Sri Lanka Warnings Or Dangers

 
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Weather to go? part 1

by mafi_moya

If you're after a suntan Sri Lanka is a good place to come. Temperatures in most of the country are pretty much constant throughout the year - nice and hot. The obvious exception is right up in the hill country where nights can sometimes get quite cool, although even there the days stay hot.However, it does rain a lot at particular times of year and it's obviously best to plan a trip around this. I always remember staying at Kalutara one time and seeing the miserable faces of a tour group just off the plane as it rained non-stop for their first 3 days. Personally I didn't mind as it was only half an hour from my house, but if you've come half way round the world it might matter a bit more! And when it rains it really rains, and you certainly won't want to go out much! Often the downpours only last an hour or so but in that time I've seen the road outside my house (a busy main street)...

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The roads there are manic!!

by freya_heaven

The roads there are manic, a normal 2-way road is quite often a duel or triple carrige way.We took a Tuk Tuk to Galle about 30 miles away from where we were staying, coming back a bus who was overtaking went in to the side of us, we were so lucky it just knocked us off the road & apart from shock there was no real damage. The Tuk Tuk is a different story! Just be very aware on the roads, even if you are just walking along one. Amazingly once it was confirmed no one had been hurt both drivers found it funny! 'its the Sri Lankan way'.

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Beach Chase (~_~)

by freya_heaven

Also you WILL be hassled when you walk along the beach to buy things, buy if you want, but if you dont be firm (but nice!) & after seeing you a few days they will give up & start on the new arrivals.

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No Photos of People in front of a Buddha Statue!

by Sunchild

Please be warned and don't make the same mistake than I did for not knowing better at the time: Don't take photos of people in front of buddha statues. This is NOT ALLOWED! Understandable. We have been told, that it was "overdone" by some and even model shootings used to take place - and not all of them were just "normal" but "rude" ones, too! A shame! I only did it to show/compare the size and was whistled at (nearly gave me a haeart attack) and strictly told off for it by one of the guards. (I still don't know, where he appeared from so suddenly). Well, I never did it again!

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Beware the vicious deer...

by llcole

We were looking at possible accommodation at Yala Park, when this spotted deer wandered up. I went to pose for a picture with it, when it turned and bit my arm! (It didn't break the skin, but it did leave a bruise.) So, the picture is of me recoiling from the deer, and the deer looking a little ashamed. Right after that, a piece of bread came flying out from what I presume was a kitchen, and the deer gobbled it up. Lesson: Never approach hungry wildlife with nothing to offer but your flesh.

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Dengue Fever

by tommix

Dengue fever is spread by the mosquitos and is characterized by sudden onset after an incubation period of 3-14 days, high fever, severe headache, and muscle pain. You may also have nausea, vomiting, and rash. The rash appears 3-5 days after onset of fever and can spread from the torso to the arms, legs, and face. The disease is usually self-limited, although convalescence can be prolonged. It's not common but dengue can also present as a severe, sometimes fatal hemorrhagic disease.There is one, very specific kind of mosquitos which spread dengue. He is active only during the daytime and most frequently is found in or near human habitations. There are two peak periods of biting activity, in the morning for several hours after daybreak and in the late afternoon for several hours before dark. The mosquito may feed at any time during the day, however, especially indoors, in shady areas, or...

Touts

by Charlie_UK

Beware the underbelly of the tourist industry: From time to time, particularly around the airport, you may get approached by people looking to get you hooked up to tours, take your luggage, find you a hotel or reccommend a restuarant. Ignore them. They will either be trying to rip you off or get a kickback from the place you will stay or eat. Occasionally there will be people involved in prostitution and other criminal activity. The best thing to do is make sure you have the right advice from your hotel / tour operator.

These Little Rascals

by Hmmmm

... will take off with your stuff. So be vigilant. But they are great. they are Black Faced monkey's and they are all over the place, along with a kind of Macaque that I saw around two.I took this picture of this Black Faced Monkey near Nilavelli beach, living amongst a troop of others. They occupy the plethora of buildings that were abandoned during the Civil fighting.

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Don't put the snakes around your neck!

by llcole

Ok, so I kind of walked into this one. But the snake was just supposed to be draped around me, not wrapped around my neck. Suzi the snake was fine until her handler turned his back, and then she began to move in for the kill! Note the look of pain/panic on my face vs. the calm look of "oh, this happens all the time, such a silly tourist" on the face of her handler.

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The taxman

by mafi_moya

When you're looking at a menu or hotel charge sheet, make sure it's a close look. Many places (particularly decent restaurants and bars) list their prices without the hidden charges. Like many countries this can be a 10% service charge, but in some places there is also a 12.5% Goods and Service Tax (GST) that suddenly appears on your bill at the end of the night. All of a sudden that seemingly cheap meal can be about 25% more expensive. Increasingly, places are including the GST in the menu price - but check first.

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Top 3 Hotels in Sri Lanka

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... 

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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... 

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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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Questions and Answers

MacedonianUK profile photo

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... 

HansDK profile photo

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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