In every way, a trip into the hill country is the high point of a holiday to Sri Lanka. Following the ending of its 25-year civil war in 2009, the country is now back on the tourist map as a hot place for some winter sun. One reason – besides its beaches, cultural sights and warm climate – is its people. The Sri Lankans are a smiley, welcoming lot with a multi-faith society that is particularly apparent at night, wrote Nigel Tisdall in Telegraph.

"Then you spy the many roadside shrines and churches that light up the darkness, beaming out their faithful messages. Here's a smiling Buddha, there's an anguished Catholic saint. The green neon of a mosque shines beside the crazy statuary of a Hindu temple. To the traveller, it feels like all the key gods of the world are looking after you," he said.

In Sri Lanka they like to put a positive spin on everything, so perhaps it's no surprise that the minute I pop out to take some photographs, my wife decides this is an ideal time to whip out the credit card and buy some gorgeous moonstone jewellery.

By contrast, my souvenir is a cloth for the kitchen that bears a mantra I can't resist. "Keep Calm and Make Tea" it says – and after discovering the joys of Sri Lanka, I'm doing just that, the writer added.

Read the full article at:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/srilanka/8799080/Sri-Lanka-Temples-and-tea-leaves.html?