Here's a quick piece I just submitted to Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2013 about one of my all-time favorite places in the world, Sri Lanka:
"The often forgotten country at the heart of the Indian Ocean
has undeniable character and culture. The well-known tsunami that was the
caused due to a massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia in 2004
struck the coastlines of dozens of countries, causing massive damage and
killing up to a quarter million people. Though not as well publicized around
the world as other countries and their disaster response, one of the hardest
hit countries from the tsunami was Sri Lanka, sitting directly in the path of
the waves’ destruction. The small island with much of its civilization directly
on its beautiful coastline was completely destroyed. In one moment, nearly
2,000 people were killed by the first onslaught of waves crashing in-land and
killing almost every passenger on the busy train line Queen of the Sea. The
destruction resulted in the greatest loss of life in railroad history.
Five years after the tsunami took over 35,000 Sinhalese
lives, I had the fortune to visit this incredibly breath-taking country. With
its rich history hailing from Portuguese, Dutch and British heritage combined
with their strongly independent culture, it's easy to see what makes Sri Lanka
so attractive to a history buff. But it has so much more than century-old
history and ancient roots. Just months before I arrived to the capitol of
Colombo, Sri Lanka's modern-day history was continuing to be dramatically
shaped as the civil war between the government in power and the Tamil Tigers
finally ended after 26 years. Faced with years of struggle and violence, topped
with unfathomable natural destruction to an already poor economy, Sri Lanka
looked to be doomed with the cards it was dealt. But the tear-drop shaped
nation just off the southern Indian coast persevered. The country's strong
values in family and community rebuilt the nation from the ground up. With a
healthy government and growing economy, the once overlooked country is getting
standing on its own again.
The country’s culture and community make up its remarkable
character. It's traditional food of fishes, chutneys, curries and an array of
rich flavors paired with its relaxed atmosphere brings a speed of smoothness
similar to its coconut sambol. With its deep roots to Buddhist, Hinduism,
Christianity and Islam, the country begs for a faith-driven traveler to see its
many sides and tranquility around each corner from Kandy to Colombo. The Sri
Lankan people are some of the kindest, most generous, and prideful individuals.
Even though faced through centuries of adversity, the culture and customs of
such a small country remains strong and true, even though often lost in the mix
of the more popular travel destinations like India, Thailand and Indonesia. Sri
Lanka is a travelers' ultimate trip for great activities such as hiking or beach
going, as well as catching a cricket match on any street corner. It has
tremendous value to foreign travelers looking for something a bit off the
beaten path and with a cultural background unlike any of its neighboring
countries.
Of all my travels, I have still to this day found a country
that comes remotely close to Sri Lanka’s beauty, endurance, spirituality, and
overall charm."
