Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
PREPARING A SRI
LANKAN FEAST
we climbed to a nearby temple, our guide surprised
us with a kite – a gift for the children – which they
flew from the top over the magnificent views.
On our final day here, as I stood at the rustic
afternoon tea pagoda looking out over the lake, an
eagle circling above and a stillness in the air, I felt
that The Mudhouse not only feeds your mind and
body, its feeds your soul, with all that it is and all that
it achieves for everyone that visits it and works there.
In short, I LOVED it – can you tell?!
Then came my first negative surprise of the trip.
Of course, you know in theory that Sri Lanka is a
tropical country, and that monsoon-level rains can
happen at any time – but you don’t really expect it
to happen on your holiday! As it bucketed down on
our journey to Kandy, I couldn’t help but feel a little
bit disappointed. But little did I know that some of
my favourite moments of the trip were yet to come –
despite the rain, and sometimes because of it!
I have long been a fan of The Jungle Book (the
original, of course), and on arrival at Ellerton, our
fabulous hotel in Kandy, I felt like I had stepped
right into it: glorious exotic plants and lush green
landscapes – which, surprisingly, against the
backdrop of the tropical rain, were all the
more beautiful. So, on our first day, the boys
and I challenged ourselves to a bit of an
adventure climb, known for its views. We
couldn’t help but laugh at the weather – and
the image of our lovely guide walking down
the hill, with his multi coloured golfing
umbrella, that had blown inside out too
many times to stay up, wrapped around
his head, will cause us to fondly chuckle
for many a year (I only wish I had taken a
photo)! But all was not lost, that evening
our British stoicism was reward by our
lovely hosts at Ellerton, when after dinner
a movie under the stars had been set up for
us, playing none other than… The Jungle
Book!
Another example was our visit to a local
tea plantation. The tea-pickers showed
us their daily duties, some in bare feet,
telling us that they were going to get wet
anyway! We were the only tourists there,
we really felt privileged to be able to get
a glimpse into their world, which was
enhanced by an unscheduled stop at the
tea pickers’ houses on the way home. It
was an eye-opening experience.
The following day, it was time to move
on to our final stop, some well-deserved
R&R at the beach! As some of us can’t
sit still for too long, we decided to take
a local train down to Galle for the day.
We thoroughly enjoyed weaving our way
through Galle Fort, browsing in the shops, grabbing
a bite to eat and enjoying some rather delicious ice
cream. However, it was the train journeys that I
enjoyed the most. It was hot and overcrowded but
packed with all walks of life, and we felt immersed in
the local community – and all for the price of £1.75
for a family of five. What’s not to love?!
So, did Sri Lanka live up to my expectations? I think
you can guess my answer: absolutely! Before going,
I understood that the country had amazing things
to offer “on paper” – wildlife, scenery, beaches and
more – but experiencing these things in person felt
even more magical than I could have imagined. Even
when the weather meant that days didn’t go quite as
planned, we were still able to make memories that
will last a lifetime.
To plan and book your holiday to Sri
Lanka, contact RB Collection’s Sri Lanka
specialist Samuel Cooper on 01543 258631,
or email vip@rbcollection.com. Visit RB
Collection, just 1.5 miles outside of Lichfield
next door to the Co-Op with free parking
(appointments recommended).
CRICKET ON THE BEACH IN
SRI LANKA
47