The first stage captivated us with its diversity.

The Ceylon Express: Chaos, Elephants and a Thermos Full of Adventures!

The first leg of our journey through Sri Lanka! Let me tell you one thing – this country captivates the senses from the very first second. Humid, warm air, the scent of spices, ever-present greenery and the aroma of tea that literally hangs over the whole island. The plan was simple: we’d set off from Colombo towards Kandy and soak up everything that came our way. And there was so much going on, it was mind-boggling!

Landing in the tropics and our mountain stronghold

It started off in classic fashion – the arrivals hall in Colombo greeted us with a massive, green neon sign reading ‘WELCOME TO SRI LANKA’. Before we’d even set off, right in the middle of the airport, we were scrambling for our suitcases, lacing up our shoes and quickly repacking, as nobody was in any mood to waste time in the air-conditioned area.

Our main mode of transport on the trip was a white van, which bravely tackled all the local bends. But the place we ended up staying at for the night exceeded our expectations! The guesthouse looked like a multi-storey, illuminated fortress clinging to a steep mountainside. The atmosphere after dark – like something out of a fairy tale.

A red rally car and a big test of our instincts in the jungle

Of course, we wouldn’t be ourselves if we hadn’t switched to a local classic – the red tuk-tuk. Squeezing in with all our luggage was a real logistical challenge, but when the driver put his foot down on that forest track, there was no end to the laughter!

On the way, we popped into a spice garden, where we were put through a proper sensory test. Our local guide, grinning from ear to ear, held crushed leaves and twigs right under our noses. Now try guessing, with your eyes closed, which is cardamom, which is a clove, and which is cinnamon! The looks of concentration on our faces as we sniffed were simply priceless.

A shower with an elephant and a wild hot tub in the river

The views along the route were breathtaking at every turn – a green, dense jungle, with mighty, rocky mountains emerging from behind the palm trees in the background. At one point, we came across the true master of this land. An elephant standing waist-deep in the river put on quite a show for us – he scooped up water with his trunk and, with great flourish, treated himself to a refreshing shower, spraying fountains of water in all directions!

We didn’t need to be told twice, either. We came upon a wild river full of huge, smooth boulders and, without a moment’s hesitation, jumped into the water. The river’s current, the refreshing mountain water in the middle of a steamy forest – it was the best, completely natural hot tub you could dream of after a whole day on the road.

A touch of green gold on the tea-growing hills

The whole route, however, led us to the heart of Ceylon – the lush green tea hills. When you finally stand amidst the endless bushes and can pluck those legendary young leaves straight from the bush, you feel that this is exactly why you came here. Fresh, delicate and fragrant – it makes you want to pull out a flask of boiling water straight away and brew the freshest cup of tea in the world.