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I read somewhere that Sri Lankan law requires all persons, including foreigners* who are guests in private houses to register at the local police station. I have been staying with friends in Sri Lanka for 10 years and I tried to do this once but the police had no idea what I was talking about.*This does not apply to individuals staying in hotels or guest houses.
If you are on the road and your water is running low (or you are simply looking for a safe alternative to sugary soft drinks) the water of the king coconut or thambili is available just about everywhere. Locals claim all manner of claims about the Thambili from just'cleansing the palate' to settling an upset tummy and that you can survive for months on nothing but Thambili water. It certainly rehydrates this tired traveller like nothing else on earth and I wouldn’t tackle a tropical hangover without one. The thambili costs a few rupees and is usually drunk straight from the shell, they will usually find you a straw.
I should really say surviving the rains as the 'Monsoon' is the wind, which brings the rain clouds along with it. Sri Lanka is beautiful whatever the weather and the European winter is still the best time to visit the west of the island for sun-worshippers but the weather has been unsettled in recent times and you might get rained on at any time so here are some tips to help you get through it. On the personal front, get your haircut short, wear open shoes and dark coloured clothes (less likely to become transparent when wet) and do your best to dry yourself off as often as possible, try to keep your nooks and crannies dry at all times.Even though it is not a dry heat you will still dehydrate and need to go on drinking lots of water. Sanitation is pretty good in Sri Lanka but the ground water you are sloshing around in may be contaminated by something unpleasant, so wash your hands...
Spice has played an important part in the history of Sri Lanka, it was spice that first attracted the Europeans here and control of the spice trade led to hundreds of years of fighting, chiefly between Portugal and Holland for control of the Island. The most important of these spices is cinnamon and most of the worlds cinnamon still originates in Sri Lanka, in fact so synonymous is cinnamon with Sri Lanka that the botanical name for cinnamon (cinnamomum zeylanicum) stems from the colonial name for the Island, Ceylon. You can see spice production just about everywhere in the west of the Island and the workers are generally happy for you to lend a hand.If you want to know more about cinnamon production check out; http://www.infolanka.com/discover/cinnamon/1.html
The Sinhala language uses a particular alphabet which although resembles to some extent to Indian and Nepalese ones, it’s quite difficult to understand. Most of the Sinhala letters are curlicues, elegant swirls and fluorishes making up 58 letters. Straight lines are almost completely absent from the alphabet. This is because Sinhala used to be written on dried palm leaves, which would split along the veins on writing straight lines. This was undesirable, and therefore, the round shapes were preferred.For the record, the alphabet is written from left to right.
Moonstones are semicircular slabs of hard granite gneiss or limestone placed at the foot of the flights of steps leading to ancient edifices and places of worship, they originated in India and were later introduced to Sri Lanka with the advert of Buddhism. It is here however that moonstones developed into magnificent pieces of art, richly decorated in concentric semi circular bands of low relief carvings of flowers, creepers, birds and animals. Many scholars regard moonstones as some of the finest examples of the ancient Sinhalese artists. The moonstone is also called Irahandagala; (ire-sun, handa-moon, gala-stone) in Sinhala. The sun comes into the word because from the earliest of times very many cultures of the world venerated the sun as giver of life, fertility and growth. The ancient Sinhala people were no different as the sun was given a predominant place in their poetry,...
Sri Lanka is more expensive than India. The largest expenditure for a budget traveller would be accommodation (count around 5-8 euros/night, allow 10-12 euros for the capital), and some entrance tickets in most popular areas (7 euros, 1000 Rs) for places such as Pinnewala or Kosgoda. A global entry ticket (40 USD) allows one full day in each of the following sights from the “Cultural Triangle”: Anuradaphura, Pollonaruwa, Sigiriya, Medirigiriya, Nalanda and Ritigala. This ticket does not allow entry to the Sacred Tooth Temple in Kandy or inside the Dambulla caves. Public transport is cheap enough, a couple of euros for a few hours ride, but if you want to hire a car or a tuk-tuk, don’t agree before some bargain. Meals in popular marketplaces, streets and around bus stations are frugal and inexpensive, add 50% for a meal in a guesthouse or in a restaurant, and around 2 USD for a beer or a...
30 days visas are granted upon arrival for most passports (called bona fide visas), see list at http://www.immigration.gov.lk/html/visa/fees.html#SATOP Visa fees depend on nationality of passport, see list of fees here: http://www.immigration.gov.lk/html/visa/fees.html#SBTOP
I can give you a rough hint, what the weather in Beruwela could be like in October:last year (2007) there were exactly 12 sunny days (no rain), 7 sunny/partly cloudy days and 12 rainy days. Yet, rain does not mean to expect a 24-hour downpouring. Frequently it rains hard for 1-2 hours and gets then cloudy, partly sunny afterwards.Your spending will depend on your expectations, where you intend to eat etc. For local restaurants the two of you might need about 5-10 USD per day, in small hotels about 15. International hotels charge internationally, i.e. roughly the same like elsewhere in Asia.As to Beruwela-excursions have a look at my Bentota/Beruwela tips and at the excellent Sri - Lanke pages of Maxus !Have anice trip & stay! Blessed, peaceful country (outside the war-zones); nice and friendly people, great culture and monuments. Erratic, crazy traffic. Sometimes very hot and humid....
As to How much to take will depend on what you want to have and do.Meals at a Star class hotel should be about USD 10/- per person per meal.Drinks - A beer would cost approx USD3/- to 4/- Scotch 50ml USD 5/-, soft drinks approx USD 1/-Excursions - from Bentota. Elephant Orphanage - USD 100/- Turtle Hatchery, Kosgoda - USD 20/- to 30/- Galle Fort - USD 50/- to 75/-Hope this will help in making your estimates.
Mount Lavina Hotel Colombo
5 Reviews and 395 Opinions This is the closest hotel you can experience the Beach as you come to Colombo. Good food, good rooms...
Earl's Regency Hotel Kandy Kandy
4 Reviews and 235 Opinions Kandy Perahara Starts on Esala Full Moon Poya Day in July & finishes on Nikini Full Moon Poya Day on...
Palm Garden Village Hotel Anuradhapura
3 Reviews and 111 Opinions The Palm Garden Village is like a colonial club, but one with a relaxed and freestyle-air. It was...
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Q: Thinking of traveling to Sri Lanka in the end of March for 3 weeks. I will go with my 6 yr old. Will take Medical precoushns bu...
A: Any special reasons why you want to stay in Colombo for 3 days. Everywhere in Sri Lanka is child friendly, but as you want to end up in Trinco (and spend part of your...
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