Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell

The first seed of my desire to visit Sri Lanka was planted in 2010, when then-relevant singer M.I.A. tweeted her outrage over The New York Times including the island on its annual list of places to visit. Two years later, I was on the cusp of making my maiden voyage to Sri Lanka, but had to cancel at the last minute when my ophidiophobic ex-boyfriend learned about the snakes that apparently live in Sri Lanka.

I finally ended up getting to Sri Lanka last summer - and I'm happy to report I witnessed neither the carnage M.I.A. warned about in her tweet, nor a single snake slithering across the ground.

What I did find in Sri Lanka was an enchanting, diverse arrays of landscapes that belie the island's small size, a plethora of untouched cultural wonders and a pacifying hospitality that proved the perfect counterweight to the stress the country's lacking infrastructure often caused me.

Today's post, which features photos of Sri Lanka from its modern capital Colombo to its 2,500-year old capital Anuradhapura, from its idyllic beaches to its towering tea plantations, from its ancient Buddhist relics to the timeless beauty of the elephants that wander its backwaters, will ensure you don't wait as long as I did to get yourself to this magical island.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell The lotus blossoms at Gangaramaya Temple in central Colombo.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Endless rows of Buddhas extend up from the center of the temple.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Like many other countries in Asia, the tuktuk is a ubiquitous form of transport in Sri Lanka.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Also, the motorbike.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Colombo is a hectic city, but in a more controlled way than you might find in the capitals of India or Southeast.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Public transport is also on the rise.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Although Colombo's seas are often too rough for swimming, they give the city a balmy atmosphere.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell A few hours inland from Colombo sits Kandy, Sri Lanka's second-largest city and the gateway to its cultural treasures.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell These monkeys are oblivious to my camera at Jetavanramaya Temple in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka's ancient capital.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Umbrellas on a rainy day seem to match the stupa at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Thuparamaya, also located in Anuradhapura, is said to house remains of the original Gotama Buddha.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell At this meditation monk's feet was a sign which invited visitors to take photos, speak near him or do anything else they liked, but a warning that he would not react in any way.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell This massive Buddha statue near Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress is central Sri Lanka, is dwarfed by the surrounding mountains.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Sigiriya itself stacks up quite nicely against the mountains.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Climbing further into Sri Lanka's highlands take you to Nuwara Eliya, the lush heart of the Ceylon Tea country, Asia.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Don't let the waterfalls and tropical-looking greenery fool you - it's cold here!

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Still, it's difficult not to want to enjoy a cup of tea outside with a view like this.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell

The tea in Nuwara Eliya is as delicious as you might expect.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Sri Lanka is a great place to get up-close and personal with elephants.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, located approximately halfway between Colombo and Kandy, rehabilitates elephants who've been abandoned and aims to return all to the wild.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Heading to Sri Lanka's southeastern coast takes you to Arugam Bay, which is, not surprisingly, a surfing hot spot.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell

The colors and lushness of the coasts are refreshing after weeks in the hectic inland.

Robert Schrader/Leave Your Daily Hell Take a boat ride into one of the marshy lagoons off the main beach.