my journey 51
qualities of Sri Lanka, where despite much change so much has stayed the same through countless generations. The wildlife experiences at the hotel are amazing too – we see monkeys and iguanas – and it is here that our family history begins an unexpected new twist when my daughter Helen’s partner, Daryl, proposes to her on her birthday, complete with a diamond-solitaire ring! Anuradhapura is an ancient city rammed with major historic sites. It inhabits a special place in Sri Lanka’s history and is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Even the natural attractions have history – such as the Sacred Bo Tree, over 2,200 years old and the oldest historically-documented tree in the world!
Treats and surprises Another former capital,
Polonnaruwa, can also point to a long and fascinating past and is a city which really stops us in our tracks. There’s a 6,000-acre irrigation system, Royal Palace ruins and many other jaw-dropping buildings and structures.
“At a church
from Kathryn’s past we enjoy cups of sweet and spiced tea”
In Minneriya National Park we view herds of elephants from the back of a large open-top jeep. Just south of Anuradhapura is Thirappane, where we lunch at Uga Escapes’ ‘Ulagalla Walawwa’ (ugaescapes. com). Set in 58 acres of natural woodland, it features a helipad and horse riding. Once the ancestral estate of Anuradhapura nobility, ‘upmarket’ barely covers it! The à la carte Sri Lankan fi ne dining is served to perfection and the 19 luxury villas really are sheer luxury, with a beautiful designer feel and private plunge pools set amongst lush gardens. One of the highlights of our the trip is the ‘to-die-for’ resort Uga Bay (
ugaescapes.com) on Sri Lanka’s virtually unknown east coast near the town of Passikudah. It is set on possibly the nicest beach I have seen, with soft sand stretching for miles and the warmest of safe seas. A perfect ending is provided by Jetwing Beach hotel in Negombo (
jetwinghotels.com), where we spend our fi nal night. It’s the number one hotel in the area and serves the best dinner buffet (and wine buffet) I’ve had anywhere! ‘Memorable’ just isn’t a powerful
That Iguana from tip to tail was easily 10 feet!
enough word to describe my experience of Sri Lanka. •
Our Kandalama elephant ride
sellingtravel.co.uk
The children will melt your heart
Haute cuisine at Ulagalla Walawwa
Uga Bay - sophistication
Mesmerised by the monkeys
On tour with the team and our great driver Bandara
How to book it Martin’s Sri Lanka trip was hosted by one of Sri Lanka’s leading ground handlers, Aitken Spence (
aitkenspence.com). Premier Holidays (
premierholidays.co.uk) has a 13-night Sri Lanka package that includes a privately escorted eight-night Glimpses of Ceylon
tour and fi ve nights at the four-star Jetwing Blue in Negombo (B&B). Priced from £1,599pp, the deal is valid for travel between May 1 and July 9 2015. A two-night Ceylon Tea Trails
extension is available. Martin travelled to Sri Lanka with SriLankan Airlines (
srilankan.com)
Probably the best tea in the world
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