Sri Lanka

I travelled to Sri Lanka at the beginning of 2020. It's a place I would love to go back to because of its people, its cultural heritage, its food and not least because there were too many photo-opportunities to do it justice in a two week trip! Here are just a few images as an introduction to this marvellous country. I started in Negombo on the mid-west coast and from there travelled north to Sigiriya to see the famous rock fortress. I then drove further north to Anuradhapura, the first capital of Sri Lanka with its many ancient cultural sites. From there to the city of Polonnaruwa and the nearby Minneriya National Park where I saw my first sightings of elephants and peacocks. Kandy was next on the itinerary where there are many attractions including the Temple of the Tooth, Pinnawala elephant orphanage and botanical gardens. Travelling south from there, I next went to the highlands of Nuwara Eliya with its tea plantations, lakes and the spectacular waterfalls of Horton Plains national park. Heading further south, I visited the Yala national park. This is a spectacular nature reserve, although, unfortunately, most of my photography had to be done in heavy rain (notice the wet birds!). Down to the south coast and Mirissa where I was so fortunate to see a Blue Whale at close quarters. The final leg was going north along the western coast visiting the famous Galle fort and the waterways of Bentota. My sincere thanks to Chiran, our driver and guide who helped us enormously and became our good friend on the journey. Thanks also to our local tour company 'Tours for Sri Lanka' for working out a great itinerary.