This trip to Sri Lanka proved to be a visual, experiential, and photographic cornucopia. This tear-shaped island off the south coast of India (formerly known as Ceylon) offers a set of spectacular cultures, landscapes from jungles to golden beaches, one of the last primitive hunter-gather tribes on the planet, beautiful monasteries with saffron clad monks, tea plantations, ancient capitals and Buddhist sites where intricate carvings and towering stone monuments are scattered throughout the forests. And, most importantly, the Kandy Esala Perahera, simply the most spectacular event I have ever witnessed in travels to 90+ countries around the world. This hours-long religious parade includes 100 elephants caparisoned, robed and lit with electric lights, accompanied by dozens of musical, dancing and marching groups spectacular in their costumes, all lit by giant hand-carried torches. This historical procession is held annually to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy.
