Photos of a week's holiday in Malaysia followed by three weeks in Sri Lanka in December 2011 and January 2012.
This holiday was inspired by Peter Kuruvita's television programs about Sri Lanka, especially its food. I decided to go at short notice and did little of my usual careful forward planning. As I have been to the south of India a few times, Sri Lanka did not seem as different and distinctive as it would to someone who had never been to south India. Nevertheless I saw some wonderful places, met delightful people and would certainly like to return.
After a few days in Colombo, I caught a train to Kandy where I visited Matale as a day trip. From Kandy I drove to Sigiriya and thence to Dambulla. I spent a couple of days at Kandalama Hotel near Dambulla, then caught a train to Trincomalee and from there returned by train to Colombo where I spent a day. Then I went by train and bus to Galle, where I visited Matara. From Galle I drove via the newly opened expressway to spend my last night at a hotel near the airport and flew home via Kuala Lumpur.
For information I used both Rough Guide and Lonely Planet's guidebooks.