Sri Lanka is a fairly safe country to visit. The people are generally friendly and helpful. Most locals at tourist atrractions do speak English. And at some attractions, you can pay S$5 -10 for the guides to explain to you the history of the place.
Some other tips include:
See a doctor 4 weeks before your travel date to get a prescription for malaria pills.
Buy a local SIM card at the airport to call/text back home or to use the internet. You will need to register with your passport. A normal SIM card is 175 rupees and a microSIM card is 400 rupees. For data usage, 1MB cost 1 rupee. Watsapp is one of the cheapest way to stay in touch with family and friends. Or if you prefer, switch off your mobile phone and enjoy the nature! 🙂
Check with the hotel which currency they accept for payment, and make sure they do not double convert the rates.
Ask for early check-in or late check-out. Most small hotels are flexible.
Find out where the locals eat. The food is delicious and is much cheaper than touristy places.
Check with the tuk tuk driver if he uses a meter.
Pack a light colour top that covers your shoulders, and long skirt/pants if you intend to visit the temples
Keep some small change with you to pay the caretaker who looks after your shoes when you enter the temple.
Make sure you have the right travel adaptor. Some multi travel adaptor do not have the one for Sri Lanka (3 circles), so bring along a pencil. It is very useful.
Go where the locals go for their ayurvedic massage. It is one third the price of what they charge tourists. But let me warn you first, it is VERY oily.
Bring mosquito repellent! Especially if you are like me – I tend to attract mosquitoes:(
There are so many things to do in Sri Lanka! This post will show you the top 10 things to do right here in Sri Lanka! Sri Lanka is an exotic destination for travelers who are adventurous, loves the nature, appreciates history, and enjoys good food. It has an eclectic mix of attractions that will suit everyone. Sri Lanka is best explored through a free & easy trip, with a rented car and a driver. Or if you have time to spare, you can also use the public transport.
Map of Sri Lanka
Map of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a tear-drop-shaped country with awesome beaches, wildlife national parks, and a central mountainous area. Below are the Top 10 Things to do in Sri Lanka:
Vesak Day, Sri Lanka: 3 Days of Celebrations -Lanterns and Fireworks
It was hard not to miss the Vesak Day celebrations with all the lanterns displayed along the streets and at lobbies of buildings. In addition to that, you can’t miss the huge crowd of people who were enjoying their 3 days off work shopping in the city or having a splash with their families by the coast.
Colombo City Vesak Day Celebrations
Colombo City Vesak Day Celebrations
Lights and Lanterns in Colombo City
Lights and Lanterns in Colombo City
Huge crowd celebrating Vesak Day
Huge crowd celebrating Vesak Day
Typical Lantern for Vesak Day
Typical Lantern for Vesak Day
Throngs of people were crossing the roads, affected the flow of traffic at the main roundabout. Policemen had to direct both human and car traffic to ensure that there were no major traffic jams or accidents.
Police directing traffic during Vesak Day Celebrations in Colombo City Sri Lanka
Everyone was excited about the fireworks and wanted to get a good spot. We weren’t too comfortable with the crowd and decided to head back up to the Paronoma Roof Top Restaurant at our hotel (link) to watch the fireworks. It was indeed a good choice 🙂
Huge crowd waiting for fireworks
Huge crowds waiting for fire works
Fireworks during Vesak Day Celebrations in Colombo City Sri Lanka
It was nice way to end off our last night in Sri Lanka! 🙂
Colombo City Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Ahhh…I just want to Zzz zzz
We arrived at Colombo slightly before 5am, after a 6 hours bus journey from Trincomalee. The bus stop was at the main train station. We checked our GPS on our phone (only 1 rupee for 1MB. So cheap!) and noted that Colombo City hotel was 800m away. There were many tuk tuk drivers touting for customers and they quoted us 300 rupees for the ride. Even though it was only about S$3, we refused to take the tuk tuk because we knew that it only cost 50 rupees for the first km (subsequent km is charged at 30 rupees). The streets were still filled with locals heading home after the Vesak Day celebrations, and there were many policemen patrolling, so we reckoned it was safe enough to walk to Colombo City Hotel.
World Trade Centre opposite of Colombo City Hotel
World Trade Centre opposite of Colombo City Hotel
Colombo City Hotel
Colombo City Hotel Sri Lanka
It was fairly easy to locate Colombo City Hotel as it was just opposite the World Trade Centre. The facade of the building was brightly lit and the light decorations on the trees in front made it a very beautiful picture as we approached the hotel. The staff on duty that night was friendly. He brought us to our room after we decided to pay the half day rate in order to get some rest due to the lack of sleep on the bus. I loved the room! It was spacious, the TV had ESPN channel, and most importantly, a bath tub! 🙂 The little pleasures in life….ahhhhhh.
