Travel & Hotspots
AND NOW... SRI LANKA
And now... Sri Lanka! What a paradise that is, I must say! After the tsunami in 2004 and the civil war that raged until a few years ago, this country is on fire. Go there quickly, before the country is really flooded with backpackers and – God forbid – KFC opens its fourth location in Colombo.
The reasons why Sri Lanka is becoming so popular are numerous. Think of beautiful beaches, green mountains, wild animals, beautiful old temples, amazing food (gaining three kilos in two weeks is nothing) and super friendly people. Also nice: KLM has recently started flying directly to Colombo!
My brand new husband and I made an incredible round trip in two weeks where we created a sort of ideal mix of relaxation, activity, and highlights. Here’s our program for inspiration:
Stop 1. Unawatuna
Upon arrival, a car with a driver was ready for us, taking us in three hours on the highway to the coastal town of Unawatuna. We stayed here at Satori Villa, a beautiful colonial house with an infinity pool and ten minutes from the beach. This place is ideal for recovering from your trip and a good base for a few fun excursions. We went whale watching (the largest animals on earth!) for a day and visited a tea plantation. These activities are very enjoyable, but what you Really Must Do is visit Fort Galle. We Dutch have left a nice footprint in the form of a charming fort town with a Reformed church. Here you will find all sorts of nice galleries and restaurants. An absolute recommendation.
Stop 2. Udawalawe National Park
Have you ever spotted an elephant in the wild? This is your chance! In this park, you are guaranteed to encounter them. In an elevated jeep, you drive through the park and meet not only many thick-skinned animals but can also spot water buffalo and five-meter-long crocodiles. And for the real nature lovers: you will see the cutest little birds here. We stayed in a simple accommodation with the pretentious name Green View Safari Resort. The owners are very sweet, can arrange everything for you, and serve a sick breakfast. Also handy; you can swim at the nearby four-star hotel.
Stop 3. Ella
Everyone goes to Ella. Probably because it says so in the Lonely Planet, but also because Ella is beautifully situated among several mountains. We stayed at The Master Point Luxury Suites, beautiful apartments with a breathtaking view. We put on our totally unfashionable hiking shoes daily and made a few great hikes to Ella Rock and Little Adam’s Peak. The owner of the Suites is the master of the train station, which is incredibly convenient because you must take the train ride between Ella and Kandy. He can arrange that for you.
Stop 4. Train ride between Ella and Kandy
This is the train ride everyone talks about, and rightly so. Book second class because it is quieter than third class, and the windows and doors are open unlike the air-conditioned first class. Hanging out of the door, you chug through the mountains, and if you find that too exciting, just look out the window. Tip: everyone travels from Kandy to Ella, so those trains are packed. If you take the route the other way around, you have all the space to yourself.
Stop 5. Anuradhapura
This is the stop we did not make because we really wanted to hang out at the beach for a few more days. But next time (and that will definitely happen), I want to visit the ancient city of Anuradhapura. This old temple paradise is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is said to be very impressive. Also on our wishlist for next time: Sigiriya, the Ayers Rock of Sri Lanka where a palace has been built.
Stop 6. Kalpitiya
Kalpitiya, try to remember this name. It took us two weeks. Anyway, this is a very beautiful peninsula on the northwest coast of Sri. An hour's boat ride from the coast, hundreds of dolphins swim, always a fun outing of course. We stayed at the amazing Bar Reef Resort. What a mega awesome recommendation that is! Incredibly nice people, delicious food, beautiful beach, nice saltwater pool, and you stay in a very nice hut with a private garden and outdoor shower. And my 1.93-meter tall husband also loved this: big beds! From this resort, it takes a small three-hour drive back to the airport. They are totally easygoing about a late check-out, which is handy if you fly back at 2:00 AM.
