Finally, here I come - Colombo, Sri Lanka (THINGS TO DO IN GALLE). Two days before flying back to Malaysia. Without a fixed itinerary, I just went with the flow - exploring places to visit, see, and do. Thankfully, I still had my travel guide, who doubled as my driver, to point out the sightseeing highlights. And yes, even before reaching Colombo from Galle, there were stopovers worth mentioning.
Tsunami
Honganji Vihara Memorial
I paused briefly at the Tsunami Honganji Vihara Memorial - built in
remembrance of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami victims. A somber moment. Ten
quiet minutes, standing in silence, paying respect before resuming my road
trip (PLACES TO VISIT IN SRI LANKA).
This was unplanned, but I’m glad it happened. A peaceful river safari in the
afternoon - gliding through mangrove tunnels, lush greenery, and calm waters. I
spotted birds and monitor lizards along the way.
One highlight was Cinnamon Island. I watched how cinnamon is traditionally harvested and prepared - an age-old skill. I couldn’t resist buying a packet of Sri Lankan cinnamon, known to be among the world’s best. Maybe should have settled for the cinnamon oil as well.
I found Gangaramaya Temple in a hotel brochure - and decided to begin my
Colombo morning there. Established in 1885, it’s one of the most prominent
Buddhist temples in Colombo, located near Beira Lake.
The temple complex features a vihara, a pagoda, a relic chamber, a library, a museum, and a beautiful Bodhi tree. Rows of Buddha statues in Thai style line the courtyard. A serene and deeply spiritual experience.
Colombo City Tour
The city tour was more of a van ride through Colombo’s core. I passed by government buildings, banks, hospitals, and many high-rise towers. I made a few short photo stops, including one in front of a towering white Buddha statue and another at a city square, the name of which I can’t quite recall. But walking around briefly gave me a quick feel of Colombo's urban life.
The next morning, I took a short stroll on the beach just across from my hotel. Almost empty, quiet, and peaceful. I didn’t swim - I just dipped my feet in the water and sat around, taking in the calm before heading to the airport.
My meals in Colombo were mostly at the hotels I stayed in. Lavish buffet
spreads - from Western-style salads and breads to traditional Sri Lankan
dishes. I found even the Western dishes subtly localised in flavour.
The local selections were, without doubt, the star. Rich in spices, coconut milk, and authenticity. Oh, the local desserts must be mentioned too! Some I hadn’t heard of or tried before. Every mouthful felt like a continuation of the incredible food journey I had been enjoying throughout my 8 days in Sri Lanka.
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