“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.” -Anita Desai
As we stepped into the end of yet another year, another holiday to be spent in wary. The ample sunshine, clear blue skies and lush green landscapes invited us to enjoy and explore what was once overlooked, and then thoroughly missed. The breath-catching views of nature, the rich culture, history and heritage, the diverse flavours, the thrill and the bliss. An exploration of the pearl, one that seems too magical to be true, and hence bore the name “Wanderlust”. The yearning to finally step out and explore, inspired the Editors Team of RACFOSUOC, to bring about project Wanderlust. A quick virtual getaway to all our readers around the paradise island of Sri Lanka featuring 12 of the country’s most attractive cities in a single trip this holiday season in the month of December.
After a quick meeting to plan out the destinations we were going to visit, the team was packed and ready for the virtual voyage. Rtr. Hirusha Munasinghe started off the journey with a tour around the southwestern part of the exotic island of Sri Lanka where he showed off the glamour of some of the iconic cities in the city of Galle. Next, it was a long train ride, straight up to the top of the island as Rtr. Jayani Jamanna took us on a thrill ride around Jaffna. From the mesmerizing landscapes to the mouth-watering cuisine, she showed us why Jaffna is not just an interesting place to visit but a fun one too!
The next stop on the journey was the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, where Rtr. Sudasi Siriwardena received us with the historical background of the city, and took us around, showcasing historically and religiously important tourist sites. Thereafter, we were summoned by a call from tranquillity from Rtr. Ruwangi Amarasoorya, as she took us to the City of Light, aka Nuwareliya. Here we got to experience the beautiful sceneries, unique wildlife, and almost feel the cold breeze of the upcountry on our cheeks. We didn’t have to go far for our next venture, as Rtr. Ama Upeka took us on a journey through the kingdom of chronicles. With her magical words, she guided us through the enchanted kingdom of Kandy, flaunting every single exhilarating site the city has to offer.
Stepping onto the northeast coast of Sri Lanka, we next visited the charming city of Trincomalee, where Rtr. Jithaka Alexander took us to every possible locale, from the ancient temples and forts to the breathtaking beaches. Our next stop on the tour was to the bustling Garden city of the east, Colombo where Rtr. Udari De Silva took us to the marvellous landmarks in the heart of the country. Rtr. Kasuni Dissanayake then took us back to the central province, to remind us once again of the rich heritage and history of the island through the mind-blowing city of Anuradhapura. A quick drive later we met with Rtr. Dimuthu Chathuranga, who was full of stories about the ancient history and construction of the highly attractive and the most captured attractions of Sri Lanka, the Sigiriya rock fortress.
With a nostalgic recap of a trip to the waterfall worth chasing, Rtr. Amrah Izadeen took us to Ella next, in the Badulla district. After sightseeing, a hike and an exhilarating zip-lining experience, we next took a bee-line to the heart of Deep South, where Rtr. Thiruni Withana brought to us a full aerial view of a paradise one should never miss, the city of Hambantota. Finally, after a journey around the island, as the sun sunk low into the horizon, we arrived at our final destination, the Nilaveli Beach, where we met with Rtr. Ramona Perera, and enjoyed the most beautiful sunset from the shore of the beach, bringing to an end, a journey that you won’t forget for a lifetime.
The entire expedition was focused on reviving local tourism, inspiring our readers to visit these marvellous points of interest in the country. To remind everyone of the unnatural uniqueness and unrivalled beauty of the different towns. As we were showered with ample sunshine, clear blue skies and lush green landscapes it was finally time to step out, safely, and experience in person.
By Rtr. Sayagi Asogan
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