Sri Lanka holds many unique treasures, but none more exciting to me than Sigirya. Sigirya is unlike anything i’ve ever experienced before. A large rock towers over everything in the area. The top of this rock used to be a protected fortress of a king who killed his father to gain the throne. Afraid that his brother would retaliate and try to kill him, he built the fortress on top.
This trip was especially fun for me because I got to feel like I was experiencing an aspect of history very few people would see. Our group trekked the 1,202 steps to the top where we were greeted with a gorgeous, expansive view that traveled to the horizon in every direction. It was truly something that you can only experience in Sri Lanka.
Having finally made it to Sri Lanka, our group got its first taste of a developing nation. Unlike Malaysia and Singapore, Sri Lanka hasn’t yet undergone much development. Because of this, Sri Lanka is vastly different from our previous destinations. Drivers on the roads seem to have rules of their own, and there always seems to be people watching cars drive by.
Most of the Sri Lankans we see smile and wave with the exception of a few people who seem off-put by strangers. The island itself is beautiful. As we drove further into the island we spotted elephants on the sides of the roads and a beautiful landscape dotted with small huts and houses.
Before getting to Sri Lanka, I had a few reservations. Never being in a developing nation before, I was unsure how locals would react to me and how I would live in it. After spending a couple days here, I have learned that although many of the locals push very hard when it comes to selling and asking for tips, they are mostly very kind. Having an open mind and the desire to experience a new culture is key when coming to a developing nation. Living in this country has been the most unique thing I’ve ever done, and I’m very grateful I’ve had this opportunity. I’ve learned a lot in these past few days and I’m sure there is plenty more to come.
Singapore was a refreshing change for our group after our stay in Malaysia. Highly developed, Singapore had many luxuries we had forgone during the trip (drinkable tap water for one). The small country was incredibly unique. The country is extremely clean and quiet with magnificent architecture.
Singapore prides itself on its beauty, in its structure, cleanliness and greenery. Over 75 percent of the country is covered with trees and flowers. On our last day we were fortunate enough to be able to experience their orchid gardens. This stop had a collection of flowers and plants that exceeds any garden I’ve seen before. The orchid garden was exceptionally beautiful and really symbolized Singapore’s ideals on beauty. Our group really enjoyed the stop and it allowed for some great photographs.
Before I got to Malaysia, I imagined an underdeveloped tropical country without much more than trees and sun. Boy, was I wrong. Malaysia, which I also thought would be my least favorite of the three countries we planned on visiting, has turned out to be my favorite so far.
The biggest surprise to me was size. From the moment we got off the plane, I was greeted with some of the tallest ceilings I’ve ever seen. Then, on the bus ride, billboards three times the size of America’s dotted the side of the road. Trees hundreds of years old dominated the landscape. All this was awe-inspiring, but the biggest shock to my original perception was Kuala Lumpor. KL was a concrete jungle within a jungle. Beautiful skyscrapers stood tall alongside untouched palm trees.
As a car enthusiast I was most enthralled with the car culture in Malaysia. Car customization is huge in Malaysia. Almost a quarter of the cars I saw were modified in some way, usually with aftermarket wheels and sometimes with cars designed with some strange theme in mind (a Transformers-centric car comes to mind). Even inexpensive cars were modified as much as possible. It seems as if many Malaysians see their cars as an extension of themselves and have a strong desire to customize them and separate them from the masses.
Malaysia is a country that defies expectations. Not content with just relying on its beautiful vistas and rainforests to make a name for itself, it is also the home of amazing people, large cities and a remarkable car culture.
On our way to Sri Lanka we stopped in London for a 9 hour layover. We were fortunate enough to be able to tour some major landmarks during our brief stay in the city. Sriyani’s niece, Leah was kind enough to act as our tour guide and she did a great job. Some of the spots included Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and around Big Ben. Our group got to take in the sights, sounds, and culture of London. In the end, what seemed like an annoying layover turned out to be a spectacular chance to visit a country many of us have never seen before.
