2015 Sep 24
photo credits: Sri lanka’s big 5
About 200 km away from the equator, close to the southern tip of the island of Sri Lanka, lays the tropical paradise of Mirissa. This is the kind of paradise where you gently rock with the cool breeze on a hammock under the warm sun. Mirissa is the place for both an adventure seeker and a sun lover looking to laze around on an ideally located sun bed. It has the best range of exotic attractions and activities to offer, some of which includes swimming with the dolphins or even battling those humongous waves with a surfboard.
photo credits: http://www.srilankanexpeditions.com/hotels.php?city=Mirissa
The main and most desirable attraction in Mirissa is its crescent shaped golden beach which graciously outlines the shore while hosting the picturesque Mirissa lighthouse and the countless number of fishing boats that bob up and down on the waters to a silent rhythm.
photo credits: ceylon tour advisors
The beach is filled with places to rent either a surfboard or a boogie board with which you can glide into the water and enjoy the salty sea. Or else you could even lay yourself out on the sand surrounded by seashells and feel your skin surrender to the warmth as you listen to some music and read a good book.
photo credits: raja and the dolphins
The next best and even more mesmerizing experience you can enjoy in Mirissa is dolphin and whale watching. There are many services that provide boats and tour guides to take you far into the ocean to spot these beautiful creatures. And the most extraordinary thing about the Mirissa Sea is that it is home to the Blue Whale, the largest mammal in existence in the whole world. It is approximately 30 metres in length and weighs 190,000 kg with a life span of 80-90 years. It is one of the most magnificent creatures to see with your own eyes and when such a large creature dives into the water with the grace of a ballerina it truly sends chills up your spine. And let’s not forget the hundreds of dolphins that can be seen and how beautifully they swim alongside your boat while performing for you by spinning in the air and synchronizing their dives.
The next in line on your to-do list should be a snorkeling and scuba diving adventure. A multitude of tropical fish and colourful coral reefs could be observed. Once you put on your goggles and dive into the water to explore the sea world you will have to fight to keep your jaw from dropping as you don’t want water accidentally entering your lungs! The shapes, sizes and colours of fish and corals that have simply been veiled from the naked eye above water is unbelievable. The sea world is like another world of its own and you won’t be able to comprehend how such beauty has been merely swimming below you all this while.
If you’re really looking forward to a holiday where you can be one with nature and just relax with the tropical sun and sea Mirissa is the place to be. It’s exciting and relaxing at the same time. It’s a mixture of the two best things that can create a great holiday! So the next time you want get away from the chaos and have a good time just drive down to the southern coast if you’re a local or catch a plane to the pearl of the Indian Ocean if you’re a tourist.
by Yasonil Piyatissa
photo credits: riaz cader
