When asked, “What are you looking for?” it’s only natural we said a Sinhalese sea maiden.

We were welcoming in the New Year by exploring Sigiriya, home to some of Sri Lanka’s most famous hikes: Sigiriya Rock and Pidurangala Rock. One afternoon, we stumbled upon a collection of elephants and other local emblems carved in wood, and the craftsman working the wood right there on the dusty roadside beside his family home.
Chaminda, the master carver, offered to create something out of the the local wood that grew around his workshop. Imagine our delight to see the intricate beauty he had conjured overnight for us with such detail and care.