asia

sri lanka

Plonked in the Indian Ocean off the southeast tip of India, the tropical idyll of Sri Lanka is an island of surprises. Most of its terrain, flat or rolling, is covered in every shade of jungle green imaginable and a batch of mountains in the south-central rises to over 2,500m.

With a colonial history, the rustic and crumbling architecture lends an air of mystique to most towns, the capital Colombo and the Galle fort in particular becoming magnets for the international arty set attracted by the romantic yesteryear atmosphere. Out of the urban areas it's all about jungle exploration, elephant rides and tranquil boating journeys. Spices and incense match perfectly the Buddhist and Hindi flavours, with festivals here a highlight of colour and energy. And then there's the cricket... you almost hope Sri Lanka wins just for the spectacle of the celebrations. Almost.