Find what’s important in life

A young couple who wanted to “escape to somewhere completely different” recently found their dream combination of beaches and mountains, experienced a new culture and enjoyed culinary tastes. Guess where. In Sri Lanka of course!

Writing in the Travel page in the WA Sunday Times, Lucy Gabson gives a ‘clean certificate’ to Sri Lanka. The couple had preferred to avoid the peak season. They found the off-season good in every sense – accommodation, visiting places, transport, food, and of course, scenery and activities. “Sri Lanka seemed to tick off all the boxes,” she writes.

She selects buses, trains and tuk-tuks as the best way to get about. “Public transport is the best and only way to truly experience Sri Lanka,” is her verdict. “It’s super cheap,” she says. 

Pointing out that tickets don’t always guarantee a seat, she wants travellers to make sure what class they travel in. “One of our most memorable trips was actually in Third Class (in the train), sitting on a tea chest, chatting to some locals while rattling through the mountains,” she picturises beautifully.

Commenting on food, she says Sri Lankan food is incredible. “We ate just about everything – chicken kottu roti, egg hoppers, rice and curry. Even food the hawkers sold on the trains – often wrapped in their child’s homework paper – was amazing.” What little things tourists pick up!

As for the best places they visited, the choices are Uppuvei in the east coast for the rice and curry; Mirissa on the south coast for its rustic beachside charm, Galle for its exquisite colonial architecture and gorgeous shops; and Ella, up in the hill country for incredible views from Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock.

Asked about the way they relaxed on the trip she answers: “As chaotic as it was sometimes, travelling by public transport, watching the world outside go by, had an extremely meditative and relaxing effect.”

She also mentions one unforgettable event: “Stumbling across a firewalking ceremony in a Hindu temple in Upuveli. Just your average Friday night in Sri Lanka, apparently”.

She sums up the feeling after getting back home: “Quite depressed actually….but with a greater sense of perspective of what’s important in life and the immaterial things we place value on in Western society”. 

While the Sri Lankan Tourist Promotion Bureau is planning to spend millions of dollars on publicity campaigns, this sort of on-the-spot, authentic observations give the desired results at no cost whatsoever. These have to be made use of to promote Sri Lanka.

It was not so long ago that Australian writer, Tara Mathews gave five reasons why one should go and explore Sri Lanka.

Leading the list is Sri Lanka’s ‘Incredible Food’. Rice and curry, ‘kotthu ‘or chop chop, string hoppers, spicy sambal, roti and dhal are listed as “some of the flavourful dishes you’ll be keen to sample to help you discover your love for spice”.

Stressing that there is no need to go far to get up close with nature in Sri Lanka, visitors are advised to visit one of the many national parks and experience ‘Animal Encounters’,  “Book a jeep safari and before you know it you’ll be up close with herds of big majestic elephants quietly grazing in the long grass”.

Describing ‘Scenic Train Journeys’ she wrote that though a long train ride may not sound exciting, when the view is of lush, rolling green hills, tea plantations and cascading waterfalls it’s a different story. “The locals walk through the train carriages selling baskets of homemade idli, curry puffs and vadai snacks, this will make for a journey to remember”.

Writing on ‘Tea Plantations’ visitors are advised to take a trip up to a tea estate in the highlands and arrange a tour of a tea factory to learn about how the simple tea leaf makes it into a cup of the finest tea. 

Advising to ‘Unwind on the coast’ the writer insists on a few relaxing days by the water as a ‘must’. 

This writer has given wonderful material to work on. Over to you, officials of the SL Tourist Promotion Bureau.