April 2025
We had a great time on the island of Ceylon, in the country of Sri Lanka, exploring the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It is well worth a visit and a place I would definitely like to return to one day. Sri Lanka has one of the longest histories of colonialism. It was under the influence of the Portuguese, Dutch, and British empires for over 440 years. It thrived on its own in the 1950s- 60s before entering several decades of turbulence, largely due to political instability and differences between ethnic and religious groups. Today, Sri Lanka has amazing nature, delicious food, and friendly people.
One of our first stops was the Cave Temple of Dambulla. This cave temple is about 2,000 years old with over 150 Buddha statues.
This is Lion Rock in Sigiriya. It is about 1,500 years old. It has been a fortress and palace, and this UNESCO World Heritage site makes for a lovely morning hike.
We had a great driver, Venu, to help take us around Sri Lanka. It was so nice and convenient to have a friendly full-time driver.
More accustomed to horse-drawn carriages, but it’s good to try new things.
Our guide pulled up lotus stems and a lily pad to make necklaces and a hat.
Perhaps my favorite meal in Sri Lanka. Cooked in a traditional kitchen with all local ingredients.
Did a Safari, saw a lot of elephants.
Our host family in Sigiriya with Lion Rock in the background.
Went to a spice garden, got a lot of spices.
Sri Lanka is also famous for its gems, particularly blue sapphires.
Kandy was the capital of Sri Lanka before Colombo. It is a great city in central Ceylon. This is the Temple of the Sacred Tooth. It is believed that a relic of the Buddha’s tooth is inside.
This is Princess Hemamali and Prince Dantha, who brought Buddha’s tooth from India to Sri Lanka in the 4th century.
The tooth is inside. Every few years some people can see it.
Local school girls. All the kids we saw wore uniforms.
Famous old hotel, one of many markers of the British colonial past.
Love the elephant just casually walking by in the background.
Spa Ceylon is a famous and fancy brand here, I really like their packaging.
Saw many marching bands, this one from a local all-girls school.
Saw a great culture show with many different outfits and dances.
I was pleasantly surprised to see the Cutty Sark in our hotel. This is a famous old British merchant ship that is now a museum in Greenwich, London, literally next to wear I used to live.
The bamboo seemed bigger here.
Ceylon is famous for its tea, and this is a bit of what tea country looks like.
White tea comes from the tips about to bud, green tea from the new leaves at the top, and black tea comes from the darker leaves below.
Lovely train ride from Kandy to Ella.
The 9-arch bridge in Ella, it stops for pictures.
Amazing view for breakfast.
Got lucky with the timing of this big swing pic.
Many beautiful waterfalls all around the island.
Country school.
Many peacocks around Ceylon.
And water buffalo.
I went whale watching for the 3rd time, and have not seen a whale yet.
Coconut Hill, near Mirissa Beach.
Local jumping off the fortress for tourists.
Galle fortress was first built by the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British all expanded it.
Sri Lanka is a lovely country and definitely worth a trip. 10-14 days with a driver will be a good time.
We made it back from Sri Lanka just in time for Songkran in Bangkok. Sonkkran is a water festival to celebrate Thai New Year, it is also a time to pay respect to elders and have water fights.
