In the mood for...lush!

It is raining on the first day of our holidays. But somehow it doesn’t matter. The countryside is a fertile green, the air is perfumed by a sea breeze and the tranquil hotels encourage chilling out as the main activity. We visit by tuk-tuk a Buddhist temple, a tea/coffee/spice and rubber plantation, several dreamy beaches and hotels including one designed by world renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa. We also walk around the fort – a Unesco world heritage site.

But where are we? Here’s a clue: there are yellow instead of green coconuts. The country is over one hour’s flight from Bangalore, and we are not in India.

Got it yet? The town is Galle. The country is Sri Lanka! (I did mention it a few posts ago!)

We flew Bangalore-Colombo and then drove down the west coast, to Galle Fort, pronounced by the locals like Gaulle in Charles de Gaulle. Here we stayed in a gem of a hotel, the aptly named Galle Fort Hotel.
This is a 17th Century Dutch merchants villa, full of curious antiques, like a wooden horse and a big blue head. It has been lovingly cared for and tastefully decorated. Our room was an example of understated chic. Pink and white frangipani trees and the pool are situated in the courtyard area.

The food was of a very high quality, often using local products, with imaginative combinations and the dinner menu changes every night. We were presented with breakfasts fit for kings: buffalo curd pancakes with honey, fresh fruit, homemade banana bread…! In the evening we tried the local rice and curries – how many dishes were there?! Absolutely delicious.

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Now we are back in Bangalore. Have adjusted yet again to its noise, constant activity and pollution! My husband's gone back to the challenges of his job. And I've started work on this month's magazine for a charity organisation. I'm working on it as editor and writer and am really enjoying it! :=) It does mean though that I may be blogging less.