Sri Lanka

Things to do in Sri Lanka

My Sri Lankan Loves:

One of the best ways to get around the little island nation of Sri Lanka is by train. They are old, crowded, slow; but there’s really no need to ever be in a hurry in Sri Lanka – so we just sat back, relaxed, and watched the green hills go by.

Climbing Sigiriya –  an ancient fortress and ruins situated in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures.

I went templing (it’s a verb!) in Kandy to visit three little temples – one made of wood, one made of bricks and one made of stone.

Visiting a sacred tooth – yes, tooth – in Kandy.

Hotels in Sri Lanka:

Auraliya – this isn’t a guest house, or a hotel…it is absolute paradise.

Mosvold Villas – This is my favorite kind of place to stay – with only a few rooms and lovely shared areas.

 Waterfalls Homestay – This guest house was tucked away among green trees and monkeys and true to it’s name – it had a stunning waterfall view. This place was top notch because it was run by an Australian expat couple who clearly knew what western tourists expected in service.

Jetwing Hotels – A super lineup of boutique luxury hotels, villas, and some really impressive large properties with green initiatives.  I highly recommend checking out their lineup – I loved every Jetwing property I stayed at!

 Sri Lanka Photos:

Do you love templing?  If so, head over here to my Sri Lanka photo gallery and check out some of the unique and gorgeous temples I visited in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka photos

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Where to Stay in Sri Lanka from Luxury to Budget

December 30, 2014 7 Comments »

where to stay in Sri Lanka

Everyone asked me the same question once they found out I had been to Sri Lanka 3 years before, “Has it changed since you were here last?” It took me a long time to determine that answer, but after spending 2 weeks there with way too much time looking out the window of a vehicle […]

Leopard Hunt

May 26, 2011 6 Comments »

yala safari sri Lanka

There really only one reason travelers stop at the dusty town of Tissa in Sri Lanka, and that’s to see leopards. So it was no surprise when we rolled into town on a local bus that we were bombarded by locals trying to sell us safari tours to see the leopards. We had already organized […]

The Powers of Observation

May 17, 2011 8 Comments »

There are times in travel when you just have to ‘go with it’. You don’t really understand what’s going on around you or why and no one can really give you any answers due to the language barrier. Heck, sometimes the locals don’t even know why something is done the way it is! So those […]

Religions Collide on Adam’s Peak

May 12, 2011 19 Comments »

sri pada above clouds

Footprints seem to mark the beginning of life for humans. We are born, and soon our little foot is being dipped in ink and imprinted on our birth certificates – marking our ‘official’ beginning. In Sri Lanka the birth of the main religions also came to life with a footprint – a sacred footprint. However […]

Crouching Lion, Hidden Temple

May 11, 2011 4 Comments »

The crouching lion was still as a stone and surrounded by the jungle below. I approached it cautiously, wiping the sleep out of my eyes wondering what I had gotten myself into so early in the morning. I proceeded as the clouds overhead darted by the sun making the whole scene ahead of me change […]

Riding the Cultural Rails in Sri Lanka

May 5, 2011 18 Comments »

I remember being in the locomotive peering out over the tracks from my high vantage point. My hand was on the lever and the train was moving slowly forward. Cars disregarded the flashing crossbucks when they saw how slow I was going and crossed the tracks anyway. I looked at my instructor and said, “Don’t […]

The Three Little Temples

April 28, 2011 10 Comments »

Buddha Hand

    I’m going to huff and puff and blow your temple down!  This is the story of 2 little tourists, 1 tuk tuk driver, and 3 temples; one made of wood, one made of brick, and one made of stone. Once upon a time there were two little tourists…ok – we aren’t that little…but […]

I Don’t Like Kandy

April 27, 2011 15 Comments »

chocolate suckers

I’ve been traveling for a long time, seen a lot of countries, had a lot of good days…amazing days….but I’ve also had my share of bad days and bad places. As a travel blogger – I don’t have to like everything. Granted – I don’t often rant about the things I don’t like, but when […]

Kandy and A Sweet Tooth

April 26, 2011 5 Comments »

Buddhist Temple Rituals

Recently I was riding in the car with my sister and my niece when my niece announced out of the blue how much she loved going to the dentist. My sister shot me a mean glance as if this confession were somehow my fault. After all, when I was a kid I used to purposefully […]

Solo Travel Ups and Downs

June 1, 2010 18 Comments »

After 26 days traveling with my father in Nepal, we parted at the Delhi airport. I found myself choking back tears as I gave him a hug and we parted. I was traveling solo again. Why was I, a person who typically does solo travel, crying about being solo again? I wish I knew. I […]