Armchair Travel to Sri Lanka and the benefits of getting your Visa in Order. Do you have one place that stands out from your travels? Somewhere that you really want to revisit? For me, that place is Sri Lanka. About a quarter of the size of the UK, it’s a charming island, just off the […]
Sri Lanka: Jungles, mountains, tea and elephants
Esala Perahera and English Colonialism in Sri Lanka As well as the bustling cities and sweeping beaches there’s a lot happening away from coastal Sri Lanka. You can go on safari, escape to the jungle, hike through mountains and tea plantations or celebrate the country’s bounty at a beautiful thanksgiving festival. There’s something to inspire all […]
City bustle and beach life in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka – Colombo and Beyond: Sri Lanka is a country of amazing contrasts and influences – geographically, scenically, religiously and politically. Its geographic location and deep harbours gave it strategic importance from the time of the ancient Silk Road through to World War II when the British were stationed here. It’s been ruled by […]
First Sights in Sri Lanka
An Introduction to Sri Lanka: Winning the Avis Travel Blogger of the Year award was one of the highlights of last year for me. Apart from the kudos, an £800 travel voucher to spend with British Airways was a fabulous prize. Of course I did have to decide where to go – and my initial […]
Tropical Modernism – Geoffrey Bawa in Sri Lanka
Lunugana, Geoffrey Bawa and Channa Daswatte: For the first time my driver is confused. We’ve navigated Sri Lanka, travelling from Colombo to the North Central district, back down to the South East coast and, despite some precarious climbs and circuitous routes to enable me to see tea plantations and spice gardens along the way, we haven’t […]
Cinnamon Island Sri Lanka
Of Crocodiles and more on Cinnamon Island: Scarcely a metre long, the silvery green baby crocodile looks for all the world as if it could be a child’s toy made of rubber. Fierce beady eyes and a mouth full of razor sharp white teeth are just a warning for the future. For now, a miniature […]
Hornets and Patricidal Kings – Sigiriya
Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka – Sigiriya: A winding spiral metal staircase built into the sheer rock-face is not, for me, a place to try a race to the bottom. And, at 11am, the sun was already burning,the temperature, even at altitude, in the high 80s. Nevertheless, behind me the guide was fretting. Hurry, hurry […]