It’s about time that I got on with it and wrote a blog post about Sri Lanka!
On my way back from China, I made a not-so-on-the-way pit stop to Sri Lanka, where I was reunited with my very patient boyfriend, who had not only waited for months, whilst I was in China, but for 10 hours in Sri Lanka alone.
I won’t gabble on as I know you’re dying to take a look at the photos and have a cuppa.
Negombo
What do to:
- Eat Seafood. Drink Beer.
- Watch the fishermen at work (and rather humorously, coming back from work).
- Chill out on the beach – although we found it a little windy!
- Make friends and take a ride on their very colourful tuk tuks (I wish I could say the trips were as pleasant as they look!).
Colombo
What to do:
We didn’t plan to spend too much time in Colombo, and set ourselves to see the city in one day. We enlisted the (paid) help of a tuk tuk driver, who drove us around the city, showing us the best sights, foods and unfortunately not smells…
- Drive around the city in a tuk tuk and boss your day.
- Make friends with a man claiming to be an English teacher
- Wait outside a (beautiful) mosque whilst your man takes a look inside
Galle
What to do:
- Go to the market in the square
- Eat some AMAZING ice cream (Dairy King)
- Walk the wall (I would recommended once the sun has started to go down. Beautiful sunsets and you don’t run the risk of looking like a tomato.
- There is some really great food in Galle. There are a number of ‘Mama’s’ and to be honest, I have no idea if we went to the original or not. Regardless, it was delicious.
Hikkaduwa & Bentota
We didn’t actually take that many pictures in Hikkaduwa, mainly because we were having too much fun relaxing, surfing, eating coconut rotti and drinking island cocktails…
What to do:
- Eat coconut rotti
- Eat and drink coconuts
- Find a free beach lounger with shade (you won’t regret it) and order some lovely drinks
- Rent a surf board and catch the waves! (Or a body board after surfing has miserably failed)
- Make friends with the locals – they will provide an endless supply of fresh aloe vera when thing starts to get a little bit pink.
- Day trip to Bentota (another lovely beach with calmer water)
Yala National Park / Tissamaharama
Whilst on a bus to Tissamaharama we met a lovely fella in a bring pink polo who asked us where we were staying and he owned a hotel. Now, you might hear alarm bells ringing, but anything that travelling has taught me is that it is the people who DON’T talk to you who are the people posing a risk. Taking a chance, we went with him to his hotel, Senrose Hotel. It. Was. Amazing! Planning to only spend a couple of quid on a room we thought this was way out of budget, but he asked that we say with them, as their first ever guests, and give them an honest review – and here it is!
Not only was the hotel amazing, but he took us on his moped to see the local sights, an amazing lake, where we saw thousands upon thousands of fruit bats. The most incredible sight I have ever seen in my entire life.
What to do in Tissa:
- Make friends!
- Visit Wirawilla Lake
- Visit Tissa Lake
- Visit Debrawewe Lake (pictured)
- Go to Yala national park (most hotels will offer services, Senrose Hotel’s was first class). The views of elephants are amazing, but I will maybe do an update on this, as I know there have been some elephant attacks on humans, leading me to believe some tour guide jeeps may be getting too close.
Ella
I love Ella. Beautiful sights with a welcoming cool breeze. The walk up Ella mountain is one that you will want to undertake (with a guide, might I add.)
What to do:
- Stay in a guest house with a view (this will not be in the main, bustling area.)
- Get breakfast! This breakfast was the best that I had had in all of Sri Lanka. Great local coffee, a Sri Lankan style pancake with banana and cinnamon with a massive bowl of local fruits.
- Climb Ella Mountain
- Climb little Emma Mountain
- Walk the railway (carefully!) and go to the waterfall.
Nuwara Eliya
What to do:
- Take the train! (Pictured)
- Have a look at the ‘British’ sights
Sigiriya
What to do:
- Stay with a lovely local family
- Check out the local restaurants, they are great value and REALLY tasty
- Do not ride the elephants
- And of course… climb Sigirya! (Note: it is very expensive, but very worth it).
Kandy
What to do:
- Go and see a traditional dance performance (and get a picture!)
- Embrace the travel (even the 8 hour journey from Sigiriya and then the 5 hours to Colombo)
What next?
- Start planning your next holiday!
- Liked Sri Lanka? Try India or Indonesia!
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