Our expectations of Sri Lanka were, without good reason, set by India. But we were wrong. What a pleasant place!

Within minutes of getting on our bus tour, we were seeing a different world. Much more orderly; nice and green; gentle people; better looking buildings, well maintained; good roads; and above all else, nearly as clean and pristine as Singapore!

We passed beautiful parks …

This striking modern theatre in the shape of a lotus flower …

Thousands of these pretty trees, the national tree – the ironwood tree …

After an interesting 2 hour drive inland we were in the beautiful hills. Tea and rubber country … the cleared area is for replanting of rubber trees that are replaced every 16 years.

We stopped in a rubber plantation …

… and in tea plantations …

We then made a stop at a tea plantation manager’s house and sampled the tea … excellent!

It had a big tropical garden.

We watched these ladies picking tea …

… and went to a tea factory …

… and were garlanded with tea leaves …

… unfortunately they wouldn’t allow photos inside. Making tea (24 hours from picking to packed) is a simple but fascinating process. 15 tonnes a day in this factory.

We were back at the ship for a late lunch, and decided to explore the city. We found a tuk tuk driver and off we went.

Past many wonderful buildings in the city …

To a beautiful lake … with a Bhuddist temple “floating” in it …

… past a Hindu temple …

… and then to a huge Bhuddist temple complex …

… complete with ebony (magnificent piece!) and ivory …

… and a resident elephant. Jan fed it chocolate biscuits!

We then visited the Galle Face hotel.

Legacy of the Raj and reminiscent of Raffles (like Raffles used to be, this one is right on the seafront). The huge industrial port is in the distance.

Then along the attractive Marine Drive and past the old Parliament House to the ship.

The new Parliament House is a magnificent building in a lake some miles away. We saw it, but couldn’t get a photo through the rain shower.

$20 and 2 hours well spent. An excellent day.