Sri Lanka has been written about for ages as The birthplace of the Famous Demon Ravana, from the Ramayana...This Island country has more to it, with a stark scattering of stunning beaches, scented Tea Mountains and amaziing Forests all within this small country, is the most Exotic place to ever visit as I felt during my trip there last year to celebrate the coming in of 2015. We started the last day of 2014 i.e. my Hubby +Arjun Pandalai, Enthu Friend +Ruru Edekar and always Spirited Mother, +Bindu Lulla Jaising with Colombo Of course. Shopping Of course High on our agenda we started off with Odel, Then dropped by for coffee and cake at Dutch Hospital (Yes thats a Shopping Village) and boasts of local Boutique Stores like Avirate, Barefoot (with the best tea & Cinnamon based products including Cinnamon Toothpicks) & of course The Ministry of Crab that serves the best Black Pepper Crab this side of the world.
Seema Malaka
We started the New Year by Visiting the the Buddhist Temple of Seema Malaka bang in the centre of the Chaotic and Colourful Colombo. Apparently the original Seema Malaka temple had sunk into the lake, and the Government commissioned, Famous Architect, Geoffrey Bawa to design a replacement in the 1970s, that to say the least is one of the most gorgeous Buddhist meditation Centres I've Ever visited. Thus this part of our visit was the much Needed Serenre Antitode to a noisy partying we did the night before, ending 2014!
Sri Lankan Food is both Delicious and spicy with a lingering taste of fresh herbs, spices and the sea, as the country is famous for all of them in abundance. My Friend Angelo, whose a resident of Colombo, took it upon him, to indulge us to the best food that his city had to offer, and like all hospitable Sri Lankans, introduced us to Kaema Sutra (Literally means Art of Food) a joint venture of the glamorous Bollywood Hottie Jacqueline Fernandes & Chef Dharshan Munidasa, located in the stunning Arcade Independence Square. Our Meal of Fresh Cashew Curry (my Favourite), Freshwater Prawn Curry(the size of their prawns would put our shrimps to shame), Boneless Goat Curry, Chicken Kothu (they even had a non carb version of this though I wonder why you would like to be health concious with all these yummy smells taking over) with Both Plain & Egg Hoppers, kicked us into a definite state of Food Coma, a fitting end to our Colombo trip.The Next day we took off to the less touristy beaches in Waskudawa & the Dutch City of Galle, 2 hrs from Colombo. En Route to Galle we had a quick stop at Ambalangoda, and hoarded some masks for our homes(we can shop anywhere obviously) grabbing another spicy Sri Lankan meal at a road side shack, staring mindlessly a thte clear blue Arabian Sea hugging it.
The quaint town of Galle is a must visit for its cobbled stone streets, European style desserts in the cafes (their cheesecake was even better than the one I've eaten in the town of Lake Como) & the Rumassala with The Peace Pagoda.
The Rumasalla as legend would have it, is the spot where Hanuman, The Monkey God dropped some medicinal herbs that he was carrying to treat the wounded, fighting the war against Ravana. Right next to the Hanuman Idol, there is a glistening Peace Pagoda built by Japanese monks, depicting the four stages of life of King Siddhartha to Lord Buddha in Gold through statues. This is also one of the sights that had the most beautiful view of Galle Bay & the Dutch Fort also from there.
The Sri Lankan Masks play a big role in Rituals & warding away Evil
Pic Courtesy - wikipedia
Our Large Meal at Kaema Sutra
All in all Sri Lanka was a treat to all our senses and we left definitely wanting to return to discover many more of her hidden treasures to be uncovered(-: and to come back for the taste of their fragrant Cuisine & famed friendly hospitality.
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