Sri Lanka: Turbulent Traffic, Endearing Elephants, and Breathtaking Beaches

SL Turbulent Traffic

 

Sri Lanka is nothing short of amazing. This country didn’t disappoint me. What put it on my “must-do” radar was a photograph of two fellow travelers on Instagram in a river with some wandering elephants. After that, I was determined to travel over to Sri Lanka. No matter what, I was going to hang out in a river with elephants in Sri Lanka. Period.

 

All that being said, I only knew one person who had been to Sri Lanka and there wasn’t an overwhelming amount of information out there. I’d been spoiled hanging around Southeast Asia – there is an incredible amount of information to be found about this area, especially Thailand and Vietnam. Not so much with Sri Lanka.

 

So, I took my minimal information from my friend and from online, and planned an excursion around this beautiful tear-dropped shaped island of a country. I thrive for the unknown and for places that are off-the-beaten-path. I planned a solid itinerary that brought me around the southern half of the country with the aim of exploring as many UNESCO sites as possible, while also being able to experience Sri Lanka’s people and culture.

 

 

Colombo
What little bit I did read about Sri Lanka online warned travelers of the dangers in Colombo. So, in all fairness, because of the warnings, I was a little hesitant while exploring the city. I found no major issues while exploring Colombo, and didn’t have any moments where I once felt unsafe. Colombo is a bustling capital city and is located on the west coast of Sri Lanka. There are tons of things to do in lively Colombo, and it is incredibly inexpensive to visit (dinner and 5 cocktails for less than 10 EUR).

SL Colombo Boardwalk

Sunsets on the boardwalk in Colombo are spectacular.

 

Pinnawala
Sri Lanka is known for crazy, turbulent traffic, and I sure experienced this on the way from Colombo to Pinnawala. My driver was weaving in and out of traffic on roads sprawling with pot holes, driving on the wrong side of the road, drinking out of a vodka bottle (he swore it was water), and beeping at everyone. And I thought I had road rage. Jeez. I couldn’t have been more relieved when I finally arrived at my destination. Pinnawala – this is the land of elephants. This is the reason why I came to Sri Lanka in the first place. Pinnawala is a small town whose economy is dependent on the income tourists bring when visiting its zoos and elephant orphanages. Along the main street in this small town are countless shops to purchase incredible woodcarvings, furniture, clothing, elephant poop paper, and much more at amazing bargains. Originally, I had intended to visit the elephant orphanage in this area, but instead I chose to purchase bananas from local vendors and feed the elephants in the river instead. On the drive in, I saw elephants chained to trees as some places, and I felt my money was better spent going directly to the elephants than to an establishment I didn’t have much information on. The elephants seemed to enjoy my bananas, and I had a one-on-one experience like no other. I sill cannot get over how intelligent these gentle giants are. I’m simply amazed – animals are awesome.

SL Van Ride with Coconut

SL Elephants Walking to River

SL Elephants Pinnawala

Top: Gripping my king coconut for dear life as the world whizzes by me. Miluka, our driver, sure put the pedal to the floor when we weren’t stuck in traffic. Middle: Elephants stomped past our hotel, Elephant Park Hotel, without chains on! Bottom: I followed the elephants out to the river, where they bathed and enjoyed themselves.

 

Kandy
I wanted to go to Kandy for obvious reasons – the name, duh. Anything associated with my name in any way is exciting – let alone an entire city bearing this name. After doing a little bit of research on Kandy, I discovered that it was a scenic small city with a colonial vibe located on a gorgeous lake and is the home to a sacred tooth relic of Buddha’s. My quaint accommodation was located on a hillside and it offered some incredible views of the town situated in between lush, green mountains. Kandy is simply gorgeous.

SL Kandy Street

Kandy offers visitors colonial architecture and culture set amongst some of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful landscape. The title photo for this article was set in Kandy.

 

Galle
Galle is so different than any other area of Sri Lanka, and it is an absolute must for anyone visiting this country. Ancient fort walls facing the sea surround Galle’s cobblestone streets, Dutch colonial architecture, quaint churches, and a massive lighthouse. It’s a sight to be seen, and it’s like stepping into a completely different world than the rest of Sri Lanka. I bought a bunch of Sri Lanka spices while in Galle, and I’m terribly sad that I didn’t purchase more. Homemade curry just doesn’t taste the same any more. Make sure not to miss the hammock bar and chill out with a cool cocktail while lounging in a relaxing hammock chair!

SL Galle Lighthouse View

Halle’s iconic lighthouse is set along the edge of the city’s ancient fort.

 

Unawatuna
Orange is my favorite color. Unawatuna has orange-tinted sandy beaches. No joke. Am I in heaven? Unawatuna is just down the road from Galle and offers visitors sprawling beaches, an ultra-relaxed atmosphere, and some incredible views. I felt at such peace while I was in Unawatuna that I didn’t ever want to leave. Plus, the beach location I stayed at was super cheap, perfectly located, and had the best breakfast buffet. Dhal curry – that’s what’s up.

SL UBC Calamander

It was easy for us girls to find relaxation at Calamander Unawatuna. The resort was affordable, impeccably cared for, and set in paradise. Can you spot us?

 

Sri Lanka is different than many countries in Asia. It’s a perfect blend of many influences from surrounding nations, such as India, Bangladesh, and Thailand (just to name a few). Ever since I left Sri Lanka, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the kindness of its people, the flavors of its food, the rare wildlife experiences it offers, and its relaxing atmosphere. Without a doubt, Sri Lanka is special. It is a country that I will return to again and again.

Share This Page: