The Silence Between Mountains. Arankele Sri Lanka

After a hectic weekend climbing Dolukanda and visiting the haunting forest ruins of Ritigala, the drive back to Colombo needed one final stop. We were somewhat refreshed from the excellent full body massages the evening before, but our legs still carried the ache of two mountains, too little sleep, and far too many hours on rough trails. Yet…

Ancient Monasteries at Rajagala. Ampara Sri Lanka

We left Colombo at the crack of dawn, ten of us spanning generations from 19 to 85. The city was still half asleep as we drove out. Ampara was nearly 450 kilometers away  – a long drive that carried us through ever-shifting landscapes: sleepy towns, sun-baked paddy fields, and stretches of road that felt endless until the…