"a country to love" a Sri Lanka Travel Page by josephescu

Heavy warm air, refreshing springs and ponds hidden among luxuriant green foliage, rolling green hills carpeted with tea plantations dotted with shy Tamil tea pickers, ancient wonders of the Buddhist world, sacred caves, carved rocks and extraordinary temples, multicoloured prayer flags, kaleidoscope of saris, fruits, jewellery and spices, undisturbed palm lined beaches and world class surfing breaks near traditional fishing villages….in a few words, Sri Lanka is the best place in the world from which to view the universe, as Arthur S. Clarke put it when he made his home there.

Royal cities and monumental sacred sites, colonial strongholds, temple caves and virgin rainforests – with no fewer than seven World Heritage Sites enlisted by UNESCO, Sri Lanka is one of Asia’s richest treasure troves of both natural and man-made wonders.

I spent a little more than 2 weeks wandering around the island but it was too little time. I managed to enjoy the main historic highlights in the centre, but missed some of the off the beaten path jewels; spent some tranquil days in the mountains and amid tea plantations in the hill country, but failed to stroll in the north of the island; trekked in the rainforest, visited gardens and animals reserves and stretched on some empty idyllic beaches. But there’s so much remaining, that a second time would indeed be well worth.