Rocket Burger in Galle Fort.

After watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean, we headed to Rocket Burger, at 24 Pedlar Street, for some dinner. Known for its iced tea made by Blue Flamingo and its burgers, we tried both. And we got some fries. 

The food is good, the restaurant adorable, and the view of the tiny cobblestone street below is nice for people watching.

Yala National Park Safari.

Little Adam's Peak.

When I moved to Colorado in 2006, I became an avid hiker, and as a result, whenever I travel, I always try to search out a good hike. Sri Lanka offers a plethora of options and while the difficulty levels vary, Sri Lanka's level of beauty never does, so regardless of what hike you choose, your walk can leave you breathless yet enchanted.

Perhaps the most famous hike is Adam's Peak in Dalhousie. This mountain rises 7,360 ft/2243 m  into the sky and is said to bare the sacred footprint of Adam (or Buddha or Shiva or St. Thomas depending on whether you ask a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist or a Hindu). Adventurers and pilgrims alike begin the ascent shortly after two a.m. in order to summit by sunrise. 

But because we were in Ella not Dalhousie, and because I would be climbing by myself, and because I did not fancy a wake-up call at two a.m., I opted out of climbing Adam's Peak, and instead, went for a smaller version quite appropriately named Little Adam's Peak. And although that meant I gave up all chances of walking in the footstep of a spiritual great, I was content with the one and a half hour hike and the views that stretched out over Ella Rock and the rest of Ella Gap.

When I finished the hike, I stopped at a cafe where I enjoyed a cinnamon coffee with cream. The heavily flavored, slightly sweet, milky rich coffee tasted immediately like home. And for a long moment, I thought of my dad and how much he would enjoy this particular mug of his favorite liquid.
When the coffee was finished, my driver suggested we walk a bit further to see the Nine Arch Bridge. And, as you can see, that turned out to be a bit pretty.
   

Total miles hiked: Too few to count.

Total moments of beauty: Too many to count.

Kithala Resort in Tissamaharama.

Staying at Kithala Resort in Tissamaharama happened on accident. We only discovered it because of its close proximity to Yala National Park, famous for its leopard safaris and dramatic landscapes.  But, when greeted at check-in with a sweet welcome drink of fresh cucumber, melon, and muddled mint leaves and a warm moist towel, I knew instantly we had stumbled upon some place special. 

Upon stepping onto our balcony, we found an uninhibited view of paddy fields, bathing in the glowing sun, surrounded by green, lush grass and thick waves of trees rolled out in front of us.

The magnolia trees, so fragrant their sweet aroma drifted all the way to our second floor balcony, were my favorite. The brightness of their white flowers emanating a light as though decorated with large Christmas bulbs.

A swimming pool sits in the middle of the hotel's expansive backyard.  The trees and hotel walls help to partly shade it.  From here, the scent of the magnolias are stronger, as are the bird songs and the heat of the day.

As soon as I saw the pool, I knew I would spend hours there.

We dined on grilled squid and cucumber gazpacho on the restaurant's poolside terrace. 

We sipped freshly squeezed, stirred, and shaken watermelon and guava juice. And after sunset, we played cards on the balcony.

Oddly enough, we were madly disappointed with the safari, and yet Kithala Resort remains one of my very favorite parts of my trip to Sri Lanka. Sometimes the largest disappointments have a strange way of turning into the most memorable moments.