Sri Lanka - a small island often called Ceylon is very famous for its beautiful beaches and hospitable inhabitants. But there's much more ... During the summer of 2013 I had a chance to spend over two weeks touring this fascinating island, getting to know its culture, history and traditions. This unforgettable experience will stay in my heart forever.

 

Here are some of the places that I have visited:

 

TEA PLANTATIONS

 

Most probably you've heard that Sri Lanka is the home of Ceylon tea. A great amount of tea is produced there and sent to all parts in the world. The rolling hills of tea are not only the sight for the eyes they are a treat for your senses. The colours were so vivid that I could almost taste the tea while walking through the hills.

 

THE TEMPLES

 

Temples can be found all over the island and they are open to tourists. I visited the two most famous temples: The Rock Temple Sigiriya which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Sri Lanka and The Temple of The Tooth in the city of Kandy. Both are definitely worth a visit. The first is set in a beautiful location. Surrounded by jungle, villages and farmland Sigiriya is a location set back in time. The Temple of The Tooth is believed to house the left upper canine tooth of the Lord Buddha himself and is one of the most famous sights in the whole country.

 

THE RAINFORESTS

 

I had the wonderful opportunity to explore the most well known rainforest - Singharaja.  It is a tropical ever green rainforest, a home to many endemic species including trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. A small but really impressive waterfall can also be found in Singharaja. The other rainforest I visited is called Kannelija and despite being smaller than Singharaja it is an equally exciting place to see and explore.

 

 

 

THE ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE

 

The touring of Sri Lanka wouldn't have been completed without a visit to  Pinnawala where there is a famous elephant orphanage. During the visit to the orphanage I could see the baby elephants being bottle fed and the most attractive event of all - a daily bath when all elephants are led to the river where they have a bath. The view of how they go in a line to the Maha Oya river is magnificent. The place also offers a chance to ride an elephant which turned out to be a fascinating experience.

 

THE BEACHES

 

The entire island is surrounded by blue crystal clear ocean. When you get tired of sightseeing you can just lazy on a beautiful, tranquil beach surrounded by palm trees. For more adventure you can go whale watching or try surfing. The weather is always perfect for swimming and sunbathing and even though my stay in Sri Lanka was during the rainy season it was definitely far from being rainy and I could enjoy the sunshine and the heat each day.

 

It is also worth trying Sri Lankan food:

 

SRI LANKAN CUISINE

 

One thing that can be said for sure is that Sri Lankan people love spices, they definitely love food that explodes with flavour. Lots of spices are used to make the taste stronger. As it is an island of tropical climate coconuts and fish are two of the most influential components of Sri Lankan cuisine. Fish is made into curries and coconut in some form or another is included in nearly all dishes. Rice is also very common. The food I've tried was really unique though a bit too spicy for my taste - whatever you eat curry is a basic ingredient. So this is undoubtedly a paradise for spicy food lovers.

 

     If you still have any doubts whether to visit Sri Lanka or not, don't! I promise you will have wonderful time on this sunny island and you will always look back on the days you've spent there with a smile on your face.