TV and Kettle in Colombo City Hotel
TV and Kettle in Colombo City Hotel
Bath tub! in Colombo City Hotel
Bath tub in Colombo City Hotel
Comfy Beds in Colombo City Hotel
Comfy Beds in Colombo City Hotel
Dressing Table in Colombo City Hotel
Dressing Table in Colombo City Hotel
We took a nice hot bath and rested for 3 hours before we head up to the Panoroma Roof Top Restaurant for breakfast. Breakfast was simple but filling, and the supervisor on duty gave us directions to shopping malls.
Panoroma Roof Top Restaurant in Colombo City Hotel
Panoroma Roof Top Restaurant in Colombo City Hotel
We were in Colombo 1, and most of the shopping malls were in Colombo 3,4 and 7. It was easy to flag down a metered tuk tuk. We enjoyed a day in the city, shopping for gifts for friends and relatives. When we were done, we strolled along the coast and made our way back to the hotel. The location of Colombo City Hotel was awesome, and the price of USD90 was well worth it! 🙂
A Night in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka: Under the Stars, Illuminated by the Full Moon
The full moon hung fairly low that night, providing light for guests and locals who were playing beach volleyball. It was also especially pretty because of the many lanterns for Vesak Day celebrations. Sitting on a deck chair by the beach and enjoying the cool sea breeze was a great way to end the day before we went to Trincomalee town to catch our 10pm bus to Colombo City.
Vesak Day lantern decorations at dive shop at Trincomalee
Vesak Day lantern decorations at dive shop at Trincomalee
Chillax by the beach at night at Trincomalee
Chillax by the beach at night at Trincomalee
A game of beach volleyball under the moonlight
A game of beach volleyball under the moonlight
Natural light vs Artificial light
Natural light vs Artificial light
We were excited about our 6 hours bus ride to Colombo. The locals that we met informed us that the bus is safer than the train. It was also very affordable. A “regular” bus is abt S$8 while a “luxury” bus cost about S$12. We chose the “luxury bus” and was impressed by how new and clean the bus was. The bus was also very punctual. We set off at 10pm sharp and arrived in Colombo slightly before 5am. There was a toilet stop during the journey but we did not dare to use the public toilet at 2am 😛 The only thing I did not like was that the volume of the Tamil movie that was screened during the trip was too loud. (and we did not understand the movie as it was without subtitles!) A local guy did inform the driver to lower the volume but he did not 🙁
10pm Night Bus from Trincomalee to Colombo
10pm Night Bus from Trincomalee to Colombo
Well, that explained our lack of sleep (even though it was meant to be a night bus! And we thought we could save on a night in Colombo City Hotel) and so we ended up checking in at 5am and paid the half day rate. Oh well, that is another story altogether. Read on!
Uppuveli, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka: Chillax By The Beach
We were looking forward to the Trincomalee as we were a little weary from the trekking and climbing. It would be nice to chillax by the beach and focus on getting a nice tan before we head back to Singapore 🙂 We stayed at Lotus Park at Uppuveli which is about 10mins tuk tuk ride away from Trincomalee town centre. What is awesome about Lotus Park is that there is a swimming pool! Yay! And it has direct access to the beach, which is really nice and peaceful. It is not as touristy as Phuket or Bali.
When we are on a vacation, we like to catch either the sun rise or sun set (depending on our location). And for this trip, we woke up at 5.15am to catch the sunrise at 5.40am. Enjoy the photos below 🙂
Progression of sunrise at Trincomalee 1
Progression of sunrise at Trincomalee
Progression of sunrise at Trincomalee 2
Progression of sunrise at Trincomalee 2
Progression of sunrise at Trincomalee 3
Progression of sunrise at Trincomalee 3
Progession of sunrise at Trincomalee 4
Progression of sunrise at Trincomalee 4
Progression of sunrise at Trincomalee 5
Progression of sunrise at Trincomalee 5
As we were about to head back to our room for a short nap, we saw a group of fishermen pulling in their net. We thought they were almost done but it was another hour before the net was fully pulled in! It was a lot of work and the men (most of them looked quite elderly) were tired when the work was done. However, the catch that morning was not too good. According to a local, he told us that the fishermen only earn USD3 a day, and that there are very little fish these days due to dynamite fishing in the past.
Fishermen at work at Trincomalee
Fishermen at work at Trincomalee
Timing and co-ordination of fishermen at Trincomalee
Timing and co-ordination of fishermen at Trincomalee
Almost there!
Almost there!
