, and trying to get my head around normal life again.
Our resort in The Maldives was absolute paradise. It was just like heaven with the bright blue water, beautiful environment and endless sunshine. But it was Sri Lanka that really surprised me...
Prior to this holiday I had never travelled outside of Europe and America, so I always knew it would be a bit of a shock to the system, but for me the real shock was how much I fell in love with the place.
So, without further ado, here are the top ten reasons I fell in love with Sri Lanka:
1. The pace of life
Maybe it is because the quality of the road surface is poor, but people never seem to be going anywhere in a hurry in Sri Lanka. Similarly, people seem to sit and eat together, with no "meals on the go" to be seen. It was actually really refreshing and a stark contrast to daily life in the UK.
2. The smells
Strange thing to mention I know, but the smells of Sri Lanka are intoxicating. Incense seemed to be constantly drifting past, and the temples in particular smelt heavenly as people brought offerings of lotus flowers that added to the warm, scented air.
3. The people
We were constantly surprised by how wonderful the people we met were. We travelled over Sinhalese New Year which is a time when many people go on holiday. This meant we were staying in hotels with many Sri Lankan families and it was really lovely to get to speak to local people and find out more about their lifestyles. Without exception, we were made extremely welcome wherever we went.
4. The animals
From the elephants we saw wandering down a high street for their daily bath, to the water buffalo at the side of the road - the animals alone let you know you are in Sri Lanka! It was also a constant source of entertainment how much the locals liked the grey langur monkeys, but all HATED the macaques. Monkey politics!
5. The weather
Although the island is pretty small, the "hill country" is pretty reliably rainy while the coast remains balmy and tropical. This contrast really adds to the personality of the place and creates the lush green tea fields that Sri Lanka is renowned for.
6. The environment
Sri Lankan people obviously rely heavily on the land for much of their commerce, but one thing that was extremely apparent was the real respect that they had for it. We were also lucky enough to stay in one of the island's top eco-friendly resorts. The Heritance Kandalama is built on its own eco-park and has a dedicated water recycling plant on site. The hotel was hands down the most beautiful place I have ever stayed and the good work they are doing to conserve the environment just added to the experience.
7. The history
Many countries I have visited have fantastically interesting histories, but Sri Lanka was really different. The background of the country was palpable. From the colonial post boxes and railway stations, to the dutch towns that had had canals imposed upon them. The whole country had a real sense of personality - as if many cultures had tried to organise it in the ways they knew best, but hadn't quite managed it. Modern Sri Lanka is proud to be dancing to the beat of its own drum.
8. The scenery
Just WOW. From the tea fields, the mountains, Sigiriya rock fortress or the stunning coastal scenery - Sri Lanka has buckets of jaw-dropping gorgeousness!
9. The tea
Unsurprisingly perhaps, any cup of tea we tried was about ten times better than a British brew. These guys really know what they are doing when it comes to a cuppa.
10. The sea
The finale of our holiday took us to a coastal town called Negombo. We arrived early evening and immediately ran and jumped in the sea. And what a sea it was. It must have been about 30 degrees centigrade with rolling waves crashing on the shore. At sunset all the locals came out to join us, playing in the bath-warm sea, waiting for the nightly show of the sinking sun. That is one moment, I will never forget!
