I went backwards in time from fall to summer this week and crossed continents into Asia. I landed in Sri Lanka for my third time to attend a Travel Blogging Conference and to soak up a little warm weather before I entered back into the heart of winter for the holidays. The conference included a pre trip with 40 other awesome bloggers in which we were shuttled around to a few of the main sites and introduced to Sri Lankan cuisine and culture.
Even though I felt like I spent the majority of my time on a bus getting from place to place I was able to also do some hiking at one of the many Unesco World Heritage sites in Sri Lanka, an elephant safari, boating, a village visit, and I even took a plane along the coast to do some aerial photography. It’s amazing how much you can pack in a short time here.
This week reminded me of how much I’ve changed – I don’t know if it’s travel or age that has changed me. As every year goes by I realize that I like big crowds less and less and need more alone time or one on one relationships. This week also reminded me of how I love to travel – independently. It’s great to have everything set up for you – but it’s a very sterile way to see the country.
Sri Lanka is a good place to find a slower pace and seclusion. As I type this now I’m surrounded by crashing waves and palm trees on three sides of me – a strong salty ocean breeze blows through my hair. There’s not a single tourist around and the beach is filled with goats, cows, and fishermen. It’s nice to know that this part of Sri Lanka still exists
Deb from ThePlanetD capturing ‘the gathering’ a time of year in Kaudulla National Park in Sri Lanka when hundreds of elephants gather. So many elephants – so little time!
That moment when you get sprayed with coconut water – you know something good is coming next! We enjoyed learning about agriculture and village life in Sri Lanka during this village walk.
Lillypads shimmer in the morning light as we get an early start to hiking Sigiriya (the Lion Rock)
Going around the bend in hill country. Train travel in #srilanka is the best way to see the country. Riding with the locals will certainly get you closer to the culture!
Gateway to the waves.
Fishing before the storm. It’s Monsoon season on #SriLanka ‘s east coast which leaves the beaches empty. I only saw a few locals, goats, and cows.
Kandy’s Temple of the tooth. No – it’s not a dentist office.
An aerial view of the beaches around Galle in Sri Lanka! I took a Cinnamon Air scenic flight to get a feel for the beautiful coast from above! Look at that water!
This isn’t a tree house for kids, this is an elephant watching hut. Sri Lankan farmers stay overnight in these huts to chase away elephants that eat and trample their crops. They yell at them & sometimes use fire crackers to get rid of them. Geez…and we thought deer and rabbits were a nuisance to farmers in the U.S.!
The view I woke up to this morning on the East Coast of SriLanka in Kottukal
Disclosure: For half of this trip, I was a guest of Cinnamon Hotels, Cinnamon Air, SriLankan Airlines, and Cvisit.com. Internet access was provided by Mobitel Sri Lanka. However, all opinions here are my own!
Sherry Ott is a refugee from corporate IT who is now a long term traveler, blogger, and photographer. She’s a co-founder of Briefcasetobackpack.com, a website offering career break travel inspiration and advice.
Additionally, she runs an around the world travel blog writing about her travel and expat adventures at Ottsworld.com.com.
