Jewel of a Journey

In August, my husband and I returned from a two-week vacation in Sri Lanka. What a marvelous experience it was!

We had heard vague travel advisories (of guerrilla activity there). In fact, we found Sri Lanka to be peaceful and safe. . . . Our touring covered all parts of the country, except for the north.

We couldn’t believe that so much could be packed into such a small country: Esala Kandy Perahera (a pageant commemorating Sri Lanka’s Buddhist and Hindu heritage), magnificent beaches and resorts, rice fields and tea plantations, archeological ruins and artifacts, jewels galore, batik and lace handicrafts and the alluring sights and smells of markets and street vendors.

We didn’t notice any other American tourists or U.S. tour groups in Sri Lanka, although we saw many European and Japanese tourists. We imagine an important factor is that Americans are scared away by ominous travel advisories. This is a shame.

Unfortunately, the public is frequently frightened and misguided by sensationalistic, provincial reporting. We are enthusiastic Southeast Asia travelers and are excited about the adventure Sri Lanka offers the eco-cultural tourist.

SYLVIA WELNER, Manhattan Beach