anyone been to Sri Lanka ?

tomkbucks

tomkbucks

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ive been looking for a holiday in Oct and the island looks lovely - but so much to do ! any recommendations ? will be taking my camera of course :) really after the culture stuf and stuf that you dont get on a beach / package holiday!!
 
Only once, and it wasn't planned. We were on a flight to Nairobi, across the Indian Ocean, back in the 70s. The plane was badly damaged in a severe tropical storm and had to divert to Sri Lanka, and we spent two days there waiting for the airline to fly in a replacement aircraft, as their local resources couldn't repair the first one quickly.

I remember it was very, very, hot. Probably 40C or more. We went for a walk around Colombo and something that sticks in my mind are the old, decaying, abandoned colonial era buildings. Some of them were covered in creepers and other vegetation, growing wild, and a few had trees growing right through them. Sri Lanka is very fertile, hot and gets a lot of rain during the monsoon season, so I suppose nature takes over pretty quickly when it get a chance.

That was more than 30 years ago and they may have gone now, or been refurbished, but it was pretty evocative at the time. Might be worth a look?
 
Went as part of my honeymoon 10 years ago. Absolutely stunning island with photo opportunities left, right and centre. :love:

Have you thought about where you would like to visit yet?
We did a week long tour (sounds cheesey but was fantastic!) We had a Sri Lankan guide and travelled as a party of 7 in a toyota people carrier. Standout points for us included Sigiriya, Kandi and the hundreds of Buddhist sites. I took a film camera and shot 16 rolls (mix of 24 & 36 exp's) in the week. I could have shot the same again if it wasn't my honeymoon ;):lol::lol:

Any questions - I will do my best to help.

Cheers Alan
 
cheers! the tour idea sounds the best rather than stay in one place - loads of places offer 'tours' but these just always worry me as you never know what your going to get! im also not a huge fan of 'rough guides' Sigiriya looks amazing ! i guess im trying to build up a list of things i can do in 10/12 days.. without having to go on a over expensive organised tour!
 
I was there travelling for a month a couple of years ago, started in Negumbo and rented a motorbike, although the bus system there is usable to get you around. Went South stopping off along the way all the way to aragum Bay, a world class surfing town and then headed through the highlands into Kandy and back to Negumbo. Amazingly friendly people, beautiful temples, beaches and scenery and the best of all, when you point a camera at someone you will get a huge smile and not a string of expletives followed by a demand to erase the image.

Im not a huge fan of telling people where they should go on their adventures but Galle has some truly inspiring architecture and within the Old City. Enjoy your trip and make sure you get into the string hoppers for brekkie, best way to start a day.
 
We went 4 years ago as part of our honeymoon. Brilliant place and as mentioned earlier photo opps everywhere. We did a tour for 8 days before moving to a beach hotel for 4 nights and then onto the Maldives. The tour was mainly a wildlife tour visiting the main national parks but obviously you stop off at places of interest inbetween. Plenty of photos on my Flickr and happy to answer anymore questions if you have any. Fully recommend it.
 
giantwolf said:
We went 4 years ago as part of our honeymoon. Brilliant place and as mentioned earlier photo opps everywhere. We did a tour for 8 days before moving to a beach hotel for 4 nights and then onto the Maldives. The tour was mainly a wildlife tour visiting the main national parks but obviously you stop off at places of interest inbetween. Plenty of photos on my Flickr and happy to answer anymore questions if you have any. Fully recommend it.
Click to expand...

Some great pictures on your Flickr :thumbs:

Really takes me back - love the tea plantation!

alan
 
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Grizu said:
Im not a huge fan of telling people where they should go on their adventures but Galle has some truly inspiring architecture and within the Old City. Enjoy your trip and make sure you get into the string hoppers for brekkie, best way to start a day.
Click to expand...

:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:
 
We went in 2009
http://www.pbase.com/byker28i/srilanka

We did this tour
http://www.adventurecompany.co.uk/tours/elephant-paradise

16 days - stunning way to travel around the country and see all sorts.
The map shows the route in orange we went on
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Worth every penny and I'd do it again. We had 4 families so a nice small group
Outside the capital wages are low, so do tip. Take sweets for the kids, take every opportunity to get out and about. If you're on a tour they will be down times but we asked locally and there were plenty of people to act as guides to the local area. We got to see local schools, wash elephants in the river, travel across rivers in dug out canoes, really see how people lived.

It's a real culture shock when you head back into Columbo.
 
wow now that is a full tour! some great info in this thanks all and some truly amazing photos just dont know were to start , i like the organised tour idea but always worried about being stuck with people and the idea of ' being able to do it myself' cheaper and with better accommodation.. will keep everyone posted of my travels!
 
You can always hire a taxi and driver to take you where you want to go, they sleep over at night and pick you up next morning, that way you get local transport but don't have to share it with others.
To see:-

Temple of the Tooth, Kandy.
Botanical Gardens, Kandy.
The Hill Club, Nuwara Elya.
The tea plantations, waterfalls and landscape of the 'Hill Country'.
The Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawala.
The railway lines ... seriously the locals walk on them carrying umbrellas and it's a great sight!
... and have the camera ready for great opportunities that just come to you along the way.

Yes we loved it :D
 
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