Tour Report
Authored by Mark Brumbaugh, December 2024
CCCTS SRI LANKA 2024 – THE WHOLE ENCHILADA
Nine CCCTS members just completed a special tour of Sri Lanka arranged through SpiceRoads.
Group in front of the Hill Club Hotel at Nuwara Eliyah (“little England”)
Rice fields were everywhere
The route went clockwise around the complete island starting at “nine o’clock”.
The cyclists experienced all features of Sri Lanka’s rich cultural and historical mix. The Christian heritage introduced by European colonialism. Islam introduced from Moslem traders. Hinduism and Buddhism shown in the relics of a thousand years ago and practiced so faithfully now.
Buddha Hindu God and temple
We learned the history of its ancient kingdoms. We saw the effects of civil war caused by recent religious and cultural extremism.
We tasted and learned the Ayurvedic benefits of the fruits of nature.
Daily break for fresh coconut water to cool us off at a bus stop
Agricultural market in Jaffna
We tested ourselves with walking and cycling climbs in the heat, and every kind of road and offroad surface.
Cycling in deep sand
Cycling on good pavement by a tank (aka reservoir)
Cycling with water buffalo
Group hiking in Horton’s Plain National Park near Nuwara Eliyah
Steep climb up to a temple
We met Sri Lankans of many backgrounds: peanut farmers, Army colonels, policemen, farm and fish market workers, government workers, folks trying to earn money from tourists.
Mark with the Colonel & pet giant squirrel, Kitty Friendly schoolchildren
Curious motorcyclist
We stayed overnight and traveled in air conditioning and saw Sri Lankans doing the same in hot busses and unairconditioned homes.
Grand hotel foyer
Typical beautiful hotel pool
Tuk Tuks – popular with Sri Lankans Our bus with A/C
We traveled to natural parks where signs said “for you this was a visit, for us, this is our home. Please help us live”.
Elephant family
Safari by jeep
Young wild boars
Every lunch was unique, blending a sri lankan cooking demonstration, family drive-in food, a remote beach location, a hip restaurant, lunch on our own, some family cooking.
Restaurant w/ clay pot cooking Lunch on beach at army R&R site
Ladies who prepared our picnic lunch
Giant dosas for lunch
We got to meet real folks of every social class.
Lecture on increasing tree cover for local farmers
And all this with guides who knew how to adjust the travel to meet our varied capabilities.
Our incredible guides and drivers
And we offer up a big Thank You to our hard-working Tour Coordinator, Robin.
That’s why we cycle-travel.
R&R on the beach
See all of tour member Rob McCulloch’s photos here – 2024 Sri Lanka Tour – Google Photos Album.
