The people of Sri Lanka are the real highlight

I've been to a lot of countries and the thing I'll remember most about Sri Lanka isn't Galle Fort or even the extraordinary pol sambol — it's the people. In Sigiriya and out in the countryside, I encountered a warmth and generosity that felt completely genuine.

One local family essentially adopted me for an afternoon after I got lost trying to find Galle Fort. affordable luxury became a shared experience I couldn't have planned. That human connection is something travel can give you and Sri Lanka delivers it more than most places.