The last chapter of my Sri Lankan adventure carried us from dusty safaris to coastal breeze and city chaos. From jumping into the Indian Ocean in Mirissa, exploring local crafts in Galle, learning to cook authentic Sri Lankan curry, to weaving through Pettah Bazaar in Colombo, every day was full of food, colour, and human connection. By the time we shared our final dinner, the group that had started like a quirky Marigold Hotel ensemble felt like friends. Sri Lanka closed its chapter gently and pleasantly.

Yala arrived dusty and slow, marking the moment the tour finally began to exhale. Between winding roads, dawn safaris, and hours spent scanning trees, I discovered that slowing down didn’t mean missing out. There were no leopards this time, but there were birds and plenty of quiet moments.

I rang in 2026 in Sri Lanka with fireworks, a buffet of unreasonable proportions, and a semi-retired party crew. What followed was misty tea hills, high tea, and a quiet negotiation with my pants.

Kandy met my birthday with ceremony, chaos, kindness, and cake. From ancient temples and mountain roads to unexpected celebrations overlooking the city, this chapter of Sri Lanka reminded me that getting older matters far less than staying curious and open to what finds you along the way.

Dambulla was where Sri Lanka began to stretch me. Longer days, ancient stone, early mornings, and a pace I wasn’t used to. Between the climb up Sigiriya, barefoot temples in Anuradhapura, elephant sightings, and deeply comforting meals (breadfruit included), this place asked me to slow down, soften, and meet the journey where it was.

Arriving in Sri Lanka on Christmas Day, jet-lagged, carrying a festive cold sore and a nervous system running at full tilt, I wasn’t expecting much beyond sleep and a shower. Yet Negombo had other plans. Between Christmas lights gleaming along the streets, the salty edge of the ocean outside my window, and quiet hours spent reading by the beach, the city offered a gentle landing. A pause before the whirlwind of adventure and an unexpectedly lively group of travellers would truly begin…