The trip to Sri Lanka in April 2002 had been a spontaneous one.  I had been in Sri Lanka in September 2001, together with Michel, shortly after the LTTE attack of the airport.  There were hardly any tourists in the country and one was almost coerced to greet fellow guests at the Lanka Princess hotel with a hand shake.

In January 2004, I was ready for a new climb of Adam’s Peak.  This time with Michel and for safety reasons we would climb and descend on the Dalhousie side.  We stayed three days in Colombo to acclimatize, do some shopping and meet our friends.

After nineteen years of holidaying with kith and kin, we decided in January 2000 to trust our house and the children to a dear friend and go on a trip on our own.

Shortly before, I had experienced an ayurvedic massage and that was one of the reasons why we went to Sri Lanka.  I read several guide books, surfed the internet for information, and shared my new knowledge with Michel.  And so, we went perfectly prepared!  As newbies we booked a package and stayed at the Ceysands Hotel in Bentota.