Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Sri Lanka, By Kelly D.



Sri Lanka is a fantastic island country in South Asia off the coast of India, with a diversity of people,  cultures, and topography. The history of Sri Lanka reflects the influence of the countries that have helped shape it either by conquest or cultural exchange, including: India, Portugal, and England. Similarly, Sri Lanka's religions reflect its Buddhist, Christian and Muslim roots. Those influences can be seen in everyday life, when walking past a mosque and hearing the call of the muezzin, listening to the sounds of Portuguese language in the streets, watching a lively cricket match or a Buddhist festival, or observing the labor-intensive work of tea farmers in the mountains. Sri Lanka has gorgeous beaches, bold green mountains, and lush rainforests. This country is a mosaic of people, ideas, and cultures--each of which adds its own distinct flavor.

The cultural capital of Sri Lanka is the city of Kandy, home to the former Sinhalese kings, as well as several famous Buddhist sites, including the "Temple of The Tooth" https://www.burmese-art.com/blog/temple-of-sacred-tooth, with it's relic of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. Kandy is a pilgrimage site for Buddhists from around the world who seek a visceral connection to their faith.
In the south, the coastal region of Galle has a stunning coastline with awesome wildlife, including: sharks, elephants, turtles, whales, monkeys, tropical birds, and, if you're up for it- snakes. While the capital city, Colombo, is busy and intense, it's also the country's vibrant business center and the pulse of modern Sri Lanka.

The food/cuisine in Sri Lanka hints at eras of Portuguese and British rule, with impressive contributions from neighboring India. Expect to eat gorgeous tropical fruit and veg, prepared mainly with coconut oil, and eaten--always--with your bare hands. Though Sri Lanka's recent history has been marred by a civil war and resulting violence, it's a magnificent country worth visiting--either virtually or actually.
-KD

"Ayubowan" is the word used in Sri Lanka to greet someone. It means Long Life. One is Generally greeted by joining two hands in prayer-like manner and saying "Ayubowan"-source: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293961-s604/Sri-Lanka:Important.Phrases.html

The photos show: an elephant sanctuary, mountains near Kandy, kids in Kosgoda, the Indian Ocean, cricket match, and kids and sea turtles at a sanctuary on the East Coast. I took them myself!





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