TRAVEL WITH FRIENDS IN 2013 A Taste of Sri Lanka NEGOMBO – CULTURAL TRIANGLE – KANDY – NUWARA ELIYA – YALA N.P. – GALLE – MT LAVINIA with Paul van Reyk 2–17 September 2013 (16 days) Tour A Taste of Sri Lanka leader Discover the incredible depth of flavours, smells, history and culture Sri Lanka has to offer visiting World Heritage listed sites, bustling cities, the highlands and a National Park. Be amongst the first to rediscover this island paradise, renowned for its palm- fringed beaches, misty mountain landscapes, extraordinary wildlife, exotic cuisine and cultural diversity. Sri Lanka is also steeped in heritage. With a history that dates back over 2,000 years, the island is home to some of Asia’s best preserved monuments and to no fewer than eight UNESCO World Heritage sites. Thanks to its colonial Sri Lankan born Paul van Reyk history (Portuguese, Dutch and British), interaction with Arab, Chinese and has been passionate about food Malay merchants over the centuries, and the prevailing religions of Buddhism since his ayah gave him his first ball of rice when he was a year and Hinduism, Sri Lanka is a land rich in traditions, continual festivities and an old. For the past ten years he exciting, exotic cuisine which you will see being prepared and of course taste! has been sharing his passion through catering, cooking classes, a website with recipes and conducting food tours in At a glace Sri Lanka. Paul has a Masters in • Join Paul van Reyk and Sri Lankan chefs for cooking demonstrations Gastronomy from Adelaide • Visit the World Heritage listed sites of Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and University and Cordon Bleu Dambulla and is a reviewer for the Good • Scenic train ride from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya Food Guide and Sydney Eats. • Visit Geoffrey Bawa’s Lunuganga Estate and Bevis Bawa’s Brief Garden Paul also featured in the SBS Food Lovers’ Guide episode on • Stay in the Geoffrey Bawa designed Lighthouse Hotel in Galle Sri Lankan food. Palk Bay Bay of Bengal GULF OF Sri Lanka MANNAR Train Line Kandy Coach Negombo Nuwara Eliya Mt Lavinia Colombo Yala National Park Galle Itinerary Mon 2 Sep 2013 Sydney – Colombo The most striking portion of Sigiriya, a terracotta and grey core of Depart Australia on Singapore Airlines flights via Singapore. Arrive rock, rises a sheer 200 metres above a forested plain, its flattened Colombo at midnight. Transfer to your hotel located in the resort summit sloping gently. A series of moats, ramparts and water town of Negombo, rich in history and culture. garden - remnants of an ancient city - spread out on two sides of the rock, with the remains of a pair of giant stone lions’ paws still Tue 3 Sep Negombo guarding the staircase that leads to the summit, once occupied by a Rise early if you wish to join Paul for a visit to the Negombo fish royal palace. B L markets to buy the fish for today’s lunch. On return to the hotel join Fri 6 Sep Sigiriya – Kandy Paul for a cooking demonstration followed by lunch. Afternoon at leisure before a welcome briefing and reception. B L R After breakfast travel from Sigiriya to Kandy. En route visit the Matale Heritage Centre, which draws on the rich craft traditions Wed 4 Sep Negombo – Sigiriya of the area, producing quality batik, embroidery, carpentry and After a leisurely start depart Negombo in the late morning for the brasswork. It occupies a sprawling compound of bungalows, Cultural Triangle situated in the centre of the island. It covers an workshops and gardens. area which includes the Ancient Cities of Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Arrive in Kandy in the afternoon. Kandy, nestled in the hills at an Dambulla and the Sacred City of Kandy. altitude of 488 metres, was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings. Dating back to the 1st century BC, the Golden Temple of Dambulla The name Kandy conjures visions of a storied past, splendour, has been the centre of pilgrimage for Buddhists and Hindus alike legend, folklore, mystery and traditions lovingly kept alive for for 22 centuries. The cave monastery, home to Buddhist monks, is countless years. covered with exquisite 2,000 year-old murals depicting the life and In the afternoon visit the Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, which times of the Lord Buddha. The shrines also house a collection of 157 was originally the pleasure garden of the royalty. Nearly 4,000 statues of Buddha in various sizes and poses, including a 15 metre species of plants are found in this garden and it is encircled by the long reclining Buddha and vividly coloured frescoes on the walls and Mahaweli River. ceiling, making this the largest antique painted surface in the world. Dinner at the hotel. B D Thu 5 Sep Sigiriya Sri Lankan cuisine Morning visit to the World Heritage