Sri Lanka - the tear-drop of India
So what do you do if your organization wants to celebrate its next big milestone in a 5-Star Resort in Sri-Lanka. Well, just pack your bags and scoot out - and I did exactly that :)
Plan was to head over for a 3 day trip to this great resort in a quaint town in Sri Lanka called Kalutara. It is situated about 50 Kms from the Colombo International Airport and developed mostly as an area with beautiful resorts due to its proximity to the airport. The resort however is about 100 Kms. You experience a smooth drive over Southern Expressway to reach this place. Takes you roughly about 2-2.5 hours one way.
Kalutara maintains an old age, rustic colonial charm. The beaches are long and picturesque; the sand quite coarse to my liking though. The thing that hits you the most if you have come from India is the cleanliness of this place, and oh yes, not to miss the smooth road surface without a single "hump". Apparently built by the Chinese.
The most chaotic part however is the Colombo International Airport, which is anything but "International'. And the multiple rounds of security checks can put you off, though its best to cooperate given the long history of civil war in this country. Better safe than sorry!
These 3 days, though mostly packed within the beautiful resort, did allow some stolen trips outside in the legendary "tuk-tuk" for shopping and site-seeing. It was a sheer bliss - the pristine waters, the abundant greenery, the vibrant dresses and the delicious food. I was in the right part of the country - the South; and experienced a blissful milieu of old and new cultures.
Though a small island country, I can tell you there is enough and more to see and explore. Its quite easy to stumble upon ancient ruins, Buddhist monasteries, hiking terrains and a little something for everyone. My high point was the small Buddha statues at every nook and corner of the place. They had a strange peaceful quality about them, and coming from the land of Buddha myself, I really was inundated with tranquility.
Sri Lankan people are just so loving. Wherever I went, they said I was their "bigger cousin". Gave discounts on items I wanted to purchase, and even discussed Cricket with me.
Sri Lanka felt like an extension of India - Kerala and Goa to be precise. The food, the environment and the people all felt familiar. I felt a certain affinity with this country where-ever I went. I realized we are so inter-twined, and date back to common mythological history that its hard to tell sometimes that India and Sri Lanka are actually two separate nations.
This post is not a long one, but will never be complete without a mention of exotic Sri Lankan food. Though very aligned to the Indian taste buds, it is similar yet unique. Rice and Dal being the staple food, the accompaniments of sea-food and all other kinds of meat makes it worth relishing. The taste is tempered with a unique blend of spices, mainly pepper powder and definitely coconut milk. Not to forget the refreshing quality of Sri Lankan Tea - THE CEYLON TEA. Being the fourth biggest producer of tea in the world, I did not miss the opportunity of carrying a few packets back home with me :-)
I leave you with glimpses of this jewel of the Indian Ocean and its colors.I am definitely going back again to this beautiful country to soak in some more sun and sand....
Plan was to head over for a 3 day trip to this great resort in a quaint town in Sri Lanka called Kalutara. It is situated about 50 Kms from the Colombo International Airport and developed mostly as an area with beautiful resorts due to its proximity to the airport. The resort however is about 100 Kms. You experience a smooth drive over Southern Expressway to reach this place. Takes you roughly about 2-2.5 hours one way.
Kalutara maintains an old age, rustic colonial charm. The beaches are long and picturesque; the sand quite coarse to my liking though. The thing that hits you the most if you have come from India is the cleanliness of this place, and oh yes, not to miss the smooth road surface without a single "hump". Apparently built by the Chinese.
The most chaotic part however is the Colombo International Airport, which is anything but "International'. And the multiple rounds of security checks can put you off, though its best to cooperate given the long history of civil war in this country. Better safe than sorry!
These 3 days, though mostly packed within the beautiful resort, did allow some stolen trips outside in the legendary "tuk-tuk" for shopping and site-seeing. It was a sheer bliss - the pristine waters, the abundant greenery, the vibrant dresses and the delicious food. I was in the right part of the country - the South; and experienced a blissful milieu of old and new cultures.
Though a small island country, I can tell you there is enough and more to see and explore. Its quite easy to stumble upon ancient ruins, Buddhist monasteries, hiking terrains and a little something for everyone. My high point was the small Buddha statues at every nook and corner of the place. They had a strange peaceful quality about them, and coming from the land of Buddha myself, I really was inundated with tranquility.
Sri Lankan people are just so loving. Wherever I went, they said I was their "bigger cousin". Gave discounts on items I wanted to purchase, and even discussed Cricket with me.
Sri Lanka felt like an extension of India - Kerala and Goa to be precise. The food, the environment and the people all felt familiar. I felt a certain affinity with this country where-ever I went. I realized we are so inter-twined, and date back to common mythological history that its hard to tell sometimes that India and Sri Lanka are actually two separate nations.
This post is not a long one, but will never be complete without a mention of exotic Sri Lankan food. Though very aligned to the Indian taste buds, it is similar yet unique. Rice and Dal being the staple food, the accompaniments of sea-food and all other kinds of meat makes it worth relishing. The taste is tempered with a unique blend of spices, mainly pepper powder and definitely coconut milk. Not to forget the refreshing quality of Sri Lankan Tea - THE CEYLON TEA. Being the fourth biggest producer of tea in the world, I did not miss the opportunity of carrying a few packets back home with me :-)
I leave you with glimpses of this jewel of the Indian Ocean and its colors.I am definitely going back again to this beautiful country to soak in some more sun and sand....
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