Magical Sri Lanka Part One of my wife Marie's Birthday trip
You will have to know that I travelled to Sri Lanka with my best friend during a time when many people would shy away to go there due to the economic crisis the country is suffering from in 2022. The president just announced his resignation and fled from the country in July. Many of my friends were concerned that we planned to go to Sri Lanka in a time of disturbance but there was never a situation where we felt unsafe. Even before we travelled we received up-to-date information from the government reassuring us that the tourism sector is not affected. The country is heavily dependent on tourists, especially in times were foreign currencies are needed to buy fuel, medicine and other essential goods.
But let me now take you on a journey through Sri Lanka and hopefully it will spark your interest to visit this beautiful place and help the people there at the same time.
On the first day, we were picked up by our tour guide Chanaka. He was so much more than just a driver or tour guide and very soon part of our little group. He expected a couple to come but as I said, I travelled with my best friend and there were 2 blond girls coming out of the airport instead. As a father of 3 girls himself, he took extra care of us and always made sure that we were safe all the time and well looked after.
We drove from Colombo to Habarana and before checking into the hotel, we had a little stop-over in a safari park to see the elephants. Coming from the buzzing city of Dubai the contrast between beautiful nature and those majestic animals couldn’t be greater. The Minneriya National Park has so much to offer if you are into nature, birds and of course elephants. Big, heavy clouds announced an upcoming thunderstorm and made the scene even more dramatic and the colour contrast greater.
Later that day we checked into the Cinnamon Lodge in Habarana which is a lovely hotel with little houses in the middle of nature. It is the kind of place that is expected in more rural countries and the people were exceptional. Everyone was so friendly and we felt even more welcome in Sri Lanka.
On the second day, we got up very early to climb the famous Sigiriya rock, also known as the Lion rock which is an ancient fortress. Arriving there early is definitely a good idea in order to get ahead of the crowds. This was not so important when we went as there weren’t that many tourists but it can also get quite hot during the day. You can walk all the 2160 steps up to the top and enjoy the history along the way as well as the breathtaking view from the top.
The fortress built a palace for the king to protect him from the immigrants from South India. Even back then the architecture was very clever in order to keep the king happy, safe and entertained. The immigrants mostly came on their elephants and then encountered the first mechanism of protection. The fortress is surrounded by rice fields through which the elephants didn’t like to go as they avoid wet surfaces. All those who made it through the fields were welcomed by a 40-meter-deep water channel with crocodiles in it and a bridge that could be pulled up if enemies were expected. Even the 2160 stairs are a protection mechanism with their narrow staircases making it difficult for even 2 people to walk next to each other. Another one-time weapon can be found along the way as a massive rock that was sitting on top of smaller rocks and can be pushed down the hill if needed.
Other than keeping the king and his entourage safe, it provided him with a place of comfort and “entertainment”. You might read about the mirror wall at the front of the rock that reflects the sunlight on the precious paintings of the king’s women. This is a world heritage site and no pictures are allowed which is one more reason to go and check this place out yourself. The king also had plenty of swimming pools and at most of them, you would find a throne where he could sit and watch the women bathing. You will also notice the rock cuts behind one of the thrones where water can run through, building a natural aircon system to keep the king cool.
In the afternoon we went to visit a local family who showed us the way they lived years ago. At first, we thought it might be a bit touristy but meeting the two women in the little villa changed our minds. They showed us traditional cooking methods and we helped as well (the food still tasted really delicious). They also explained to us that in a Sri Lankan wedding tradition, it is the groom’s family’s responsibility to sponsor the land and the bride’s family’s responsibility to give the furniture to the couple. This is why when a baby girl is born, the parents would plant a tree in the garden to make the furniture later. The divorce rate in Sri Lankan marriages is very small.
On the third day, we visited a fruit and vegetable market just outside Kandy where you can find all you can ever wish for. The variety and colours of all exotic fruit and veg were amazing. Later that day we visited a traditional Sri Lankan Dance show where a small group of people presented very different local dances bringing Sri Lankan culture even closer. The highlight of the show was the fire dance with fire-breathers and some of the dancers walking over hot coal. We then checked into a very small boutique hotel which is probably my favourite spot in Sri Lanka. Tucked away in nature on top of a hill you had breathtaking views and could enjoy sitting in front of the little villa listening to the sounds of nature. You had your own pool but could also walk up to the main hotel using the even bigger one and enjoy food on the big terrace.