What to pack for Sri Lanka

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Miscellaneous: My battered and travel-stained Insight Flexi Map of Sri Lanka has joined me on thirteen trips to the island so far and has proved to be an admirable and trustworthy travelling companion. In addition to getting me from A to B, the map has been worn as a hat, used as a fan, dropped in rivers and survived the tsunami but it is as durable as it is accurate and has never let me down.

The laminated map is easy to fold, light enough to carry in your pocket and will not get soggy or tear. The map shows beaches, major and minor roads, rest houses, temples, gas stations etc and beats any other map of Sri Lanka I have seen hands down. Available just about everywhere, I would be honestly lost without it.

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Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Some people insist on dressing like either Saunders of the River or Bart Simpson when they go on holiday but most of us just want to blend-in so why not simply dress like local people; they live here so they know from experience what is practical.

The sarong and the sari look fantastic on people from South Asia but wearing these really is an art and us Europeans should think twice before going outside in either, worn the wrong way they can look rather silly. In Sri Lanka people generally dress very similar to Europeans, the sort of things we might wear during a hot summer, so there really is no need to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe. Smart loose fitting cotton clothes (or some of the breathable modern fabrics you get from outdoor shops) are the order of the day. Long sleeves will keep you from the sun and a hat is essential for the same reason.

Miscellaneous: It is not regarded as particularly rude to stare in Sri Lanka and when you meet people they will often look you up and down as a matter of course. Sri Lankan people know good clothes and what you are wearing will make an impression about who you are. If you are invited to a Sri Lankan home any effort you have made to look smart will be appreciated.

Miscellaneous: In any tropical country a large linen or cotton cloth (a good quality table napkin or tea-towel will do) is invaluable when you are out and about, chiefly to wipe away the sweat which is going to run off you making you feel and look uncomfortable. It weighs next to nothing and can double an emergency sun shade or bandage or you can stick it between your clean clothes and a dirty bus seat etc etc. You can wash it out regularly, stick it in the sun and it?s dry in minutes, believe me you will wonder how you ever managed with out it.

Luggage and bags: A small back pack is a must to hold your valubles, the type you could wear in the front of your body. Just in case if you forgot, try Barefoot ( fabric travel bags) or Sunil's ( leather) in Colombo for a good selection.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Lots of soft thin cotton comfortable clothes. Long pants and long sleeve shirts to wear at night and for going to temples and such. Very comfy walking shoes. Really good cotton socks and underware. Cotton hats for the sun. Just in case if you forgot any of these items do stop by Barefoot, Odel or Majestic city shopping center in Colombo for supplies.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Strong itch medication for mosquito bites. Super strong mosquito repellent. Strong deoderent, it is very hot there. Very good sun screen. For ladies bring sanitery napkins and tampons that you are use to, the variety is not that great in all areas.

Photo Equipment: Disks for your digital camera, it is available there but can be very costly and may not be the real thing.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Bring a few good bathing suits, ladies choices are very limited out side of Colombo.

Miscellaneous: Pack light, the clothes you wear in your country during the hottest day of the year ( 85c or over) would be the most suitable for Sri Lanka. Most hotels carry batik and cotton clothes that is fairly priced. Ladies please be modest in your clothing choices, this will make you and everyone else around you more at ease.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: It is easy to get around in Sri Lanka and even if you are on a package deal you might be tempted to hit the road for a little independent travel. Never go anywhere, even for a long walk, without your own water supply. Take water with you on train and bus trips too, travel by public transport often takes a lot longer than you thought. Its hot here and dehydration is dangerous, you need to drink several litres of water each day.

Taking your own light-weight water bottle is a good idea, they are durable, a shoulder strap makes it easy to carry and leaves your hands free. Having your bottle with you helps you keep the water situation in mind. If you get one with its own thermal jacket you can ask your hosts to stick it in the freezer overnight so you have a supply of iced water during the heat of the day (don't over fill it or leave the top on because the expansion will split your bottle) keep it topped-up from your reserve supply.

Miscellaneous: You can of course buy bottled water in tourist areas and in towns and villages of any size but I have learned from experience that it is not always available off the beaten track so it pays to think ahead. Where bottle drinking water is not available, soft drinks (including soda water) often is and you can usually get a king coconut to drink, which will put you on. Mains tap water is a no-no and local well water varies in quality, have it boiled if necessary. It does not need to be boiled for long, once it is bubbling the nasty things are dead.

Luggage and bags: Take as little as possible specially if you decide to tour around taking buses. Space there is limited, you might find yoursef standing for hours among sweating passenger. If you decide to rent a car witha driver then you can take along anything you want as long as it fits the car baggage

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Light, cotton clothes are the best for the hot humid climate. Long trousers are adviced when visiting holy shrines

Photo Equipment: A joke.... Nowadays with memory cards???

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Your swimming trunk. Topless or nudity is unknown in Sri Lanka. Also a suntan cream as you wouldn;t like to get sunburned from the first days you expose yourself to the sun.

Miscellaneous: If you tour around without a guide , then get a good guidebook. In our fellowship we had a Rough guide, a Footprint and a Lonely Planet. I found Rough guide the best when it came to sightseeing information. Accurate and very informative. Coming to accommodation options Footprint had a more extend list. Lonely planet was hardly used....

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Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Casual for daily use and colorful for pictures. Long pants or dressed shoes? depends on your characters, your culture and the image you want to portray.

For me, a practical clothing and shoes such as sandals are important to ensure my journey in car or buses or walking are comfortable. After all, just be yourself instead dress up for other people.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: All types as the local pharmacy may not carry the types of medication you want. I did have experience in getting some pain relief pills. It took me a while to analyse which one is most suitable as they local salesperson may not understand what you really need. I guess you dont want to take the wrong medication, do you?

Miscellaneous: Mosquito repellent in all forms which I carried included shower gel with anti-mosquito ingredients - Citronella oil, mosquito repellent spray, liquid electronic mosquito repellent burner (with extension cord), and mosquito coil. These are crucial as you need to back up and for different circumstances, be it bathroom, bedroom or outdoor.

Luggage and bags: I would say pack light.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Again i would say take light cotton clothing,the humidity in sri lanka is very high,

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Mozzie repellent is a must i got bitten a few times,also you will need a high factor sun cream,we swear by a product called p20 you can by it at any airport,its a bit expensive but really good.You only put it on once a day in the morning it bonds to your skin and is waterproof and you dont burn at all,my young son used it on the sahara desert and hes really fair skinned and he didnt burn at all.