At Negombo's fish markets, fish are arranged in an orderly manner on straw mats along the beach to be dried.[Photo by Xu Lin/China Daily]

The Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya, in Kandy boasts exotic species of plants such as orchids, spices and palm trees.

From Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, I take a train to enjoy views of the tea plantations and forests on both sides.

My next stop is the old town of Galle and its fortifications, which in 1988 was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A sea port for trade during the 14th century, Galle has now become a popular destination for tourists from home and abroad.

Its architecture is typically European due to its colonial history, when it was controlled by Portugal, the Netherlands and Great Britain.