The Hill Country

By Jenny Adam in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Here are some drawings i made during a trip to the Hill Country in March.

I started out in Kandy, Sri Lankas second largest city after Colombo. A very busy place, Kandy was best enjoyed from further away, at night when the city
lights were reflected in its artificial lake. Instead of visiting the
crowded Temple of the Tooth, i looked at the tombstones of the British
Garrison Cemetery an learned about strange ways to die in old Ceylon
(being trampled to death by an elephant, having one´s house collapse on
oneself, falling on a pike while trying to get off a horse).

I continued on to the north for a day trip. These are the
badly lit cave temples of Dambulla and the surrounding countryside. Then i went on to the impressive ancient rock palace of Sigiriya. While
painting this view, a gardener sat by my side to see what i was up to.
Along came a sinhalese, then a muslim school group. When my view was
completely blocked by giggling girls in ponytails i decided my painting
was finished.

And finally making my way to the hill country with its lush green tea plantations and the town of Nuwara Eliya.

At an altitude of 2000 m, it has a mild climate that appealed to british
settlers. Their specific architecture is the trademark of Nuwara Eliya,
and only the colourful trucks and Sri Lankans trying to sell fake North
Face clothing remind you you´re not in England.