Fishermen checking out their catch for the day
Fishermen checking out their catch for the day
Fishermen looking a little upset with the day’s catch
Fishermen looking a little upset with the days catch
Fishermen at Trincomalee Sri Lanka
Finally we get to just sit back and do nothing! We enjoyed a pot of tea with yummy Munchee biscuits by the pool. After 3 hours, we got the perfect tan 🙂 But the slathering of moisturiser after that was quite a chore 😛
Enjoying a cup of tea by the pool at Trincomalee
Enjoying a cup of tea by the pool at Trincomalee
Munchee biscuits and Tea. Yum.
Munchee biscuits and Tea – Yum!
Chillax at Trincomalee – Awesome! 🙂
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P.S If you are into diving, each dive costs about 30euros. Night dive will cost slightly more. If you are interested in snorkelling, there are boat rides out to Pigeon Island at around 9am by different boat operators.
Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla, Sri Lanka: Awesome Rock with Interesting History
Remember I mentioned that the ticket price for foreign tourist is constantly reviewed by the government? Well, it only cost USD15 to climb Sigiriya Rock a few years back but now it is USD30!! *horrors* (quickly purchase your airplane tickets to visit Sri Lanka now!)
Sigiriya Rock
Sigiriya Rock
At Sigiriya Rock, you can pay S$10 for a guide climb the rock with you and explain to you the history of the rock and the palace. It is also good so that you have someone to take photos for you when you are on the top of the rock 🙂
It is a fairly easy climb compared to the Dunhinda Fall and the stairs have recently undergone maintenance work (so it is safe!). But for those who have phobia for heights, you may find it a little scary when climbing, so don’t look down!
Lion Claws at Sigiriya Rock
Lion Claws at Sigiriya Rock
Stairs heading up the Sigiriya Rock
Stairs heading up the Sigiriya Rock
Scary stairs at Sigiriya Rock!
Scary stairs at Sigiriya Rock
You can pack your breakfast and have a picnic when you reach the top of Sigiriya Rock but beware of the monkeys who are after your food.
Halfway up the Sigiriya Rock
Halfway up the Sigiriya Rock
Ruins of Palace on Sigiriya Rock
Ruins of Palace on Sigiriya Rock
Top of the Sigiriya Rock
Top of the Sigiriya Rock
It takes about 45mins to climb up, so be prepared to set off early so that it won’t be too hot when you reach the top of Sigiriya Rock. Wear comfortable clothes, sensible shoes and bring a bottle of water with you. Enjoy the climb and the view! 🙂
PS. As we were leaving Sigiriya Rock at around 11am, we saw a bus load of Chinese tourists. The girls were wearing flowy dresses and wedge heels! Well, maybe they were really comfortable in that attire since I heard that there are people who climb the Great Wall of China in high heels! I would love to see that for myself…anyone wants to sponsor our trip to China? 🙂
A Digression – The Only Tunnel We Drove Through in Sri Lanka
As we headed up north from Kataragama, towards the mountainous central part of Sri lanka – Badulla, Ella, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy, we drove along the winding road as the elevation increased, and down the winding road as we got to the other side. It was interesting to note that throughout our journey, we only drove through one tunnel! Our driver wound down his window and had a lot of fun shouting and whistling in the tunnel, and hearing the echoes 🙂 The little moments of joy in life 🙂
Inside the tunnel
Inside the tunnel
Almost exiting the tunnel
Almost exiting the tunnel
Horton Plains, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka: A Great Workout!
Digress again: If you have been reading our posts on Sri Lanka (and the rest of our blog), you will realise that we like to blog about our hotel accommodation. We pride in finding the best deal; value for money; good location; clean room and comfort; helpful staff and feeling welcomed; wonderful facilities (swimming pool is our weakness. Heh). But I am not going to blog about our hotel in Nuwara Eliya. It was supposed to be one of the highlights of our trip – I was looking forward to posting wonderful pictures and raving about it (since we decided to splurge on this expensive hotel as a mid-trip treat). But all I can say is that either the staff were rigid in their thinking;, or not thinking at all, or just out to cheat customers of their money. So, no free advertising for this hotel even if it is mentioning its name in a bad review.
Back to Horton Plains…
The entrance fee for foreign tourists is about S$23 (inclusive of tax and service charge) and S$0.60 for locals. (You can start to see the pattern now). It is a short walk from the main entrance to the ticketing counter but it can also take quite some time as the tickets are handwritten. There is a toilet at the main entrance that looked recently renovated, so it is fairly clean with the modern seats.
Signage to Horton Plains National Park
Signage to Horton Plains National Park
Entrance of Horton Plains National Park
Entrance of Horton Plains National Park
Little Reminders for the visitors to Horton Plains National Park
Little Reminders for the visitors to Horton Plains National Park
We went to the park’s Visitor Centre and enquired about the trails. We were informed that there were 2 trails and the shorter one is about 9km which will take us about 3 hours. We were not expecting to walk for so long! 🙁 But we already paid for the entrance fee, so oh well. ( I did do my homework and asked our driver whether there was going to be a lot of climbing on this trip since we were tired from Dunhinda Falls, and he assured me it was “plains” so it would be easy. But I guess it slipped my mind to ask him how long the trail will be! By the way, there was some climbing involved especially at Baker’s Falls.)
