We were transported to beautiful Kandy House boutique hotel after a 2 hour drive from Water Garden Sigirya.  In 1804, the last Chief Minister of the Kandyan kingdom built a palatial villa with local, moorish and dutch styles in the beautiful countryside near the former capital. 200 years later, it was converted into a designer boutique hotel in Kandy. After dinner we were entertained with music and dance. The photo above is the devil in the “Yakun Natima”, the Devil Dance ritual in Scri Lanka.

A video of the dance.

The dance troupe even had a fire-eater.

The ladies take the stage.

Tom loved the evening!

The pool at Kandy House is situated in a gorgeous tropical setting.

We headed out toward the mountains and tea plantations.

As we rode up in the higlands we saw women picking tea leaves. They are ethnically Indian Tamils first brought in the area by the British.

A welcome rest stop.

The highlands are very beautiful.

We wore protective gear to tour a tea company. The story of tea in Sri Lanka began over two hundred years ago. British rule was very much under way and in the year 1824, the first tea plant was brought to Ceylon. It came from China.

We visited a temple having a special ceremony.

We road by a very colorful Hindu temple.

Buddhism is the largest religion in Sri Lanka followed by Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity.

Kandy is a beautiful city in the highlands and has an important history. It was the last capital of the Sinhalese monarchy from 1469 to 1818. As Sri Lanka’s second largest city, a number of corporations have large branch offices in Kandy and along with many industries including textiles, Sri Lankan gemstones, furniture, information technology, and jewellery.  The city’s heart is scenic Kandy Lake or Bogambara Lake.

This is the “Red Mosque” of Kandy.

Peter, one of our B & R guides who lives in Sri Lanka, suggested we go for a drink at the historic Royal Bar & Hotel. It was originally an aristocrat’s mansion and later became a British officers’ club. It opened to the public as a tavern in 1860.

On day 6 we were transported to Victoria Reservoir for a flight by float plane to a place on the water near Koggala Airport not far from the town of Galle.

I was happy to see a pilot…AND a co-pilot!

Beautiful and lush highlands.

After landing we got on our bikes and road to a beachside hotel for drinks and lunch. I’m sipping a delicious frozen daiquiri.

We arrived at the historic and very elegant Amangalla Hotel in Galle. Amangalla lies within the ramparts of Sri Lanka’s 17th-century Galle Fort, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

I love all the historic colonial style furnishings from Sri Lanka’s Dutch & British heritage.

Dinner was on our own tonight after the group toured the town together. Amangalla Hotel is in the background.

The “Grote Kerk”, or “Dutch Reformed Church”, built in 1755.

The 17th century “Dutch Entrance” in the warehouse district.

The old Dutch warehouses located within the Galle Fort.

Dr. Proctor (a heart surgeon from Memphis) in green, and Suranga, one of our great guides, tour Galle Fort.

I loved these two fascinating shops in town.

An old Dutch cannon.

My list of personal talents may not be long…but I excel at finding great Italian restaurants in surprising places! This was Aqua Forte in Galle Fort. Jennie and Tom loved it as well! An Aperol Spritz was definitely needed!

The next morning we hopped on two boats for an eco-cruise on Mahamodara Lake near Galle.

Wonderful wildlife was everywhere. We passed mangrove forests, beautiful water lilies, giant bats, unusual birds,…and my favorite, a giant 5′ long water monitor.

Our boat guide made a water lily necklace for Jennie.

With the cruise over we mounted our bikes to start the route.

There is always a first for everything! I hit a hole on the rural road and took a hard fall. It was a miracle I didn’t break something! The tendons in my knee were messed up along with my calf muscle. I was more embarrassed than anything. They took me back to the hotel where I took it easy that evening. Thank goodness it was our last day cycling!

The next day we loaded up in the vans and were transported 2 hours to the Colombo airport.

Tom was a HUGE help with my heavy, overstuffed backpack at the Sri Lanka Colombo airport. Many thanks to Jennie as well!

I had a wonderful time on this Sri Lanka Butterfield & Robinson cycling adventure with Jennie & Tom! They are both great friends and resourceful travelers! I hope I can do another one with them!

Dick Gentry: Photos by Dick Gentry & others. Not to be used without permission.