When
visiting Sri Lanka you absolutely must visit the hill country..the
climate up there is more like England..go to Nuwara Eliya and Kandy and
Ratnapura....whilst driving the twisting route you will see the women
picking the tealeaves..wonderful sight..go and visit one of the many tea
factories..what I saw was amazing..most of the machinery was probably
100 years old with no protective guards etc,,also if you get to go and
see one of the genuine gem mines as opposed to one of the gem shops do
so its quite amazing.
Fondest memory of Sri Lanka: everyone has a great big smile for
you..magic
Favorite Restaurant: Our
favourite was at our hotel..LANKA OBROY. a very top hotel..and very
nice, we got on well with the chef..who had worked at top hotels round
the world, we tried all the local meals, lots of curries, different from
curries in asian restaurannts in Britain !!.
Favorite Menu Item: Those lovely buffet meals followed with
really fresh fruit..as much as you can eat !!
Unique Qualities: right on the beach with plenty of sunloungers
and free towels...waiter service, and its a private strip of beach...the
beach sellers had to stay beyond a line of palm trees.....
Lodging Recommendation:
Lanka ObroyHotel..COLOMBO
Location: Right on COLOMBO beach..a long sandy beach..some beach
sellers...but if you are firm with them from the start they are ok....Go
and have a chat with them, and learn a little about their lives..they
all speak good english, and seem to love cricket,they really loved to
talk, especially when I said I would buy something on my last day
(actually I did buy some model tut tut`s, expertly made out of wood, and
they only cost 10 rupees . They told me the bars where they go to and
only pay 3 rupees for a pint of Lion beer...apparently the government
supports dual pricing (one price for tourists and one for
locals)....still very cheap though....we actually came home with money
left over....that`s never happened before !!!
you must visit Kandy....My
favoute city in Sri Lanka.. with a central lake, a huge Buddha, a large
university and some good sights....every visitor goes to a `Cultural
evening` with singing and dancing..well worth it...The dancers were
walking across hot coals only five feet from
where I was sitting..we could barely stand the heat...how they do it I
still don`t know
Off the Beaten Path: some visitors never get to go to the rock
fortress of Sigriya...en energetic climb to the top will provide you
with spectacular views and everlasting memories....also go to
Polonnaruwa the 11th century sinhalise capital (when you see Sinhalise
written down it looks amazing)...see the large statues......and af
course your visit would not be complete without a visit to the Elephant
Orphanage. . ask your guide about visiting the other place just down the
same road..here you can get in the river with the elephants...I climbed
on one`s back in the river..he then stood up , took a trunkful of water
and gave me a good soaking ( wear swimming gear under your
clothes)..good experience !
Go and enjoy yourself..you will get a
warm welcome...and they really need the tourist income..let me know if
you have a good time
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