I’m not really a country-counter. I’d rather return to somewhere I love and discover more than add somewhere new just for the sake of it. But when someone tweeted a link to a list of World Heritage sites recently, I have to admit taking a look. Surprisingly I’ve visited over forty, yet only written about…
Category: Sri Lanka
Dambulla in pictures
Dambulla is the site of a series of cave temples, filled with extraordinary Buddhas, carved straight from the rock. There are over 80 documented cave temples on site, but only five are open to the public. Like other holy sites in Sri Lanka, remember to remove your shoes (you can leave them with someone for…
Kandy
I fell in love with Kandy. The terracotta roofs tumbling down the hillsides above the lake remind me of somewhere in the Italian Alps. It’s Saturday, and people have time to wander slowly along the lakeside, stopping to chat with friends. The lotus sellers outside one of the entrances to the Temple of the Tooth…
The tiniest spark
In a forest pitch dark Glowed the tiniest spark It burst into a flame Like, like me Bjork – Isobel I’ve never been a fan of long dark nights, associating them with winter, cold and that tired, lazy feeling that seems to spread at this time of year. But in the tropics night falls early…
Seeing the world through the window of a train
I’ve always loved trains, or more precisely long train rides. Even my daily commute hasn’t lessened my love for them; if you think commuter trains in the UK are crowded, try squeezing your way onto a train out of Colombo at rush hour! It’s always exciting to look up at train departure boards in European…
To the sea
Do you ever start to write about something but hold back because you’re not sure of the reaction? That’s pretty much how I feel about this post. I know that there is a certain amount of controversy about this subject (see this post on The Planet D) – I’ll leave you to make up your…
Sri Lanka
It’s a rare country that can come even close to taking Brazil’s well-established place in my heart, but Sri Lanka may just have a chance. There’s no comparison in terms of size but for a small country Sri Lanka is surprisingly diverse and pretty laidback. Ancient ruins, rock temples and stunning hill country, seeing newborn…