PICTURE SPEAK

OF GODS AND HUMANS: Adam's Peak

Half the year is over-one full of deadlines, screaming bosses, irate spouses, unreasonable children. Time to take a break. But planning where to go can be no less stress-inducing. How about Sri Lanka? With the LTTE movement on the backburner for the moment and the country's biggest and most important festival, the Kandy Esala Perahera, coming up next month, there can be no better time to start planning a holiday to the Teardrop of India. The festival, a spectacular medieval pageant held for 10 nights, climaxes with Kandyan dancers and drummers frolicking in colourful traditional costumes. In addition, local chieftains in ancestral costumes, over a hundred caparisoned elephants, whip crackers, torch bearers and more all come together to make it an unforgettable experience. Alright, so it will be hot and humid-get over it.

Besides, one look at what the island nation has to offer and you'll forget all about the weather. If we are going to stick our heads in the sand at all, we might as well be fussy about the beach. Given that Sri Lanka boasts such a lovely coastline, it is all too easy to be choosy. The biggest advantage it that here there are next to zero chances of bumping into Radhika from office or Rahul who lives on the same street as you, on that long, solitary walk. Water as clear as the sweetest memory, the sky overhead a canopy of deep blue, the sand below your feet the finest, softest white and no man or animal as far as the eye can see-the country does have a way of turning one into a poet.

Apart from Colombo, visitors must make it a point to check out unique destinations like Sigiriya-a 600 ft high, irregularly shaped rock perched in the midst of a surrounding plain in the Matale district which is home to a mysterious rock fortress and 5th century palace with advanced plumbing-and the revered pilgrimage spot, Adam's Peak. Once the LTTE would arrange fireworks in the distance but thankfully no longer. If possible, add a trip to Anuradhapura and Mihin- tale to your itinerary to tour the ancient ruins there; at the time they were built, the dagobas there were the tallest man-made structures in the world, save for the two largest Egyptian pyramids. The more adventurous of heart can opt for Arugam Bay. Those fancying surfing-or watching others in action-will love this isolated surf spot about eight hours away from Colombo. Any way we look at it, Sri Lanka offers an escape like few places ever can.

-By Sushmita Choudhury

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