Because we planned to set off early, the weather was quite kind to us during most part of our walk. Certain areas were shady and cool, and some were sunny but breezy. At some parts, the path seemed endless with no destination in sight, and we often asked “Are we there yet?” like annoying little children.
Small Stream along the plains
Small Stream along the plains
One of the easier-to-walk-flat-ground at Horton Plains National Park
One of the easier-to-walk-flat-ground at Horton Plains National Park
Are we there yet
Are we there yet?
Finally we reached Little World’s End! It seemed really scary standing near the edge as there was no safety barricade. According to our driver, there were Sri Lankan couples with “many many problems” who jumped off the cliff. Hmm, not sure if it was true. We took more photos and braced ourselves for the next 1.75km hike to the Greater World’s End.
Finally! We’ve reached Little World’s End at Horton Plains National Park
Finally We reached Little Worlds End at Horton Plains National Park
View from the Little World’s End at Horton Plains National Park
View from the Little Worlds End at Horton Plains National Park
Little World’s End also known as Mini World’s End
Little Worlds End also known as Mini Worlds End
Another 1.75Km Hike to Greater World’s End
Another 1.75 Km Hike to Greater Worlds End
The view from Greater World’s End looked about the same as the one from Little World’s End, although it is supposed to be about 3 times higher. We quickly looked for signs to direct us to the last attraction of the loop trail – Baker’s Falls.
Greater World’s End!
Greater Worlds End
Small Signage to Direct Us to Baker’s Falls
Small Signage to Direct Us to Bakers Falls
Big Signage to Direct Us back to Park Headquarters
Big Signage to Direct Us back to Park Headquarters
Along the way, there were several paths that were repaved because the older ones had become uneven and slippery. Some of the paths were very narrow and we had to really watch our step. There were also a couple of bridges that we had to cross, and we doubted the sturdiness of the bridge 😛 This “perilous” path reminded me of our Sapa trip in Vietnam…
Mini Bridge. We Wondered If It Is Safe
Mini Bridge We Wondered If It Was Safe
Interesting Plants At Horton Plains National Park. We thought it resembled the fried cauliflower we had for dinner last night.
Interesting Plants At Horton Plains National Park We thought it resembled the fried cauliflower we had for dinner last night
Another Bridge to Cross…and The path ahead was a little slippery and sloped
Another Bridge to Cross and The path ahead was a little slippery and sloped
We Can Hear the Waterfall! Are We There Yet!
We Can Hear the Waterfall – Are We There Yet?
We got excited when we could hear the sound of flowing water! We could see the downstream of the waterfall but the waterfall was not in sight. It was about another 30mins before we reached Baker’s Falls. And before we could see Baker’s Falls, we had to make our way down a steep slope, holding on to tree branches/trunks for safety! But of course the locals wearing their simple rubber slippers made it looked like it was an easy feat 🙂
Signage for Baker’s Falls
Signage for Bakers Falls
Baker’s Falls
Bakers Falls
Video of Bakers Falls
As it was a loop trail, we knew we had to make our way back to the car park. We saw the sign that says “3.5km to park headquarters”, and went “Ahhhhhh!~~” So we took a deep breath and psyched ourselves for the last part of the trail.
Ahhhh…we have only trekked two-thirds of the trail
Ahhhh we have only trekked two-thirds of the trail!
We took slightly more than 3 hours to complete the trail because we stopped for a little picnic along the way. Remember to wear comfortable walking shoes, bring sufficient water for the hike and think about what clothes you want to wear if you want to avoid funny tan lines (especially the ladies!) 🙂
Extra: We were pleasantly surprised to see a deer near the exit of Horton Plains National Park. It was right beside the road and it looked directly at us when we drove by. I guess it got used to cars and humans already.
Unexpected Sighting of Deer as we left Horton Plains National Park
Unexpected Sighting of Deer as we left Horton Plains National Park
A Digression – On Board A Squeezy Train in Sri Lanka (It Is Really Like That! )
Bear with me as I digress from our itinerary 😛 I know we have seen photos in the newspapers or in documentaries but we were still shocked when we saw the following. Heh. Nothing beats experiencing it yourself, I guess.
Train Approaching
Train Approaching
It is really like that!
It is really like that!
