May in Sri Lanka is about coming back to life. The heat begins to reduce ever-so-slightly and the rains come pouring down. This month trees are in full bloom and fruits lay heavily burden to branches. And a world of amazing experiences are in store for you this month if you happen to be in Sri Lanka

1. Experience the Colours of Vesak

The birth, death and enlightenment of Lord Buddha is celebrated in maddening colours, lanterns and lights all across the country in a festival we call Vesak. No matter where you are during May’s full moon, heading out is most advised. Don’t forget to look out for Pandols, a traditional outdoor art installation that tells stories from the life of the Buddha.

2. Make a Vesak Lantern

The reason Vesak is so colourful owes much to the vibrant and conceptual lanterns that come together. Why don’t you try your hand at making one? Pick out some of your favourite colours when you buy the tissue paper, get yourself bendy straws or bamboo sticks and gather around the usual suspects: glue, scissors, tape, rope and of course your imagination. Having a local show you the ropes is also a good bet.

3. Indulge in a Rain Bath

After many months of endless heat, you’ll find our sheets of rain this May a perfect cool down in the tropics. Don’t be shy, get out from under the comfort of indoors and let our rains wash away our scorching days.

4. Surf’s Up!

Arugam Bay at the heart of Sri Lanka’s East Coast begins to come alive in May. Surfers from all across the world come here in hope of riding the perfect wave. This familial gathering of surfers also means that the nightlife in Arugam Bay becomes the stuff of legend.

5. Escape Inside the City

If you want to get away and still be close the conveniences of the city, plan an escape at one of Cinnamon’s 3 city hotels. Cinnamon Lakeside is especially designed to create the air of a far-away resort!

6. Immerse in our History

Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle is strewn with many historical sites housing the stories of ancient kings and powerful mythology. Anuradhapura and Pollonnaruwa are particularly recommended.

7. Sunrise Season

May begins our East Coast season and if you’re here this month we recommend you start at Yala and make your way up to Trincomalee, capturing the sunrise on your way.

8. Tuk-Tuk Rides

Travelling by 3-wheeler or tuk-tuk (especially outside city limits) is a must-do experience and the best mode of short distance travel in the country

9. Go Gallery Hunting

Sri Lanka’s contemporary art scene is spectacular, so we most certainly recommend that you spend a rainy afternoon inside one of Colombo’s many concept galleries.

10. Under the Sea

For the most daring of you, the best sights await. Ask for a try-dive or dedicate a few days to a PADI licence and you’re on your way to Sri Lanka’s kaleidoscopic underwater paradise and it’s haunting shipwrecks.

Thousands of visitors come to visit the once great kingdom of Polonnaruwa. Stupas, statues, tombs and temples are aplenty, making for an unforgettable experience. But there is more than history and ancient structures here; Polonnaruwa has the richest of stories among Sri Lankan history with hidden treasures strewn across the district and town.

We’ve uncovered 5 lesser known things about this magical old kingdom that might turn your trip into the best discovery ever.

1. No Bull Moonstones

Yes, you did read that right. There’s a strict no-bull policy that went into the sculpture and production of moonstones. Moonstones are the traditional semicircular base at the entrance to state and religious buildings, usually adorned with rows of animal figures. While its neighbouring kingdom Anuradhapura houses moonstones with cattle, the Hindu influence of the Polonnaruwa era shows to have removed the animal representing Lord Shiva’s mount, Nandi the bull from their entrances.

2. Disney Nature’s Monkey Kingdom

The critically acclaimed Monkey Kingdom released in 2015 by Disney Nature was shot entirely in Polonnaruwa. The film, narrated by Tina Fey follows a troupe of Macaques living in the ancient ruins in the Polonnaruwa jungles. The documentary is a breathtaking representation of Polonnaruwa and its world of hidden treasures. The legendary primatologist and Disney Nature Ambassador Dr. Jane Goodall also visited Sri Lanka, joining the crew in the Polonnaruwa jungles. When you visit the ruins, remember to watch out for the monkey whose kingdom this is today.

3. Duran-Duran in Polonnaruwa

The famed 80’s synth-pop band Duran-Duran spent a considerable amount of time in Polonnaruwa which went on to feature heavily in the music video of their 1982 hit Save a Prayer. The video features the band amidst the ruins – something you won’t be able to do now. Polonnaruwa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and sacred to Sri Lankans.

4. Sri Lanka’s Lake District

Ancient Sri Lankan architecture isn’t the only element on historical wonder; our ancient engineering techniques are still revered among archaeologists and engineers today. Both elements feature in harmony in Polonnaruwa, so when you visit the ancient sites don’t forget to also visit the breathtaking vistas of the district’s many ancient, manmade lakes.

5. Jananathamangalam

Polonnaruwa was briefly called Jananathamangalam. In 1012 AD, Sri Lanka briefly fell under Chola rule at which point the kingdom absorbed many elements of Dravidian culture.  The Chola empire would refer to Polonnaruwa as either Jananatha Mangalam or Jananatha Puram and called Sri Lanka, Mummudi Sola Mundelam.

