Sri Lanka Travel Photographer
And so the globe turned and a decision was made: Sri lanka! A friend and I decided to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, regarding that the Far East and another culture was something we had not yet encountered. We decided to go leisurely, it would be said “go with the flow”. We did not know what awaited us, what to expect. We just set off.
Our first destination was a small fishing town on the coast called Negombo. A small town only 20 km away from the airport. An ideal place to relax from the trip, with a glass of beer and the sunset.
Negombo beach
Kandy
The next day we headed to Kandy. At the last minute we run to the platform, bought tickets and get on the train (2nd class, a bunch of people, we couldn’t find a place to sit) and I thought: I will stand in the train at +40 C and ride for 3 hours. That would be challenging :).
I probably wouldn’t think of that in Croatia, but there that crazy adrenaline gives you strength for everything.
In the train, the windows are all open, the doors do not even close, and the fans built into the ceiling of the carriage give a special charm and freshness. Kandy became our base for the next 3 days. There is a Buddha temple in the city called “Tooth temple” where the Buddha’s tooth is kept, which is shown only to the highest state officials. So we still couldn’t see him :).
The cities do not have any recognizable architecture (the exception is the city of Galle which was built by the Dutch), but then we decided to focus on their lives. In principle, Sri Lanka is a poor country and this can be seen at every turn.
Dambulla and Sigyria are two locations that are definitely a must visit as they leave you breathless.
Sigyria
Lotus Flower
Little England
After a few days spent in Kandy, soles scorched by visits to several Buddha temples (because at the entrance to the temple you have to leave your shoes and barefoot going sightseeing which is not very comfortable when the asphalt is roasted at 60 C), we set off for a tea plantation or part that they call Little England.
We also took the train there because we realized that we actually enjoy the train ride the most observing nature which is amazing. And if you travel by train take the second class because there is life, the first class is boring because it has air conditioning and is full of tourists. Train rides are something you really have to experience if you go there.
Let’s go back to the tea plantations. Ella is a village of maybe 100 people, but I was so thrilled that I could go back again, right there. It is a hilly area, full of greenery and forests, the hosts are really friendly and try to help you cope. Snakes and other animals are like pets. So I had a close encounter with a snake, which, fortunately for me and her, ended very well: each went her own way ;).
National Parks Udawalawe and Horton plains
After Ella we visited NP Horton plains and Udawalawe National Park where we went on a safari to the elephant reserve. Of course I have a story from that night. My feet were eaten by ants while I was cheking at reception when safari jeep will pick up us. They had open air reception so for the first time in my life I was feeling ants acid in my body and it wasn’t fun (itching, burning, you just wanna put your feet in bigashbowl full of ice).
Horton plains NP
Safari
Unawatuna beach and Galle city
After the safari adventure, it was time for a little rest on Unawatuna beach (near the town of Galle). The city of Galle delighted me with its architecture. Within the old walls, the Dutch built that city that survived the devastating 2004 tsunami.
Galle Lighthouse
Unfortunately, along the entire route where the train goes, you can see memorial plaques to the lives lost in the devastating tsunami that was jokingly wiped off the face of the earth by a train full of people (and believe me, the train can hold a lot of people). At that moment, those tingles pass, but life goes on, and so does our journey.
Here we are in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. We settled in the center but we didn’t stay too long (2 days) because we didn’t want to be in a big city. The goal was to go through as many places on the island as possible (in which we succeeded), to somehow get along with the locals and try to absorb as many travel experiences as possible (we were very successful in that). In the end, we left ourselves another adventure that when we talked to the locals they couldn’t believe we had made it, but that’s why we were there.
Experience Sri Lanka at its strongest. In one day visit the city of Anuradhapura (250 km from Colombo), the former capital of Sri Lanka, full of temples and history, something that really must be seen. So we took the train again to our destination, got on the last car or as they call it “Observation wagon”.
It was something like a ride in an amusement park where we literally bounced off a chair 20cm into the air until we felt when we thought the last car would catapult off the rails and end up in the jungle
However, there was no fear, all that was an additional spice to this crazy journey. The journey took about 4.5 hours one way, however , when we wanted to buy a train return ticket there was none. No wonder :), they run 2 trains a day and all the tickets were sold out.
Fortunately, there is a fast bus line that runs “only” 5 hours. But if you imagine it as sightseeing of the island then it becomes another adventure where after 5 hours of driving we got soot out of the bus (a combination of sweat and dust) and could hardly wait to stretch our legs :).
The next day, a harsh truth awaited us, a return home. And let’s not forget that we are completely “addicted” to their food, because of which she would return there again. For all those who have not yet visited this beautiful country I advise you to do so. But my advice is to be as casual as possible, without too many plans. Indulge in a trip and let things happen by accident. That’s the best way to get to know this country. A journey I will never forget. I could write a bunch more pages about that journey but I leave something for you to experience.
