Men\'s Health Malaysia - Jun 2017

58 JUNE 2017

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

STEVE THOMAS

Guy Skills

A traditional catamaran

waits to take tourists

out for a ride

SRI LANKA, IT’S A PLACE THAT

means so much to so many people;

and more often than not, that

meaning and understanding of this

emerald of the Indian Ocean comes

in a different form.

It really isn’t easy to sum up Sri

Lanka, as the country is so deeply

varied in almost every possible way.

For many, it’s the dreamy and

secluded beaches that draw them

back time and again to these

tranquil shores. For others, those

same beaches offer up some of the

best surf in the world, while many

head a little further offshore for a

glimpse of the famous blue whales

that inhabit the waters around the

southern coast.

Head inland along its classic,

old colonial railways, and you

sweep through mountains and tea

plantations that positively dwarf

those of Cameron Highlands.

Between these lush, green

plantations are pristine national

parks jammed full of wildlife.

The central part of the island

is flat and hot, and extremely rich

in ancient religious architecture

• especially Buddhist. For culture
  vultures, the central “Cultural
  Triangle” is truly paved with heart-
  stopping inner beauty.
  Needless to say, the capital city
  of Colombo is a hot and bustling
  place, which can often come as
  something of a mild culture shock
  to unsuspecting visitors, even if it is
  on the tame side when compared to
  neighbouring India.
  For those in the know, the first
  (and last) stop on any visit to Sri

Lanka should be the seaside town

of Negombo, a comparative oasis of

tranquillity. Negombo makes for a

perfect base for a short visit to the

country, or a great starting point for

longer adventures around the island.

Being less than 10km from the

international airport makes Negombo

an even more appealing curtain

opener to Sri Lanka; but, as many find

out, it’s a whole lot more than that, and

it’s well worth kicking your heels up

here for a few days of mild-mannered

adventure and relaxation.

WATERY WELCOME

The main Negombo beach is

long and alluring. Overall, it’s a

TRAVEL

Serendib

Sands

Sri Lanka is a fascinating and varied

place to visit, with endless adventure

waiting around every twist of the rails.

Yet, you can also have a great time

within minutes of the airport. We head

to Negombo to get the lowdown

Fresh fish on sale

by the beach