As the Sri Lankan Airlines flight descended into Colombo I could see green lands punctured by dirt roads beneath us. The thought, “we’re not in Kansas any more , Toto” crossed my mind.

A short sharp blast of the horn caught my attention on the drive from the airport to hotel, as the driver was weaving through traffic; no, not quite weaving as the car was pottering forward metre by metre along the dirt road. There seemed to be no rules to this dance we took part in as horns blared, lights flashed and every inch of the road was utilised; in some cases two lanes became three or four. 
I buried my head in my phone, seeing the pot holes – soon to be paved over by a new highway -and knowing we were going over them made me feel a little bit car sick as I bumped around the back seat.

Something bright passed my window, way too close for comfort, as I glanced up and a scarlet tuktuk was pottering beside us, a string of fresh white flowers swaying from the rear-vision mirror. A little girls hand waved from the tiny back door, her face obscured; I waved back to the still flapping hand.

Contrasting with the dust and the dirt was the green, glorious fields that seemed to continue almost until the city. Bamboo, palms, rice and king coconuts – I got lost in the sea of shades of green. Another short blast of the horn and we had passed them by.

Soon buildings began to rise as we ventured further into the city centre. Dozens of tiny stores packed side-by-side, the overwhelming scrawl of Sinhala – the local language – adorning each store, and people gazing curiously through the window of the car.
 There were beggars at a stop light, one of the few traffic lights I had seen, as one tap tapped at the passenger side window with the foot of his crutch to get the drivers attention; he ignored him. The car behind let out a short beep and just like that we moved on.

As darkness began to fall high beam lights were a must. Each driver seemed to know the secret – from me – language of safe driving at night. There were beeps and flashes. I tried to work out the pattern.
It seemed that three beeps was for a car overtaking from behind, one to signify your presence and two to signify your intention to overtake. High beams flashed to indicate presence when a honk wouldn’t suffice. With one final honk we turned into the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel, my first experience of warm Sri Lankan hospitality as I was greeted with juice and a cool towel that was much appreciated after my flight. Just like that my first foray into driving in Sri Lanka was quickly over, but there were more lessons to be learnt the next day.

Alongside the shops and cafes are buildings from a by-gone Colonial era. Standing proudly on the corner, the Portuguese inspired buildings creators would be proud of the changes to the port-side city as across the road sits a steadily growing dockyard. I tried to cross the street – a tuktuk appeared blaring its horn at me as if saying “WATCH OUT!” and I stepped back onto the dirt curb waiting for another person to step into the traffic to act as a guide.

From the city streets to the fields where safaris took place, the road rules didn’t change. Thankfully, elephants roamed free in the Minneriya National Wildlife Park so horns weren’t sounded but the drivers seemed intent on taking the road that was, well lets say it was the more adventurous trail. Getting bogged in the mud and one car getting a little too close to the elephants that they were charged after feeling that their young may be threatened, the drivers zoomed over the bumpy landscape; even some of the most adventurous among us choosing to remain seated, a little nervous of standing up in the fast moving, bumpy jeep.

This photographic safari was our first Cinnamon Experience, and the trip gave me a new appreciation for the vast land and creatures that inhabit this marvellous country that I will barely get to scratch the surface of over the next week.
Of a herd of 800, we saw around 200 elephants that day as they picked, cleaned and ate their food while the babies bumped, trumpeted and played in the mud.

The jeeps jostled for the perfect photographic position, inching closer and closer, even if it meant driving through the great patches of water – the drivers seemed to enjoy the challenge. Our guide left no question unanswered, something I was grateful for as I constantly pressed him to repeat information – multi-tasking is not a strong suit of mine and my brain was solely on enjoying the sight of these giant, humble creatures.
The hour disappeared quickly and we needed to head back to Chaaya Village Habarana – Cinnamon Hotel & Resorts cool, boutique four-star sister property – all too soon.
After the jostling journey it was a welcome relief to enjoy a quick swim in the huge pond-like pool, try a sample of each Sri Lankan curry on offer at the buffet dinner and then relax in our comfortable bungalow twin room I shared with Becki for the trip.

During the night I headed out onto the street in search of a sweet treat and the hotels staffs guided me, even offering to send someone with me should I wish to be guided. As I walked along the dirt pavements buses whizzed by, a short blast of the horn signalling they were stopping as people jumped from the bus before it roared to life again and raced off down the street.
The local people were friendly and curious, directing me to an English speaker if they couldn’t help or greeting me with “Aayubowan“, their hands pressed together in a prayer position; I returned the greeting each time. One young girl raced out of the shop and brushed her dark skinned hand over my right forearm as I walked by; she giggled and I smiled.
I was offered a ride back to the hotel in a tuktuk but I turned down the request preferring to walk after the long days on public transportation. My first tuktuk ride could wait as my feet guided me home. I was ready to enjoy a deep sleep amongst the fluffy pillows left on my bed.

