My dream holiday has always been to travel in luxury, have an AC car and a driver to take us around. I love to go shopping, click awesome pictures and just look beautiful. I have never been a big foodie and hence food (except sausages, pancakes, waffles in morning breakfast 🙂 ) has never been much of my concern. My husband/BF/best friend loves different veggies and Master Chef sauces. West influences us after all! We compliment each other. Together, we had this wholesome dream. A trip which lets me have a rejuvenating experience and go on a shopping spree while Aditya keeps an eye out, shortlisting restaurants to visit once my shopping saga ends. Our dream was realized with this wonderful holiday to Sri Lanka. Here, I am sharing my personal experience of visiting Srilanka.
Famous for tea, spices and gems, Srilanka is a tropical delight. Nature has truly bestowed it’s magnificence on this country and local folks add a sweet flavor to it. We visited Sri Lanka in Oct and were welcomed with a pleasant weather. We landed at Bandaranaike International Airport at Colombo and indulged in window shopping in some duty free shops. Later, we were ushered to our ride for next 4 days. As our car cruised away from the airport into the city, we were amazed to city how clean and organized the city was. It was a stark difference from Indian cities. Friendly smiles and betel leaves is how Sri Lanka welcomed us!
Me & Aditya. All psyched for the trip!
After an overnight at Colombo, we took the 6 lane expressway to Galle – situated 120 km south of Colombo. The road was a beauty to travel on. Situated on the south coast of Sri Lanka, Galle which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site was devastated in the 2004 Tsunami. The city has re-developed in the last 12 years to an unmatched extent. The cobblestone roads with coconut trees swaying on both sides and little houses tucked in between conjured a picturesque postcard worthy spectacle. We spent the first day at Galle visiting the fort area and the famous Cricket Stadium.
Sunset at Galle, Srilanka
Galle Fort Area, Srilanka
Hikkaduwa beach, Srilanka
The next day we left from Galle to Bentota, a quaint coastal town. Bentota is famous for water sports, Toddy drink and Induruwa beach, a turtle hatchery. The Galle Road, which takes you from Galle to Bentota, is beautiful which curves along the cost. The sound of the crashing waves, singing sea gulls and good music kept us company for 56 KMs.
Before reaching Bentota, On the way we stopped at Hikkaduwa. It a small town with an enchanting beach. White sand, blue skies and coconut trees adorning the coast made us wonder about the magnanimity of nature’s beauty! Sometimes, sitting on the beach, content and listening to your favorite music is all that you need in your day.
Finally we reached Bentota, a perfect destination for beach lovers! We stayed at The Surf. I would recommend this resort to anybody who loves sand and beaches.
Hikkaduwa beach, Srilanka
Bentota, Srilanka
Experiences in Galle & Bentota
During our stay in Galle and Bentota, we explored interesting experiences. It was a delight to indulge in the culture, eccentricities and adventure that Srilanka offered.
We traveled to the Spice Garden and saw the cultivation of many different types of spices. They showed us the growth of spices and various scents like vanilla, turmeric, essential oils etc. This place is a must to include in your Srilanka Itinerary. They accept Indian as well as Sri Lankan rupee.
Our next stop was the Madu River Boat ride. The Madu river has 64 islands in total and locals inhabit 6 of them. They grow Cinnamon, a common spice grown on these islands. They explained the whole process of Cinnamon creation which was pretty interesting. We also bought some freshly powdered cinnamon in order to preserve this memory.
The confluence of the Indian Ocean and the Madu river is a beautiful sight. It was amazing that most of the people across different walks of life were so fluent in English for conversation.
Madu River, Srilanka
We also visited the Turtle Hatchery which is situated at the Galle Road. Observing the 1 day/ 2 day/3 day old turtles was a treat. These little fellas can really cheer you up!
Say Hi to turtle! No, not the one wearing shades 😀
Since Sri Lanka is known for its Ayurveda oils and massages. So, we decided to visit a Spa in order to end the trip perfectly. We decided on the Lalula Ayurvedic retreat. 2 hours of massage therapy, acupuncture and a steam bath was a very good way to spend half a day. The retreat also offers water sports for the adventurous souls.
You would definitely want to indulge in the gem stones the country has to offer because of the diverse options. I am not much of a Jewellery person, however even I could not resist the beautiful stones in all colors that one could possibly imagine.
On the last day of our holiday, we traveled back to Colombo due to our scheduled flight back to India. While reminiscing our experiences, we decided to visit The Bradman Cricket Cafe. Located in the heart of town, this cafe is an ideal place for lunch. If you are a cricket lover, there is good news for you. Indian flag furled with pride and pictures of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid with their accolades adorned the walls. Seeing the India Flag in a foreign country and pictures of our favorite cricketers, made us proud. I wish India also had one such cafe, paying respect to the greatest cricketers!
Independence Square, Colombo, Srilanka
Sightseeing in Colombo included visit to the Independence Square, Town Hall, seeing the Presidents House and of course – Shopping. Odel and House of Fashion are hot spots for all shopping enthusiasts because of the wide range of collecction.
I created some of my most precious moments during this holiday. Srilanka trip would probably rank highest if I list all my holidays!
In the evening, we caught 9.30 pm Jet Flight back to Mumbai, India from Colombo. After immigration, we settled in flight and waited for it to commence. The flight was air bound in some time and as the front wheels tucked back in, I stared gleefully at the Colombo lights. I wanted to admire Srilanka till the last light of Colombo faded away from our sight. I rested my temple on the window pane and drifted away to sleep. Far in distance, Colombo was a mesh of twinkle, keeping the horizon lively! I am sure I smiled in my sleep that evening 🙂
Ayubowan Sri Lanka!!! Till we meet again.