Trips in pics: Sri Lanka

Getting behind the bar of the coolest spot: Smoke and Bitters in Hiriketyia

Mingling with lovely Sri Lankan people p.1

Backpacking across the world is only meaningful if I can interact with the locals, smile and laugh with them. Storytelling might be becoming the new cliche but I love hunting for snaps of real life that happens to real people. Capturing a moment like that is as close as I get to a creative process while on the go.

I always ask if I can steal the moment especially if there is eye contact. Especially in Asia the locals gladly collaborate and are mostly happy to interact this way.

Here are the shots I loved the most on this beautiful island:

Negombo - the first and last stop of almost every backpacker

I bumped into a wedding and these beauties were on point in front of the Christian Church. India customs influence weddings in Sri Lanka, yet still so different. The crowd was both in formal attire and in saris. The festivities usually take around 2-3 days: one day is for a bride's party and another for the groom. You can easily distinguish the day by looking at the decorations of the cars. White is for the day of the bride and red is for the groom.

No visit to an island is complete without a visit to the fisherman's market! "Along Sri Lanka’s 1,700km (1,056 miles) of coasts and lagoons, artisanal fishermen cast and gather their nets several times a day. Nearly half of the country’s animal protein intake comes from fish, close to three times the global average." Aljazeera claims.

**Chinese tourists visiting the fish market. I love the contrast between the realities in this one!**

Sigirya - the rock no one wants to miss

Around the island's most precious religious and cultural places the vibe is very welcoming and caring. They warn you not to walk alone in the dark as elephants are moving around, maybe because it is a good reason to take a tuk-tuk on the way back. Sygirya has a super laid-back feel and to me, it felt much more local compared to Ella. I enjoyed the rain the views and the yellow muddy roads this place has to offer. As a self-respected backpacker - I always choose the alternative of the tourist point. The temple of Pidurangala offers a sweet, yet not too-easy hike up that starts from a temple, and passes by an extremely well-preserved Buddha statue and finishes with a breath-taking view of the rock! The highlight is the friendly people at the temple who take the time to talk to you and offer you a scarf to be decent when. you pass by to sacred places! An ingenious way to attract visitors who do not fancy off the beaten path.

Local merchants in front of the Pidurangala Royal Cave Temple next to Lion's Rock, Sigiriya (left). Gurdian of the temple to the right smoking herbs to prepare the temple for the afternoon pilgrims after the rain.

Kandy - the heart of Ceylon culture

If there is one place that I would love to come back and experience Sri Lankan people and reality more - this is Kandy! Maybe Colombo as well, yet Kandy is closer to my heart as it is smaller, hilly and pretty. The home of all royals native to the island and also the favourite place of conquerors to build and mingle with the crowd.

A teacher, wearing a traditional gown, taking the pupils out to the Royal Botanical Garden, Kandy

Co-workers chatting in the Royal Botanical Garden, Kandy. I wish they took me to be a gardener here!

Jack fruit sale @ main shopping street, Kandy

The South beaches - Mirissa, Hirikethyia

Tuk-tuk experience in Sri Lanka is a must! Most of the backpackers tour the island on this vehicle! Inevitably then at a certain moment, some end up in the tuk-tuk shop for repair. When you ask a local tuk-tuk guy - you will always get help regardless of how many shops we need to tour together! This was the 3rd place we were taken and they fixed the problem in minutes!

My friend Elo is happy to have her horn and blinkers fixed while Leon and I are enjoying the tuk-tuk experience.

Life is a beach in Sri Lanka and what I love is that the madness of being white is not present here unlike the rest of SE Asia. People freely swim and enjoy the beach and even could get a bit too cold when it rains! Locals and tourists can mingle with joy on the beach and this is where all life is!

All roads lead to Colombo!

Especially if one misses the airport shuttle bus! The hustle and bustle of this vibrant city - I have left for my second time in Sri Lanka. This time I only capture this moment on the last Friday afternoon of 2023!