Local Train Station
Local Train Station
P.S We also drove past the highest elevation train station in Sri Lanka but I was not quick enough with the camera 🙁
Hakgala Botanical Gardens, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka: Beautiful Landscapes and Pretty Flowers
We left Sunnyside Holiday Bungalow at 9.30am after a delicious Sri Lankan breakfast. After an hour on the road, we arrived at Dunhinda Falls. It was a tiring climb so we took the opportunity to nap during the 3 hours ride to Nuwara Eliya. What greeted us when we alighted from the car at our next destination, Hakgala Botanical Gardens, was cool, fresh air (Which we greatly appreciated after being cooped up in the car for 3 hours!)
Entrance of Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Entrance of Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Map of HUGE Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Map of HUGE Hakgala Botanical Gardens
The entrance fee for foreign adult is about S$11. Students get a discounted price of about S$8.
Locals only need to pay S$0.60! That explained the crowd in the gardens – Many families were having picnic in the garden; students still in their uniforms were hanging out, chatting, playing cricket etc.
As you can see from the map, the Hakgala Botanical Gardens is really huge. We walked for more than an hour and did not manage to cover the whole garden. We were afraid to venture too far as we needed to put into consideration the time needed to walk back to the main entrance. Our next hotel was another 1 hour car ride; and because of the narrow winding road, we wanted to make sure our driver drove while the sun is still up. If we had the time, we would have loved to sit on the grass and enjoy a picnic!
We took a few photographs of the gardens but I do not think they do justice to the gardens. You have to be there to experience it yourself! But in the meantime, enjoy the photos 🙂
Central Pond in Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Central Pond in Hakgala Botanical Gardens
First few pretty flowers near the entrance of Hakgala Botanical Gardens
First few pretty flowers near the entrance of Hakgala Botanical Gardens
One of the many rocky steps in the Hakgala Botanical Gardens
One of the many rocky steps in the Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Hill top Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Hill top Hakgala Botanical Gardens
I don’t know the name of this flower but I love the colour!
I dont know the name of this flower but I love the colour
Arty shot of sunlight thru the trees
Arty shot of sunlight thru the trees
Rock Garden at Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Rock Garden at Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Sculpture in Japanese Garden at Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Sculpture in Japanese Garden at Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Pretty greenhouse in Japanese Garden at Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Pretty greenhouse in Japanese Garden at Hakgala Botanical Gardens
My favourite flower – sunflower!
My favourite flower – Sunflower
Pretty arrangement of flowers at Hakgala Botanical Gardens
Pretty arrangement of flowers at Hakgala Botanical Gardens
“Don’t go chasing waterfalls. Please stick to the rivers and lakes that you’re used to” -TLC
We visited a few waterfalls during this Sri Lanka trip. Some were admired from afar, some were up close and personal (after trekking and climbing!). Some were free of charge, and some required either a nominal park fee or a very expensive park permit.
The first one is Diyaluma Falls. We drove past the waterfall on our way to Ella and we stopped to take photos. There wasn’t a lot happening around that area except for the Diyaluma Falls Inn.
Diyaluma Falls
Diyaluma Falls
Our driver then asked us if we were interested to “shower” in a waterfall and he said he would bring to one where we can soak in the water. However, when we arrived the waterfall, he changed his mind and said it was too dangerous. There was even a huge sign painted in red to indicate the number of lives lost in the waterfall. *scary* We did not managed to get the name of the waterfall though.
Another waterfall but unsure of its name
Dangerous Waterfall
Bakers Falls is located within the Horton Plains Park. This required a fair amount of trekking and the last part to Bakers Fall was quite steep. I personally found it quite difficult to climb but I saw local elderly women wearing slippers climbing with ease; much like the locals in Sapa, Vietnam.
Bakers Falls
Bakers Falls
Another angle of Bakers Falls
Another angle of Bakers Falls
Video of Bakers Falls
Though it’s much much much smaller compared to the Niagara Falls, still it provided a lovely sight after the trekking. A good place to cool off and enjoy a dip as well 🙂
It is much cheaper to visit Dunhinda Falls (only S$2 per person) and you actually get to see 2 waterfalls – the Mini Dunhinda Falls and the Dunhinda Falls. It took us about 30minutes to trek to the Dunhinda Falls and some parts can be very narrow and slippery. You can pay the locals a small fee of about S$1 for him to assist you along the way. There are several souvenir stalls, refreshment stalls and rest stops along the way so take your time and enjoy the scenery!
Dunhinda Falls
Dunhinda Falls
Scary bridge that used to be the path to Dunhinda Falls
Scary bridge that used to be the path to Dunhinda Falls
Video of Dunhinda Falls
On the next day, our driver did bring us to another waterfall where we can swim or just soak our feet and enjoy a natural foot massage while sitting on the rocks. We did not manage to take any photos as we were in the waters, and oops, we forgot to ask our driver for the name of the waterfall again!
