Sri Lanka has been on my must-visit list for years. The teardrop-shaped island in South Asia is known for its stunning beaches, lush jungles, and foliage-covered mountains.
So right after I found out I had two vacation days that needed to be used up before the end of the month, I got online and booked a flight to the capital, Colombo, from Singapore, where I'm based. The flight is just under five hours.
After spending a night in Colombo, I made my way to Kollupitiya station and headed south to Bentota, a resort town. I spent two days there enjoying the honey-colored beach and watching surfers ride the waves at sunset. My plans for the trip to Sri Lanka involved little more than this, followed by a ride on the coastal train when it was time to head back north.
The journey from Bentota to Colombo by car was almost a two-hour-long journey. And by train, with its multiple stops along the way, it would take nearly an hour longer. But Sri Lanka's coastal train is famed as one of the most scenic in Asia, so I had to try it.
Take a look at what it's like to ride Sri Lanka's coastal train.