Galle, a storied Dutch bastion, is a UNESCO sanctuary that's steeped in culture. It brought to mind Flores, the Guatemalan fortress village where we bunked, albeit with superior cuisine and some of the most hospitable folks I've ever encountered.

What also intrigued me was the unhurried tempo of life. Mornings were passed on the veranda, relishing coffee, while much of the day was devoted to meandering around the ramparts, absorbing the edifices and the annals.

At night, it was a novel eatery every time, and that's when I fell under the spell of Sri Lankan cuisine. For less than 3 dollars per meal, I savored splendidly prepared curries, Kotu, and hoppers. If you're uninitiated with Sri Lankan food, I urge you to rectify that. And if ever in Galle, try these spots: Luck Fort Homecooking and ABACATE.

With more leeway to stretch my legs, I aimed to log some hefty mileage. But on my inaugural jog, I lost my footing on a slope beside the fort and sprained my leg. In quest of painkillers(Tylenol), I was only met with blank stares, but eventually proffered an Ayurvedic salve, which fortuitously worked wonders.

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