18 | 2015 | YELLOW & CHEAP BLUE

SRI LANKA | TRAVEL

Endless beaches, oodles of elephants, wel-

coming people, timeless ruins, rolling surf, fun

trains, cheap prices, famous tea, and, last but

not least, flavourful food are just a few words

that come to mind to describe Sri Lanka. The

country has seduced travellers for centuries.

Marco Polo described it as the finest island of

itsits size in the world, while successive waves

of Indian, Arab and European traders and ad-

venturers flocked to its palm-fringed shores,

attracted by reports of rare spices, precious

stones and magnificent elephants. Poised

just above the Equator amid the balmy waters

of the Indian Ocean, the island’s legendary

reputation for natural beauty and plenty has

inspired an almost magical regard even in

those who have never visited the place.

Sri Lanka packs an extraordinary variety of

places to visit within its modest physical di-

mensions, and few islands of comparable

size can boast a natural environment of such

beauty and diversity. As a result, tourists are

drawn to the fabled island’s shores for a

changes to experience something surreal.

While the interior boasts a compelling variety

of landscapes ranging from wildlife-rich low-

land jungles, home to extensive populations

of elephants, leopards and rare endemic bird

species, to the misty heights of the hill coun-

try, cloaked in immaculately manicured tea

plantations. Nor does the island lack in

man-made attractions. Sri Lanka boasts

more than two thousand years of recorded

history, and the remarkable achievements of

the early Sinhalese civilization can still be

seen in the sequence of ruined cities and

great religious monuments that litter the

northern plains. Combined, these aspects

have made Sri Lanka one of the top tourist

destinationsdestinations in the globe - in 2013 it was

Lonely Planet’s top pick of countries to visit.

Sri Lanka’s capital city is Colombo and is lo-

cated on the south-western front of the

island. It is considered to be the gateway to

Sri Lanka for most travelers - but don’t be

tempted to simply pass through this diverse

and interesting city. Take a train ride along the

coast to Mount Lavinia, a popular beach, or

exploreexplore the Talangama Wetland, which is the

perfect place to take a break from the bustling

streets of the city.

SRI LANKA

19

TRAVEL | SPAIN

AcrossAcross Sri Lanka, the ruins of ancient cities

emerge from the jungle, while the remnants

of Indian, Portuguese, Dutch and British set-

tlements add to the delightful mishmash of

historic architecture. But Sri Lanka is also re-

nowned for its tasteful foods. Sri Lankan food

offers a vivid array of flavor combinations:

sweet caramelized onion relishes, bitter

melon, spicy scraped coconut, and the burn

of curry tamed by mild rice, and palm sugar

sweetened desserts. Samosas and dhal (len-

til curry) look familiar, but upon closer inspec-

tion, these, too, have a definitively Sri Lankan

spin: these thinner curries tend to be more

heavily spiced than many Indian versions,

and the cuisine is more inclusive of non-na-

tive ingredients, brought by international

trade moving through the island.

Gone are the days that one can say Spain is

not for travellers. If you’re visiting Spain for

the first time, be warned: this is a country that

fast becomes an addiction. You may intend to

travel to this idealistic destination just for a

walking tour, a city break, or even a beach

holiday, but before you know it, you’ll find

yourselfyourself hooked by something quite different.

It’s something tourists from remote parts of

the world would definitely find quite remark-

able. Spain conjures images of images of

café-lined plazas, flamenco dancers, soaring

cathedrals, and tranquil white hillside villages.

Beyond these traditional associations, this

modern country offers top-notch art muse-

ums, inventive cuisine, and, of course, excit-

ing nightlife. From the Pyrenees to the coast,

its landscapes and varied cultures are worth

exploring. Especially enticing to the souls of

travellers is the national insistence on enjoy-

ing everyday pleasures such as a stop at the

local restaurant, or even a souvenir stand.

The Spanish live life to its fullest whether they

are lingering over lunch, pausing for a siesta,

strolling in the park, or dancing until dawn.

Many travelers can get frustrated at the lim-

iteed store hours and seemingly laid back

pace of life. But it’s this Spanish perspective -

SPAIN

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