On the island of Sarandīb good fortune is rarely accidental… We arrived two weeks before Christmas hoping to give Santa a miss. Kate would watch elephants while I searched for the perfect cup of Ceylon tea. Together we’d visit temples, ancient cities, and then relax on a quiet beach. Instead, we found ourselves on a tour bus with nine Brits - only a week before the British general election. Pray they were here for the exotic scenery, the authentic curries, the colourful wildlife, and not to talk about the weather or – brrr – politics. Twenty-Eight Days in Sri Lanka is a light-hearted journey around the highlights of this culturally complex country. If you ever wanted to know why the tooth of Buddha is so important, what happens in a tea factory, or how elephants detect earthquakes, then read on.