Take time to find the hidden treasures and enjoy the roar of the waterfalls and the spray of the water when you are in Sri Lanka! 🙂
Yala National Park, Sri Lanka: Get On The Wild Side!
Yala National Park is actually a wild life sanctuary sort of like a safari and is most visited national park in Sri Lanka. We were advised to set off at 5am (even though the Park only opens at 6am, and the ride from My Village Hotel only takes 30mins) so that the jeep will one of the first few when entering the Yala National Park. I guess the “early bird catches the worm” theory holds true in Sri Lanka too 🙂
The Yala National Park has 2 tours (each abt 4hrs): The morning 4our, and the afternoon/evening tour
When you pay for the Yala National Park entrance tickets, it includes the fee for a guide from the park.
The fee for a foreign adult (as of May 2012) is 1945 rupees (abt S$20).
We also had to pay 60 rupees each for our own driver and the jeep driver..
The above is subjected to service charge and VAT.
(As you can see, the difference in the local and the tourist fees is huge! And from what my Sri Lankan friend shared, the government is likely to increase it further as tourism is boosting the country’s economy. So head down to Sri Lanka soon before the next price hike!)
Our main objective of the safari journey was to catch a glimpse of the elusive leopard, and the joke of the day was “Quick, send a Facebook msg to the animals to come out now” /“The animals are not responding to my tweets”/”There is poor reception here so the animals didn’t receive our texts”. It was hilarious! I will leave you to enjoy the photos and the captions 🙂
Setting off for Yala National Park at 5am
Setting off for Yala National Park at 5am
And we thought we were the earliest!
And we thought we were the earliest
Enter at your own risk!
Enter at your own risk
Entrance of Yala National Park
Entrance of Yala National Park
The first animal to greet us
The first animal to greet us
The elephant that pooped and went away
The elephant that pooped and went away
Crocodile enjoying the morning sun
Crocodile enjoying the morning sun
Crocodile enjoying a morning swim
Crocodile enjoying a morning swim
First glimpse of the sun
First glimpse of the sun
Sunrise!
Sunrise
Hare trying to cross the road
Hare trying to cross the road
Beautiful Kingfisher
Beautiful Kingfisher
Can you spot the birds on the branches
Can you spot the birds on the branches?
The elephants are finally out after we text them! Heh.
The elephants are finally out after we text them! Heh!
Close up shot of elephant
Close up shot of elephant
Deer resting in the shade
Deer resting in the shade
Can you spot the spotted deer
Can you spot the spotted deer?
Can you spot the owl
Can you spot the owl?
Can you spot the monkeys
Can you spot the monkeys?
Peacock
Peacock
Wild boars
Wild boars
Buffalo
Buffalo
Reflections 1
Reflections 1
Reflections 2
Reflections 2
Narrow Path
Narrow Pathway in Yala National Park
Rest stop for photo taking
Rest stop for phototaking
Area hit by 2004 Boxing Day tsunami
Area hit by 2004 Boxing Day tsunami
Bye Bye Yala National Park
Bye Bye Yala National Park
Hope you’ve enjoyed our little game of “Can you spot the…” I guess we were not lucky enough to see the leopard but we did enjoy the jeep ride through the park! It was the highlight of the day! 🙂
Tissamaharama Temple and Kataragama Temple, Sri Lanka: Just 2 of The Many Famous Temples in Sri Lanka
As we were informed by Sujith at My Village Hotel that the best time to visit the Kataragama Temple is 6.30pm to see a procession, our driver took a detour to let us visit the Tissamaharama Temple first as we were still early. Our driver alighted us in front of the temple and waited in the car along the road side.
Tissamaharama Temple
Tissamaharama Temple
It was our first time visiting a Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka and we weren’t quite sure what to do. We saw a local family walking around the temple so we decided to do the same and see what is on the other side. After walking a complete round, we were puzzled. There was no door! We head back to the car and asked our driver what is in the building, and he replied in a very matter-of -fact way: “Cement.” We asked more questions like “Why is there no door?”, “Why would they build such a big building?”, “Who are the devotees praying to when they face the building and chant?” but our driver spoke little English and could not answer us. Later, we found out from a Sri Lankan friend that the temple is a sealed room containing the King’s jewels and treasures, as well as religious items.
We arrived at Kataragama Temple slightly after 6pm and could see many devotees lighting candles and queuing up in an orderly fashion to offer their fruit offerings. At 6.30pm, the procession began.
Devotees at Kataragama Temple waiting to present their fruit offerings
Devotees at Kataragama Temple waiting to present their fruit offerings
Devotees at Kataragama Temple lighting candles
Devotees at Kataragama Temple lighting candles
There were a few things I noted about the temples in Sri Lanka:
1. The devotees offer fruits and flowers instead of burning of incense.
2. There is usually a caretaker to look after your shoes/sandals for a nominal fee (about 25cts per pair) as footwear is not allowed on the temple grounds.
3. The female devotees are dressed in white tops and white long skirts (the knees must be covered).
4. There are elephants there where you can pay a fee to take a photo with, and the little kids get to play an elephant version of “London Bridge” .
Do find time to visit the famous Sacred Temple of The Tooth Relic in Kandy and Rock Temple in Dambulla too. (Both temples require foreign tourists to pay an entrance fee).
My Village Hotel, Tissamaharama, Sri Lanka: Great Location and Friendly Owner 🙂
After viewing the Hummanaya Blow Hole, it took us about another 1.5hrs on the road to get to our next destination, Tissamaharama. The itinerary for this stop is to visit the Tissamaharama Temple, Kataragama Temple, and the star attraction, Yala National Park.
It is always nice to feel welcomed when you check in into your hotel (no matter how many stars it is), and Sujith, the owner of My Village Hotel, managed to do so. There are only 5 rooms at My Village; and there is a garden with more than enough comfy seats (and 2 hammocks!) for the guests to relax, read a book, and enjoy the warmth of the sun and the cooling breeze. You can also find fruits such as guava and jambu in the garden. And I am s5re they are sweet because the ants were having a feast!
My Village Hotel entrance
My Village Hotel entrance
My Village Hotel chillax garden
My Village Hotel chillax garden
Jambu tree in garden of My Village Hotel
Jambu tree in garden of My Village Hotel
The price of the room was 60 USD. It was clean and spacious and I like the design of the windows with the little triangles on top. I guess something that city people are not used to is that there is no TV in the room. (About half the hotels we stayed at for this trip does not have a TV in the room. Well, there is a TV in Dalawella Beach Resort but t(ere were only 2 channels! *gasps*) But the main point for choosing exotic Sri Lanka as a holiday destination was to get closer to nature and learn about the culture, so a TV in the room would only be a distraction. (Of course there was the exception when we HAD to watch the Man City vs Man United match! :P)
Spacious room in My Village Hotel
Spacious room in My Village Hotel
Pantry area in My Village Hotel
Pantry area in My Village Hotel
Clean bathroom in My Village Hotel
Clean bathroom in My Village Hotel
Sujith was helpful when we needed more infomration regarding the timing to visit the temples, how to book the jeep for the visit to Yala National Park, and even recommended nearby Royal Restaurant that serves yummy food at a low price.
Royal Restaurant
Royal Restaurant
Lemon Chicken Rice, Omelette, Fried Rice at Royal Restaurant
Lemon Chicken Rice and Omelette Fried Rice at Royal Restaurant
We enjoyed our stay at My Village very much. Thank you Sujith for the delicious breakfast and fresh fruits!
Hummanaya / Kudawella Blow Hole, Dikewella, Sri Lanka: Hear The Roar & Feel The Spray!
On our way from Galle to Tissamaharama, our driver suggested that we drive by Dikewella to see probably the world’s highest blow hole, the Hummanaya Blow Hole.
At the entrance of the Hummanaya Blow Hole, the first thing that caught my eye was the huge rib of a blue whale!
Bones of blue whale at entrance of Hummanaya Blowhole. sgd2 for entrance
Bones of blue whale at entrance of Hummanaya Blow Hole – SGD 2 for entrance fee
After paying a nominal fee of S$2 at the ticket counter, we had to trek about 20minutes to see the Hummanaya Blow Hole. As it wasn’t the right season, the height of the spray was not as high as some had mentioned (about 120feet). Nevertherless, it was awesome to hear the pressure build up like rumbling thunder, the hissing sound of the spray, and feeling the cool spray on your skin on a hot day!
Hummanaya Blowhole
Hummanaya Blow Hole
Progression of Hummanaya Blowhole 1
Progression of Hummanaya Blow hole
Progression of Hummanaya Blowhole 2
Progression of Hummanaya Blow hole 2
Progression of Hummanaya Blowhole 3
Progression of Hummanaya Blow hole 3
Progression of Hummanaya Blowhole 4
Progression of Hummanaya Blow hole 4
This happens every 10 to 15 minutes depending on wind direction and level of water, so get your camera ready for the perfect shot of the Hummanaya Blow Hole! 🙂
In addition, you can really hear the roar of the blow hole as the pressure builds up! Not only that, the spray can also be felt! Talk about 4D experience!
So remember, the next time you make a trip from Galle to Tissamaharama while on a trip in Sri Lanka, why not make a trip to Hummanaya Blow Hole as well? It will definitely be an unforgettable experience!
Galle Fort, Galle, Sri Lanka: A Little Piece of History
The Fort was first built by the Portuguese in 1588, later fortified by the Dutch in 1649
When we first arrived at Galle Fort, it looked like it is just a granite path along the coastal line of southern Sri Lanka. However knowing the history of the fort, we appreciated the site; and that it is not just rubbles and ruins from yesteryear. It was also affected by the tsunami on Boxing Day 2004 but has since been restored.
As we were on a tight schedule (and it was a super hot day!), we did not manage to walk along the entire fort. Below are the photos of what we saw and a video of the view from Galle Fort.
Galle Fort
Galle Fort
view from Galle Fort
View from Galle Fort
Rock formation Galle Fort
Rock Formation
Along the Galle Fort
Along the Fort
Toilet at Galle Fort
Toilet at the Fort
Waves crashing onto huge rocks at Galle Fort
Waves crashing on to huge rocks
Lighthouse at Galle Fort
Lighthouse @ Galle Fort
View from the Fort
Hope you enjoy the photos, and make a trip down to visit Galle Fort someday soon!
After driving 3 hours from Colombo Airport, we finally reached Galle. There are many hotels/resorts available along the beach and we chose Dalawella Beach Resort. For a double room (clean and spacious) with breakfast, it cost us about USD80. It also includes accommodation and breakfast for the driver! Although we arrived at 6am, the staff allowed us to check in and rest without additional charges. It was good to have a hot shower and short nap before heading out for sightseeing 🙂
After feeling rested, we head out of our room and was immediately greeted by the ocean! The huge waves were crashing down on the shoreline (sorry, the photo does not do justice to the waves as I was unable to time the shot well :P), and the hotel staff kindly advised against swimming in the waters (Heh…obviously I wasn’t intending to swim in THAT stormy waters).
Direct access to the beach!
Direct access to the beach!
Huge Waves!
Huge Waves!
Since the hotel did not provide breakfast for that morning (I did say they were nice enough not to charge extra for the early check in but I guess they were not that generous to throw in free breakfast. Lol), we drove out to a nearby eatery to fill our stomach. Although we were excited and interested to try authentic Sri Lankan food but we chose not to order the Sri Lankan breakfast buffet (only S$1.75!!!) as there were ants around the buffet counter and the curry did not look heated up. We knew we had ample opportunities to try local food in the week ahead so we decided to order something safer and foolproof (to ensure we don’t get queasy stomach on our first day in Sri Lanka!)
Fried Noodles and Fried Rice for Brunch
Fried Noodles and Fried Rice for Brunch
With all the carbs slowly being digested, we were ready to walk down the Dutch Galle Fort!
Bandarnaike International Airport, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The Start of Our Journey in Exotic Sri Lanka!
At Night
As the plane starts to descend towards Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport at 2am, you cannot really identify the city. The lights are sparse, and there is a lack of definition of any districts. This is a very different picture compared to Changi Airport, Singapore.
View of Colombo from plane.Sparse lights
View of Colombo from plane.Sparse lights
At the arrival terminal, it was however still very much “alive” with the staff calling out “change currency!” from their different booths. The telecommunication companies were still open for business and we could get our sri lankan sim card for the trip. It costs only S$1.25 for a normal sim card and S$4 for a micro sim card. The minimum top up/reload each time is 50cts. You can choose to activate the data plan (for 7 days) which will cost you S$0.91 for 200MB, or pay S$0.01 for each MB used. (Using Watsapp and checking email uses only about 1MB a day. However, if you want to browse Facebook or upload photos, it may go up to 10MB a day). Each sms back to SG is about S$0.60, and a phone call back to SG is about S$0.70 per minute.
Note: At time of trip ( May 2012), S$1 = 100 sri lankan rupees
And I apologise in advance for the quoting some prices in sri lankan rupees, some in SGD(S$) and some in USD. It is dependent on the individual attractions that choose to charge in sri lankan rupees or USD. And it is easier to just divide by 100 to quote the price in SGD(S$).
Our driver met us at the arrival waiting area close to 3am. Thankfully with the new highway, it took us only 3hours to get to Galle. But of course, like all new roads, it comes with a fee.
New highway from Colombo to Galle
New highway from Colombo to Galle
New road therefore need toll
New road therefore need toll
In The Day
We left Sri Lanka on a 3pm flight, and that allowed us to see the surroundings of the airport. There is a pretty garden at Departure, and our favourite supermarket where we can stock up on Munchee biscuits before we head back to Singapore 🙂 You can also feel the festivity in the air with the many lanterns for Vesak Day celebrations.
Vesak Day lanterns at Colombo Airport
Vesak Day lanterns at Colombo Airport
Garden at the Colombo Airport
Garden at the Colombo Airport
Fav supermarket. Last minute shopping for Munchee biscuits
Fav supermarket. Last minute shopping for Munchee biscuits
