Think, Feel, Act: 2015

Was told that Sri Lanka has beautiful resorts, beaches and road infrastructure. And since Singapore airlines is having a 50% off redeemed tickets and I have many points expiring, we thought that this could be a good opportunity to have the first real holiday since back in Singapore.

Unfortunately, there were numerous road expansion works to the areas we were heading (North and Central). Tour Guide/Driver informed that the highways were mainly to South and East currently. Journey was hence uncomfortable, despite having a private car with guide/driver. 4 full days was not enough. There was so much more Sri (Prosperous) Lanka (Island) could offer than we had expected and I wasn't prepared (with the right camera gear). Besides beaches, there were nature reserves, varied animals, cities, temples (Buddhist and Hindu) and churches. Seafood was so fresh. Lovely sea crabs especially.

RESORTS
Beautiful and well-maintained resorts like those top end ones in Bali, except prices were very much more attractive.

Jetwing Beach Resort (JBR) Pools

Restaurant at JBR

Room at JBR

Seafood lunch

Sunset on beach at JBR

Amaya Lake Resort (ALR) Reception

ALR Bar

ALR pool

SHOPPING
Lots of high quality handicrafts. But we were sent to Tourist Shops most of the time and they were unreasonably priced. Got smarter and asked guide to bring us to local shops along the roads and managed to get an exact same pair of wall sculptures from the factory at a fraction of those shops listed price.

Customer service showing us what happens to shavings of Rainbow Wood in water of various acidity

Furniture Shop

Spice gardens shop

Silver, Gems and handicraft shop

Roadside durian. Each was S$2 and was really good as fleshy and fresh.

Found in an antique furniture shop. Nice!

Small lounge from a furniture shop

PLACES OF INTEREST
So many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Many are world-class attractions but are surprisingly unknown. Hard to get to, and lots of climbing and hiking required.

This was a "mistake". We were brought to an area called the "Dutch Fortress". But we wandered into a prison, with numerous guards asking us along the way, who we are looking for. Seems like they thought that "Dutch Fortress" was the name of our friend whom we were visiting.

Finally, we passed all the guards and came to the entrance of the visiting area. This was when everyone realised, something is not right. First, I had refused to go in. The stench was unique but so repulsive, I would rate it as one of top 3 worst smells I had come across. Then, I started taking pictures, with flash. Soon, a "senior" officer probably "smelt" the truth and motioned us to leave. Amazing that a group of very senior officers arrived and not questioned anyone what two tourists were doing in the prison.

Dutch Lagoon area. Before the British left in 1948, there was the Dutch for a couple of hundred years, and the Portugese even earlier.

Dutch Canal. Residents bathe in here. Eeek!

Church along the way that we had visited. St. Joseph Church

Hindu and Buddhist temples exist side by side. Sri Lanka is predominantly Buddhist. According to the guide, Buddha taught about a way of life. So he is venerated. Buddha had taught about how to avoid sufferings, such as through detachment from stuff. So technically, it is an irony to ask Buddha for those stuff because he teaches detachment from it - means he won't give you what you ask. But with history intertwined with India, many also pray to Gods, who can give you what you ask for.

Buddha Sculpture in Negombe

Story of ancient kings

Exquisite door knobs at temples

Monk in temple grounds

Museum at bottom of mountain towards Dambulla cave temples

Sculpture in Dambulla cave temples

Ancient palace in Polonnaruwa. There are many palaces built by different kings here, residences as well as to house the tooth relic. The sprawling grounds remind me of the Angkor Wat. In picture above is a seven storied palace, small but high.