Serendipity Travel - Adventure Sri Lanka

"Not only is the universe more complex than we ever thought, it is far more mysterious and magical than we ever believed." - American physicist Dr. Fred Alan Wolf

Sri Lanka is a tropical teardrop-shaped island at the bottom of India. Mysterious, enigmatic, steeped in history, Sri Lanka is famous for its ancient cities and temples, thick tropical jungles, rambling tea plantations and miles of palm-fringed golden beaches. Life is affordable, the people are very friendly and hospitable.

Sri Lanka has been on the tourist map for ages and yet remains remarkably unspoiled. We entered the country via the capital, Colombo. Take a quick look round, perhaps spend the night and then leave. It is not a very interesting city, made worse by tuk-tuk drivers and hustlers who prey on tourists and make the stay in the capital very unpleasant. We stayed two nights and felt we had overstayed Colombo for sure.

Sri Lanka has more than enough attractions to make up for the shortcomings of its capital. Once outside the city you will encounter some of the friendliest people anywhere in the world. The majority, around 70 per cent, are Buddhist Sinhalese, the rest belong primarily to small ethnic groups, including the Tamils, who have been embroiled in political conflict for years.

It is believed that the island of Sri Lanka has been the favourite haunt of aliens, extra terrestrials, gods, devas, angels, sky dwellers, demons, deities whichever way you wish to describe them. Their chronicles, traditions, folklore, prehistoric cave drawings, archaeological evidence and ancient travellers' records testify that there have been strange beings living on this island from time immemorial.

There are mountains, hills, buildings and even plants full of mysteries, power and wisdom, that are to this day beyond human understanding.

200 million years ago, geologically Sri Lanka was linked with India, Madagascar, Australia and Antarctica, in what used to be called Gondwana. Sri Lanka separated of thefrom India and was known as Lanka Dvipa (Island of Lanka), when the land sank into the sea. According to the Ramayana epic, this took place because of the misdeeds of Ravana, however this seismic happening is recorded by modern science.

In the next couple of weeks we will be writing about our adventures in Sri Lanka, an island not visited much by the South African travellere, but so worth the long journey across the oceans.

The name of the country evolved into "Sri" + Lanka, with the Sanskrit honorific "Sri" denoting the diffusion of radiance, beauty and grace. The name Lanka as written in the Sanskrit version of the Iramayana came into existence as the kingdom of the Asura. In Tamil this denotes a teetotaller and rvegetarian.

The kingdom of King Iravana, who was a Tamil, was known as "Ilankai" (Lanka is the Sanskrit version). Ilankai means radiates and in Tamil there is no need to adopt an honorific because the name itself depicts the holiness of the land. Up to May 22nd 1972, the country was known as Ceylon, although during the pre-historic period it was called "Elam", (the eternal country), Ilam is the Tamil word for gold. Initially Eezham, then Eylom and presently Eelam.

Arabs called the country "Serendib" and the Portuguese "Ceilao", but Thais have added the honorific "Tewa" calling the island "Tewa Lanka" - divine Lanka.

"Ayiu bowan" is the greeting word used by the Sinhalese when they meet or part. They usually also clasp their hands in front of them and bow slightly, the European equivalent would be shaking hands.

Sri Lanka is a land where all the major religions of the world are practised. Therefore it could be surmised that this is a blessed land. According to Buddhist belief Lanka is k nown as the thrice-blessed land.

Travelling Sri Lanka can be exciting, adventurous, or languid and opulent, we will share with you in the coming weeks the travel haven that is Sri Lanka.