Travel Eat Drink Like a Local

From the Anuradhapura, the dry zone of Sri Lanka we travelled to Nuwara Eliya, the wet zone, the hill country in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. We passed Kekirawa, Dambulla, Matale, via Kandy, Gampola, Pussellawa, Ramboda. We reached Nuwara Eliya in the late afternoon. Few clicks en route: A canopy of greenery A kite vendor in Matale A bridge in Matale  As we enter the wet zone, the free flowing fresh water was everywhere. We stopped at Blue Field Tea Gardens in Ramboda for a fresh brewed cup of Ceylon Tea. I believe this place offers factory tours. We didn't do that. Therefore no comment about the quality of the tours. The surrounding was beautiful. There were many foreign nationals on tour. The tea selection at the outlet was very good. The tea factory at Blue Field Tea Gardens Surrounding tea plantation Local children out side the tea factory...camera shy!   Blue Field Tea Center Ceylon Tea with Cane Sugar Local Cakes ...

Ya Mon! Jamaica…the land of one love stingrays say hello, conch crawl out shy   the fruit lady brings fresh guavas,   smiling vendors move to the beat of reggae have everything Bob Marley,                                       the blue ocean as clear as polished glass   kiss the blue sky at the horizon Jamaica…the land of flavors                                                                             ...

We left Anuradhapura by 6:00am, grabbed a variety of baked and fried Sri Lankan short-eats from a bakery in Anuradhapura town before heading towards Medawachchiya. We passed Rambewa, a small town on the way. Don't expect to get anything here except may be tea and bananas. Medawachchiya is a main junction. It's possible to buy local foods here. At this junction, one way takes you to Vavuniya and the other takes you via Madhu Junction to Mannar. The road is fantastic and as early as we were traveling there weren't vehicles on the road. We passed Mankulama, and Cheddikulam(Love saying these names! So foreign!). Just before you reach the Madhu Road junction you pass Paraiyalankulam and you will see a huge concrete entrance introducing you to Madhu. 47km post. Entrance to Madhu Road Entrance at the Madhu Road Junction You travel on this quiet road quite a distance. There are people asking for rides due to lack of public transportation. Even though you are in a sacred...

We left Chaaya Blu after a wonderful breakfast buffet. The road from Trincomalee to Anuradhapura is excellent and it's about 100km. Reached D Park in Anuradhapura by lunch. D Park from their entrance D Park is a budget hotel that's small, very safe, clean and serves exceptionally tasty food. It is a family run business by very friendly Chinthaka and Dilrukshi Dias; husband and wife. They would cater to your individual needs such as if you need special food prepared for children, low-carb, low-sugar diet foods, etc. It's on Nivanthakachetiya Road and very close to the center of the town and all the important ancient ruins one might want to visit when in Anuradhapura. I believe they have one room with A/C. We loved it there and would stay there again. There was a scrumptuous Sri Lankan lunch waiting for us upon arrival: 10 of us. Late afternoon we decided to explore Isurumuniya : Entrance to the temple at Isurumuniya Pond in the temple premises ...