Sri Lanka is a wonderful country and the day I spent driving through the Nuwara Eliya highlands was one of my favourites. The cool breeze and lush landscapes hiding secret waterfalls were a nice nature break from the city life I had been living for a few days back in Kandy.

 

A lunch time stop at a tea plantation was the perfect way to break up the day. I had a personal tour all to myself and was surprised just how much effort, and pride, goes into making tea in Sri Lanka! After buying some packages to bring home for friends, and sampling some myself, I was off to go higher into the mountains for a good nights rest.

 

Now, I should point out that when I visited Sri Lanka it was near the end of their civil war battles in 2009. Tourists were few and far between, while tanks, fighter jets and road blocks were common sights.

But up here in the mountains it was quite peaceful and I was happy to enjoy some quiet time.

Once again, I learned that I was the only guest – yes only guest – at the hotel that evening. When you’re the only guest in a large hotel it means that the bartender, cook, bellman, manager, front desk clerk and cleaning staff all usually know your name and where you’re from. It is a bit intimidating and uncomfortable really. Such a level of customer service I’ve never experienced anywhere else before, or since.

 

This great customer service was no exception at Nuwara Eliya. After checking in I was informed of when dinner was being served and had a couple of hours to myself. The staff made sure I was happy with my room and that I had everything I needed.

Relaxing out on my front patio, drinking a beer and snacking on fresh cashews, I watched a nearby cascading waterfall while the sun set over the mountains. One of those romantic settings from a travel brochure, all for me to enjoy!

With the sun gone it was off to eat, by myself, again.

As I entered the dining room, I was intimidated. This hotel had obviously seen better days, as the grand dining room was lined with framed pictures on the walls giving it an air of importance from another era.

 

The dining room was large, seating for more than 100 guests I imagined, complete with a lounge and seperate bar area. It was all dimly lit, partly for romance and partly to hide the dirt and aging infrastructure.

I ventured in and was greeted by a smiling waiter. Looking around, I confirmed that it was only me who would be dining on this night.

Impeccably set tables all around me, I was seated by the friendly waiter and informed of my meal options. He knew I was Canadian, so we had a brief chat about snow before he vanished away to the kitchen. I ordered a beer and snacked on some bread while I waited for the first course to arrive – French onion soup.

 

It is a weird, awkward feeling being in such a cavernous room all by yourself with nobody else around. You feel like you’re being watched and there isn’t really anything to stare at after a while, so you just sit there in silence. I pretended to read the book I had with me, but the silence was too distracting.

Finally, the French onion soup arrived. It looked delicious!

Before I sampled it, The waiter asked if I would like some music while I enjoyed my meal. Hmm, sure, why not…it will do well to break that awkward silence.

 

So he wanders over towards the old wooden bar and after a minute or two, finds something worthy of accompanying my meal.

I hear the crackling of the speakers come to life, realizing that a vinyl record has been put in motion.

As the waiter fades away through the kitchen doors, I dip my spoon into my soup, and a recognizable Canadian voice begins to sing and fill the otherwise empty room.

My thoughtful waiter had carefully selected a special song just for me: My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion.

For the rest of the meal, I sat by myself in this somewhat dated yet still romantic dining room, being serenaded by the songs of Celine Dion.

Just another fun day in Sri Lanka…happy Valentine’s Day everyone!