“Lipton”.

Perhaps the most recognisable name among all tea brands. Did you know that it all started in Sri Lanka?

In 1890, Sir Thomas Lipton saw an opportunity to market to tea to the masses instead of limiting it as something only the elite could afford. He bought miles upon miles of tea plantations in Sri Lanka, cut out middlemen, hired indentured Tamil workers from India, packaged and shipped them back to UK at low costs and sold his tea in packets with the advertising slogan: "Direct from the tea gardens to the teapot”. Selling his tea at a fraction of the price it had been, Lipton tea became an immediate success especially in the United States.

Only a few hours from Colombo, Nuwara Eliya sits in a hill country at 1868m, in eternal temperate winter, where the British once spent their pastimes such as fox hunting, deer hunting, elephant hunting, polo, golf and cricket. Mist-shrouded mountains and terraced tea plantations surround the town, with abundance of local brew for their enjoyment. With many of the British settles building their holiday bungalow in this “city of light” (that’s the meaning of Nuwara Eliya, by the way) during the British colonisation era, the town transform a “Little England” with a vague British-country-village feel to it.

They say, the best way to see Sri Lanka is by taking the train, and you know what? That’s definitely true. Train travel in Sri Lanka is a beautiful and very affordable way to travel around the country, and the most scenic train ride in Sri Lanka is none other than the train that journey between Kandy and Ella. This train ride is 7-8 hours long (fret not as you can break up the journey!) and takes you through stunning landscapes of lush tea plantation, mountain valleys, lovely bridges, waterfalls and small villages.

For other places of attractions in Sri Lanka, read my travel guide with sample itinerary and cost breakdown ➢ 12 Days Sri Lanka In Less Than RM2.2K - Visa Application, Sample Itinerary & Cost Breakdown

Kandy which its name often reminds me of candy, is the country’s second largest city after Colombo. The city is only about 3 hours away from Colombo and the train that departs from Kandy towards Ella is considered one of the most beautiful train ride in the world as it passes the lush tea plantation along the way. This makes Kandy the gateway to hill country.

Sigiriya is an attraction not to be missed while in Sri Lanka. However, a visit to the famous Lion Rock should take no more than 3-4 hours. With nothing else to do around Sigiriya, where else should travellers go for the day? Thankfully, 30 minutes away from Sigiriya in the city of Dambulla lies another UNESCO Heritage that you shouldn’t miss – Dambulla Cave Temple

A trip to Sri Lanka is never complete without a visit to Sigirya, the famous Lion Rock we have all seen on the internet. It’s the symbol of Sri Lanka, the proud Unesco Heritage site and often considered the eighth wonder of the world. It is also part of the Cultural Triangle route of Sri Lanka along with Kandy, Dambulla, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, making it a popular tourist destination, and perhaps one of the most visited in Sri Lanka.  

Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are two of the five ancient cities of Sri Lanka, which forms part of the cultural triangle, along with Sigiriya, Dambulla and Kandy. They are Sri Lanka’s most ancient kingdoms and are both World’s UNESCO Heritage sites. However, most people do not have the time or enthusiasm to visit both ruined cities, and so do we. After much consideration, we pick Polonnaruwa although both cities have their own distinctive characteristic to call decisively in favour of either.

Being located at the south of India, I had always thought that Sri Lanka was like a mini version of India. So, when I found flight promo to Sri Lanka, I bought it without hesitation. After all, it’s always good to explore somewhere milder before I see India. "If I can survive Sri Lanka, then I can try India," so I thought.

Every year at the end of December, I take a trip down memory lane, recalling my journey for the year, penning down what I’ve done, where I’ve been, and planning what and where I would head to the following year. It’s a habit ever since I moved to Singapore in 2014. First, as a short post on Facebook, then subsequently turning into a blog post from 2017 onwards after starting this blog in 2016. It’s a tradition I would love to see myself carrying on.