site of Polonnaruwa, the Sri Lankan cuisine is one of the most complex cuisines of second capital of Sri Lanka built in the 11th and 12 th centuries AD. Asia. Due to its proximity to South India, the cuisine of Under King Parakramabu, who ruled in the late 11th century, Sri Lanka shows some influence, yet is in many ways quite Polonnaruwa became a magnificent walled city. The remains of a distinct. As a major trade hub, it draws influence from royal palace, the Buddhist Quadrangle, with a bodhi tree shrine and colonial powers that were involved in Sri Lanka and by a dagoba (stupa) survive. foreign traders. Rice, which is consumed daily, can be found at any occasion, while spicy curries are favourite dishes for Return to the hotel for a cooking demonstration and lunch. lunch and dinner. Some of the Sri Lankan dishes have striking In the afternoon explore Sigiriya, or Lion Rock, which was built by resemblance to Kerala cuisine, which could be due to the an obsessed monarch in the 5th century and is an astonishing feat of similar geographic and agricultural features with Kerala. engineering and construction. The Polonnaruwa ruins Sigiriya Tonight attend a Kandyan dance performance. Dances include the Mon 9 Sep Nuwara Eliya – Yala National Park cobra dance, mask dance and the Ginisila, showing power over Sri Lanka is one of the world’s largest exporters of tea. Since the fire. The entire frenetic and colourful spectacle climaxes with the introduction of tea to Sri Lanka in mid 19th century, Nuwara Eliya amazing fire-walking act. B D has been the capital of the tea industry. The rolling mountains in the highlands are carpeted by green tea plantations. Visit the Mlesna Sat 7 Sep Kandy Tea Centre in Bandarawela for a tasting and observe the process of After breakfast embark on the Three Temples tour visiting temples manufacturing tea. in the environs of Kandy that display the excellent artistry and skills of the island’s Medieval craftsmen. Continue to Yala National Park, one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and most popular wildlife reserves, is famous for one of the world’s Gadaladeniya Temple (1344 AD) is set in a beautiful hilltop location highest densities of leopard - and some of its largest and most surrounded by rice fields. Lankatilaka Temple (1340 AD) has a 2 visible individuals. On morning and evening safaris you may also see storied building containing some rare and well-preserved frescoes. elephant, sloth bear, sambar, chital, wild boar, stripednecked, brown The Embekke Temple stands in a lovely rural setting and is famous and ruddy mongoose, black-naped hare, marsh mugger crocodile for its hall of intricately carved wooded pillars. and several civet species. Yala National Park is also a popular bird After lunch visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth, which houses watching destination. B L D one of Buddhism’s most sacred relics and attracts followers of the Tue 10 Sep Yala National Park Buddhist faith from all over the world. The Royal Complex situated around the Temple of the Tooth and Kandy Lake – comprising Day at leisure. A wide range of activities are available ranging from the King’s Palace, the Queen’s Palace, the Audience Hall, the Royal half- and full-day jeep safaris, nature tracks, bird watching trails, night Boathouse and the Royal Summer House, represent the zenith of safaris etc. (additional cost applies). ancient Sri Lankan architecture. B L At dusk, embark on a jeep safari before returning to the hotel for dinner. B L D Sun 8 Sep Kandy – Nuwara Eliya Depart Kandy in the morning and travel by train to Nuwara Eliya, Wed 11 Sep Yala National Park – Galle situated at around 2,000 metres above sea level. The town was After breakfast depart Yala National Park and travel to Galle, an founded by Samuel Baker as a hill retreat for the British during the ancient Dutch outpost located on the south western coast of Sri colonial era, where typical English pastimes including fox hunting, Lanka. The minimalistic, stately and elegant Lighthouse Hotel, your polo and cricket were played. Several buildings and parks here home for the next two nights, was designed by the famous Sri retain features from the colonial period. Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. Dinner at the hotel. B D Arrive in Nuwara Eliya early in the afternoon. Enjoy high tea at the Hill Club (dress code applies), which was founded in 1876 by a Thu 12 Sep Galle British coffee planter, as a home away from home, and is today a Morning visit to Lunuganga estate, the former country home of privately operated club and hotel. Geoffrey Bawa. Started in 1947, the garden led Bawa, a lawyer called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1940, to decide to become Visit the vegetable garden of the St Andrew’s Hotel, where you will an architect.