SRI LANKA
Despite its tragic past—or perhaps because of it—Sri Lankans are incredibly kind and proud people. They live amidst breathtaking natural beauty, navigating life with limited resources, including just one main highway that only covers part of the country, and many laboring abroad to support their families. During our time there, we learned valuable lessons about humanity and gradually fell in love with the land and its resilient spirit.
Cities
Looking back, we would have slightly changed our itinerary based on the weather and now understanding how difficult it is to travel between destinations. That being said, we went to the following places:
Colombo: I personally fell in love with Colombo. You only need 2-3 days here (we spent one night and I wish we spent longer) but there is so much energy and development in Colombo. Recommend checking out Geoffrey Bawa’s house, Number 11, and Barefoot, a store that sells local Sri Lankan products (loved the fabric and hand-painted goods)!
Kandy: We stayed in Kandy for one night so that we could go to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Buddhism) on the full moon for “poya.” Everyone comes dressed in white and as you enter the temple barefoot, you are rushed on all sides by people carrying flowers, elephant drums being played by men in formal wear, and a hopeful glimpse of the Buddha’s tooth.
Nuwara Eliya: What is better known as Little England to locals, this is a town that is usually covered in fog and rain and has a strong British influence since the British colonized Sri Lanka (they left in 1948). The area is especially known for its tea plantations and the oldest post office in the country.
Ella: This is the most touristy location we traveled to in Sri Lanka; it is sought after for its hiking and tourist-ified town. What started as a dreary hike with leech bites turned into a beautiful morning with stunning views (as pictured on right). I recommend one night in Ella before moving on. P.S. take the train - we were unable to take the train but wish we had so we could stand outside the window!!
Galle / West Coast: This is truly the most relaxing part of our trip; we took time to enjoy the frothy ocean and luxurious views of palm trees while feasting on delicious curry. We also took time to check out Galle Fort, which was developed by the Portuguese when they took over Sri Lanka in 1588, and then was expanded by the Dutch in the 17th century. A very interesting town with lots of history that is more than worth traveling to for a week!
Food
It is a good thing I decided I LOVED curry before arriving in Sri Lanka because that is what there is to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We had the opportunity to learn how to cook with one of our hosts in Nuwara Eliya and made a handful of dishes, from dahl curry to chicken curry, okra (lady fingers) and eggplant, all paired with the local coconut whiskey - and they even taught us how to properly eat with our hands so that we did not continue to make a fool of ourselves :)
SRI LANKAN CHICKEN CURRY (pulled from internet but this is the same recipe we were taught by our host):
Ingredients:
1.5 lbs (700g) chicken (bone-in or boneless), cut into pieces
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, finely sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1-inch piece of ginger, minced
2-3 green chilies, sliced (adjust to heat preference)
2 tsp roasted curry powder (Sri Lankan-style)
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
1-2 tsp paprika (optional, for color)
1 cinnamon stick
2-3 cardamom pods, slightly crushed
4-5 curry leaves (fresh or dried)
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup coconut milk (full fat or light)
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste
Fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish)