I’ve heard some fellow travelers say that Sri Lanka is like a “light” version of India. I totally disagree. Both countries can be intense, hot and wonderfully chaotic. But where India is tremendous in just about every conceivable aspect, Sri Lanka is a tiny, relatively homogenous island nation with astonishing nature, rich heritage, and mildly put, a tumultuous post-colonial past and bumpy future.
From the hustle and bustle of Colombo to the waves of Hikkaduwa and up the steep hills of Candy, for its size, Sri Lanka is remarkably diverse and one of South East Asia’s most visually interesting countries. I think it’s the relatively small size that makes Sri Lanka so manageable. Getting around was so easy with trains, buses, and rickshaws. While originally from northern India, the Singhalese people are shy but friendly, and during my three weeks there, I never encountered anyone that didn’t share a smile with me.
