You're reading: World Traveler with Alyona Nevmerzhytska: Sri Lanka worth discovering, exploring

Sri Lanka, known as Ceylon during British imperial rule from 1815 to 1948, is an evergreen island in the Indian Ocean. Famed for tea and elephants, some people go there to relax on its paradise beaches, but for others it is a perfect destination for adventures.

Few places in the world can offer the traveler such a remarkable combination of stunning mountain landscapes and sparkling tropical beaches, with 12 hours daily of mostly scorching sun except during monsoon seasons.

While Kyiv’s winter cold is quickly forgotten, first-time Asia travelers are struck by the chaotic traffic and prevalence of the “tuk-tuk” three-wheel cars typical for Asian roads. All signs are in English, bowing to the tourism and colonial past, as well as Sinhalese languages, and traffic is left-handed.

Sri Lankans are not in a hurry. They are wonderfully welcoming and peaceful.

Sri Lankan sunsets are wonders to be hold off the island coast in the Indian Ocean. (Alyona Nevmerzhytska)

Our first stop was Hikkaduwa, a very popular tourist destination on the southwestern coast. Hikkaduwa has the best waves for surfers and those who want to learn.

The mountainous center of Sri Lanka is stunning. Nuwara Eliya looks like a small England, and their Horton Plains National Park — the the “world’s end” gap, will take your breath way.

The southern beach features Unawatuna, famed for its golden sand and one of the busiest beaches in Sri Lanka, dotted with shacks, restaurants and hotels for every budget. 

One day in Colombo is enough to see the city, the capital of Sri Lanka has around 2 million citizens. The center is attractive with an informative historical museum below Independence Square. Buddhist temples are all over, reflecting the faith of  70 percent of the 20 million inhabitants.

Sri Lankans favor spicy food. The national dish is curry – dhal, prawns, chicken, etc., usually served with risce. Plenth of fresh sea food also. Healthy fresh fruit juices are in abundance – mango, papaya and pineapple, along with the surprisingly tasty avocado juice. The local strong-alcohol drink is arrack, which tastes like cognac and is very strong.

Tea is one of the main crops in Sri Lanka. (Alyona Nevmerzhytska)

Driving through the island you will see tea plantations and some of them are open for visitors to see tea processing and have a cup of Ceylon tea right from the factory. Sri Lanka is also famous by its precious jewels. The symbol of Sri Lanka is a blue sapphire.

Animals here are very exotic – you can see chipmunks, iguanas, snakes and monkeys. Some monkeys are domesticated and take bananas from your hands. But those in the woods will not come too close, but never miss a banana throw at them.Alas, most of the tourists in Sri Lanka are Russian, so there are Russian-language signs and Russian-language menus. Ukrainians also like the island with its easy 30-day tourist visa upon entry with a free but limited local SIM card.

This January was historical for Sri Lanka – with presidential elections on Jan.8 in which voters tossed out 10-year incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa and installing opposition leader Maithripala Sirisena, who promised to end Rajapaksa’s corrupt and increasingly authoritarian rule. Rajapaksa, however, remains revered for defeating the Tamil separatists in 2009 after a bloody civil war that started in 1983.

Monkeys are also plenty in the highlands of Sri Lanka. (Alyona Nevmerzhytska)

Sri Lankan elections are quick and honest. To prevent fraud, each voter gets an ink stamp on the pinky finger of the left hand that doesn’t wash off for a few days. The transition happens overnight also. Also this month, Pope Francis arrived on Jan. 13 for a rare visit.

Local woman does her wood-gathering routine in Sri Lanka. (Alyona Nevmerzhytska)

Back in Ukraine, I scratched Sri Lanka off my travel map – a tiny spot on the global but one that fills me with bright memories and unforgettable emotions. I can’t wait until my next trip to Asia and its relaxing days and nights on the beach with fresh mango juice and splendid sunrises and sunsets at roughly 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day.

Alyona Nevmerzhytska is the Kyiv Post’s sales director and can be reached at [email protected] .