We still have two-days left of tuktuks, trains, highways and adventure, but there are other ways to experience these lands if horns and bumps aren’t quite your thing. While our journeys overland have been long, as the new highway system is still being developed, Cinnamon Air would be my preferred way to travel across this land with daily scheduled flights from most of the countries major cities.
Up in the air I wouldn’t need to worry about the blaring horns, the jeeps ups and downs or learning a new set of road rules because it’d be just me and the green landscape that stretches across the entirety of the country and the sound of the Cessna prop planes propellor whirling into life. Maybe, with my journey time halved, I would have had more time to enjoy my Cinnamon Experience and enjoy the sight of the herd of elephants roaming wild.

I will be brief. It is 2AM and only 4 hours away of our wake up call. And, just in case you haven’t been here before, I am NOT a morning person so it won’t be easy to wake up. At all.

Anyway, here is my particular chronicle of these two first days at TBCAsia – the first Travel Bloggers Conference in Asia! – which is being held in Sri Lanka at the moment. Lucky me, I got to come 2 weeks in advance and explore a bit of the West and South coasts as well as the central part of the island on my own. But finally yesterday that changed, and since then, I am moving around with other 50 international travel bloggers. FUN!

Based in Habarana, we have been exploring the area for the last day and a half. Have a look at my highlights of the North Central Province.

Witnessing ‘The Gathering’ at Kaudulla National Park, where wild elephants socialize daily metres away from your safari jeep.

Going all the way to the top of Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Well worth climbing more than one thousand steps!

Enjoying sunset at Polonnaruwa, the royal ancient city of Polonnaru District, among picture perfect landscapes and Unesco’s World Heritage monuments. 

Enjoying sunset at Polonnaruwa, the royal ancient city of Polonnaru District, among picture perfect landscapes and Unesco’s World Heritage monuments. 

Nestled in between the ancient cities of Anuradhapura, Polannaruwa, Dambulla and Kandy is a wealth of history, a cherished collection of monuments and monasteries, palaces and ponds, sculptures and paintings; a testament to the ancient civilisation that wrought their domain with such ingenuity. These memorials are of immense value to Sri Lanka as well as the world, being of both a cultural and religious nature. Indeed, the triangle holds five world heritage sites within its imagined boundaries. An entire holiday can be planned around examining and relishing these vestiges of the past, and there are certainly some sights that aren’t to be missed.

Anuradhapura is called the cradle of Sri Lankan civilisation, it was the first kingdom of the country and it was the capital of Lanka for over a century. The most impressive thing to see in Anuradhapura is the Jethavanaramaya, a stupa of epic proportions, brick red and sprawling across more than 5 hectares. It reaches up 400 feet into the sky and was the third tallest structure of the ancient world. Abhayagiri is not quite as massive but is still very imposing, and the ruins of the monastery shrouded in forest are haunting. Watch out for a beautiful, intricate Moonstone at the bottom of the stairs as well. Ruwanweliseya is stark white, abounding in history. The Sri Maha Bodhi is the oldest living tree, grafted from the sacred Bo tree under which Buddha gained enlightenment. The tree is surrounded by a golden fence and one can experience the living religion of Buddhism as people throng to the tree and pray aloud. Nearby is the Brazen Palace, a two storey building that had a bronze roof and housed kings and queens. The Isurumuniya Temple is a rewarding site, as it includes a lovely pond with adorable elephant reliefs nearby, a climb up rocks that lead to a spectacular view and a small museum with sculptures including the famous Isurumuniya Lovers. Kuttam Pokuna or Twin Ponds is another lovely sight. These large baths were for the priests who lived in the monasteries nearby. The pools have elaborate designs running down the stairs and the sides.

Polannaruwa is similar to Anuradhapura, though smaller in size and thus more compact. The Alahana Pirivena, a massive complex, is a fantastic site to visit, featuring ruins of buildings and many statues. The Lankatilaka and Tivanka image houses are largely intact and hold antique paintings and sculptures. The Parakrama Samudraya of course must not be missed, built by the King Parakramabahu who sagely advised that not one drop of water should run to the sea without being used by man.

Sigiriya falls into the triangle as well, and the castle atop the large rock is perhaps the most fascinating and captivating historical site in Sri Lanka. With an epic backstory setting the ruin amidst royal betrayal and civil war, the beautiful gardens below and the stunning citadel in the sky are enthralling.

Kandy holds the extremely important Temple of the Tooth Relic, an artefact that lent great credence in deciding who had the right to kingship.

Dambulla has a cavern of magnificence, a pleasant climb up a rock that ends in a cave of dozens of golden Buddha statues. These are of great religious and aesthetic value.

Other sites within the triangle include Yapahuwa, a lesser known capital, as well as the massive Aukana statue of Buddha that stands at about 40 feet. The relics of Ritigala are melancholy, with unrestrained forest creeping over ancient stone. The nature parks at Minneriya and Kaudalla are also remarkable and well worth a visit.

Trinkets are usually available near the sites, ranging from the ornamental to the religious to the useful. A tip for photographers; do not take pictures of statues with your back facing them. Fruits and refreshing coconut water is available on the roadside, should you wish to freshen up. There are countless hotels that are stationed within the triangle, and many tours that are available. Whichever way you wish to do it, you will be rewarded by an adventurous romp through Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle.