I was born in a small nursing home in Kandy and spent my early years at Great Valley Tea Estate where my father ("thatha") was the Superintendant. We immigrated to Australia when I was 3 years old but thatha was a prolific story teller and I grew up hearing tales of Ceylon and his many adventures.
In 2004 I returned for the first time with my whole family and reconnected with my birthplace and it's people - ironically I was the same age as my thatha when he left so it feels like I have continued where he left off. Over the years I have visited all the places he talked about - Adams Peak, Sigiriya, Galle, Yala, the tea estates and many more and most importantly reconnected with the people who have become my "machans" (friends).
Sri Lanka is a country of amazing diversity and I have discovered that there is only one way to really see it and that's by foot where you can trek through the towns, villages, wilderness and history and connect with the people.
Sri Lanka's Hidden Trails are not sightseeing tours. They are a way to immerse yourself in the countries culture while experiencing it's varied and amazing landscapes and most importantly - hearing the stories that I grew up with.
Stewart Kreltszheim
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