Hi friends, this extra post this month is actually a spur-of-the-moment decision! I thought I would give you an account of what I got up to in Sri Lanka. Head on down to read more, I promise it’s worth the effort…
We left New Zealand just as my nieces’ summer holidays began and spent some hours in transit in Hong Kong before arriving at Colombo Bandaranike International Airport in the early hours of the morning. Since mum had wheelchair assistance, travelling with her and getting the help from the amazing crew throughout our journey was an amazing and humbling experience. Thanks to their help everything was stress-free for us. Our cousin came to pick us up in those early morning hours and brought us to the small house that would be our home for the next week. Tucked away in a small village about 15 miles from the capital, my mother’s paternal ancestors claimed this little place home. Now, both my uncles and my youngest aunt have humble yet elegant homes on this ancestral land. We stayed in the home my youngest uncle, the one in Canada, had built. My nieces and my sister-in-law would wake up to the sound of bird calls and the tune of ‘Greensleeves’ being played by the bread van!! We were thoroughly spoiled by the relatives who brought us amazing yummy food almost everyday we were there!!
Our first outing of sorts took us to Anuradhapura, the ancient capital of Sri Lanka and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. We stayed in a modest hotel for one night and ventured the next day to visit a couple of the sites. With mum’s strength finally succumbing to the jet lag, we decided that the Sri Maha Bodhi tree and seeing the Ruwanveli Maha Stupa was enough for the group. Walking around those holy sites with the family, I felt a deep connection to my faith restored and there was even a moment when I felt as though dad was happy that we made it there!!
Since Miss Eight has a passion for animals, my brother had created an activity sheet of sorts for her to tick off. From the first day until the last, this sheet was taken out, shown around to friends and family, and ticked off when an animal was spotted somewhere. They saw different types of birds and squirrels in the gardens, but on the way to Anuradhapura, we saw more variety in the animals. The highlight was witnessing packs of monkeys in wooded areas along the route north and spotting peacocks everywhere! Visiting our relatives and close family friends over the days leading to Christmas was an emotional one for my brother. Especially meeting up with our oldest uncle, dad’s older brother, who looked and sounded just like him!
Just before the New Year, my brother and his family headed off for their tour in Colombo and I joined them, leaving mum to rest and recover with her siblings. I must note here that my sister-in-law’s friend who organised this tour had booked our accommodation with five-star hotels throughout and I felt so grateful to tour in such luxury. After a few nights at the Granbell in Colombo we headed in a large bus towards the Central province. The hotel we were to stay in Dambulla was Heritance Kandalama but our first sight-seeing trip was to the Pinnawala Elephant orphanage enroute. Seeing those majestic creatures frolicking in the river while having lunch in a nearby restaurant was an experience that delighted the children in the group more than the adults!! Sigiriya was our next visit the following day. Hailed as the 8th wonder of the world, this ancient rock fortress is carved on top of a large granite monolith that towers above the forested landscape. I had been there over a decade ago and thought I would be able to climb it again, but soon realised that I wasn’t as strong as I was then. I ended up stopping halfway and watched the rest of the group climb right to the top and enjoy the remains of the fortress at the top. Working on my fitness is definitely a goal this year now!!
The next day we climbed a different rocky structure; the Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple complex. Climbing this wasn’t as hard as the steps were more uniform compared to those at Sigirya. This site boasts the largest and best preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka and has been declared another UNESCO World Heritage site. They have housed Buddhist monks since the 3rd century BCE and the five sanctuaries carved in the rock have over a hundred statues inside. It was truly an amazing experience!! I couldn’t help but marvel at the paintings on the walls as well! There was a really cool story detailed to the children about a sacred and legendary water pot that perpetually collects water dripping from a fissure in the ceiling rock which supposedly never runs dry nor overflows. Being somewhat curious, I went looking and found it in the second cave!! If you ever find yourself there, you have to check it out!! It was mesmerising to watch this unusual phenomenon!!
While I was exploring this amazing site from its lofty heights I realised something as I scanned the stunning landscape below. I had truly missed my motherland. Breathing the air and watching the trees, lakes, and rivers pass us on our journey south made me think of my parents’ lives growing up. And mostly of dad’s childhood. I couldn’t help it, but everywhere I looked I felt a connection to him. We all welcomed 2026, the new year on the dance floor in Kandalama at their 31st night celebrations they hosted. It was a stark contrast to the Dambulla Cave temple visit in the morning, but looking back now, it felt like a blessing of sorts!
We headed south towards Yala National Park soon after. Our route changed and we ended up going via Colombo bypassing the direct more mountainous one. In a way I’m grateful for that as I got a few sparks of inspiration for my own story that I’m working on. Located in Sri Lanka’s southeast, Yala is the most famous wildlife park and home to elephants, crocodiles, leopards and over two hundred species of birds!! The kids were so excited when we embarked on our afternoon safari. They saw interesting animals at every turn!! Even though only a few of the group saw the head of one leopard, an encounter with a cheeky elephant and seeing crocodiles in the wild made up for it!! And the peacocks, they were everywhere!! From the hotel we stayed at, Jetwing Yala, we were in close proximity to both the national park and the mighty Indian ocean! Just imagine being lulled to sleep with the crash of waves while elephants roamed around below!! Those few days are ones I will never forget and I am so happy I was given the chance to see my nieces and their little friends’ wonder at the wild beauty Yala has to offer.
Our next stop was at Galle, a major city that sits on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast. We stayed at the Le Grand Hotel there. This region boasts so many amazing sites and experiences for locals and tourists alike. Our stop at a turtle hatchery was another memorable one for everyone. Lunch that day at a nearby restaurant was eventful as the kids enjoyed their ocean swim mainly because large sea turtles could be seen joining them in the shallow waters!! If you ever find yourself in places like Habaraduwa, Unawatuna and Mirrissa, the beaches themselves are stunning but the unique experiences like swimming with the sea turtles and whale watching are a must-do in my opinion!! Our evening walk on the last night atop Galle Fort with the whole group was a magical experience! Another UNESCO World Heritage site, Galle Fort was founded by the Portuguese in the 16th century and consequently developed by the Dutch and reached the height of its development during the 18th century when Sri Lanka was a British colony. Walking down into the walled city’s cobbled stone streets, you can’t help but notice the varying European architecture before you!! It was a remarkable blend of our colonial past. Walking from the clock tower towards the lighthouse as the sun dipped towards the sea that day, I felt wonder at the majesty in that structure and the history it held.
When we finally took our final journey towards Colombo I couldn’t help but feel happy. My final hotel was the brand new Cinnamon Life, part of the large building that is the City of Dreams. We rested there until our flight home. I felt especially happy catching up with my best friend from childhood who happened to be in Sri Lanka visiting her mother. The years apart melted away and we were teenagers again, reminiscing our years in boarding school and our childhood in Zambia. For me, that was the icing on the cake!!
Although this was a short trip back to Sri Lanka, it made me feel more connected to my parents’ legacy for us. Seeing their old friends and family made me realise how important it was in keeping those connections. I will always be extremely grateful for my sister-in-law’s friend and her family for letting me join them and seeing my beloved homeland together with them. I know my post reads a bit like a travel brochure, but it was truly an amazing and magical time!! I hope you enjoyed this post.
Stay safe and keep reading.
Miss Mahee
Miss Mahee's Library of Reads 