So the question was where do we go from Nuwara Eliya? Although we had planned on scaling Adam's Peak (a serious hike up a mountain), David was still sick so we gave it a miss and went in search of Vicky down in the south. It took three buses and 7hrs of cramped, sweaty travelling first back the way we came to Haputale, then to Wellawaya and then on to Tangalla. Upon arrival we secured a room in a place called Ravindu and immediately headed out for a delicious meal of chicken, chips and SALAD!!!!
Unbeknownst to us, the next day was Poya. The most important day in the Buddhist festival Vessak, which celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. After sunning ourselves for an hour on the pretty beaches, we were informed by our host that everything would be shut, but that we could come with him and his family to celebrate this most auspicious day. Basically, Poya is a mix of haloween, christmas and any other festival you'd care to mention. Communities get together and string up hundreds of lights, enough to make the most serious grinch smile and gasp (i.e. me). They also set up roadside stalls manned by energetic boys waving flags that give out free rice and curry, milk rice (yum), tea and biscuits, cold drinks, bananas and sweets. Each stall is different and you don't even have to leave you're airconditioned car – they bring it to you.
Although I believe our host delighted in saying “you come” before leading us behind the scenes and showing his new white people off to his friends. Both he and his wife seemed to find it hilarious watching me trying to scoop up food with my right hand.
We were treated like royalty that day and like the rest of Sri Lanka, I never saw another foreigner. I guess we also had to dance for our experience because at one stop I entertained the people and joined the local kids with my smooth moves (as about 5 people took pictures with their phones). 
On our drive we were also treated to a trip through the national park for free (we saw wild elephants, buffalos and all manner of birdlife), we were invited in to a temple to watch people pray and we covered in 3hrs what it had taken us nearly 6 to traverse the day before. They also drove us around the town at night and took us on a walk to view all the elaborate and beautiful lights. In the evening his wife made us dinner (rice and curry in case you couldn't guess) and gifted me with a bunch of bananas for dessert. We were never asked for anything in return (except that we should come back for our honeymoon) and this is the way in Sri Lanka.
Our final destination in Sri Lanka, was the sea-side fort of Galle. We had been given some quite dull reports on this town but even after 2 hrs, we loved it. You can walk entirely around Galle fort on top of the walls (we didn't have time to explore outside it) in 2hrs and you are likely to see amazing beach views, rock formations with the ocean crashing around them and inland, palm trees, the old Dutch architecture of the fort and people playing cricket (of course). Inside the fort are exceptionally clean, quaint streets adorned with wrought iron lanterns and beautiful gardens. It was nice just to wander, absorb and consume my first proper latte in 2 months! Although it is probably the most expensive place in Sri Lanka, there is just a lovely feel to Galle, and it was a perfect place to finish our sojourn around Sri Lanka.
As an aside, we actually finished our trip by catching the train back to Colombo. Again, there is no reason to take buses in which you have to stand up for 3 hrs (due to overcrowding). The train tracks hug the south coastal region and you get to see the blood red sun set over the beautiful beaches as you enter in to the Vessak festival lights that make even Colombo seem magical.
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