On the road less travelled on an island full of beauty and mystery

Martin Hesp enjoyed an 'experiential' trip around Sri Lanka's mesmerising roads

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One hot humid day last week I found myself clambering down from a mountain crag to a remote cave high above the rainforest. I happened to know that a well-known Buddhist guru would be there and I wanted a quiet word with him.

Swathed in his saffron robes, he beckoned me to sit next to him and we spoke, alone together, for 15 minutes. Even a cynical old newspaper hack like me was impressed. As you'd expect, the priest had a profound, calming and tranquil air about him.

"The secret," he sighed, "is to know yourself and to know the moment. To slow to a complete standstill and to really know yourself in that moment."

Then he added: "Not that I will be slowing down today. After I've seen you lot, I've got to dash to the airport and fly to Switzerland."

I couldn't help but ask... "Why are you going there? To stash all the money those rich hippies give you in an untaxed Swiss bank account?" Perhaps the heat had got to me. This is very much not the sort of thing you say to a famous guru. But the priest burst into gales of laughter. He was going to the Alps to run a series of retreats for a month, but he chuckled: "That is funny. I like your sense of humour."

Which is when I decided to give away all my worldly possessions and spend the rest of my life serving as a monk in his jungle monastery, located at the very heart of beautiful, mysterious, magical, Sri Lanka.

Not really. But for a moment or two I could imagine why some people do it.

I write about this interlude because I shall never forget those 15 minutes. But then, I shall never forget a great many other incidents that I've experienced and observed over the past fortnight while enjoying an extensive road-trip right around the island of Sri Lanka.

There are thousands of reasons why we leave the comfort of our homes and this particular strand of weekly articles is all about the more exciting, interesting and joyous things you can do when you're out and about.