Sri Lanka

PrincessFiona

Weegie Addick said:

Went last year and loved it. Stayed in Galle then Tangalle further along the coast, then a train ride through the tea country and a stay at Gal Oya National Park. Drove back through Kandy to the edge of Colombo for a last night at a lovely guest house, Notary’s House. 

If you enjoy wildlife, you can take a whale watching boat trip from near Galle - we hoped to see blue whales but ended up with a close encounter with orca. And the elephants at Gal Oya were fabulous - they swim in the lake.

We visited a couple of Buddhist temples, including one in a village on Poya - the monthly celebration of the full moon.

We found it much more relaxing than we expected and the people were very welcoming. We avoided the large resorts - found out these were a bit over-run with Russians. 

Would absolutely recommend.

I have only been once about 12 years ago. Planning a trip back (plus the Maldives), so good to know about he Russians as wouldn't have realised that would be the case - I think they are still massively adversely affected by travel bans to lots of countries, so may have had to 'broaden their horizons'

JohnnyH2

MrOneLung said:

One of my wife’s brothers lives in Australia so had a family meet up there in 2015.  Stayed in a villa in Hikaduwa  - 14 of us

Loved the place, everyone so friendly. 

The worst drivers I have experienced though !! 

For me the drivers are excellent, they are having to deal with the world's worst pedestrians, just walk out in front, even on a motorway!

PopIcon

Addick_in_Exile said:

I am passionate about Dambulla, which has home to sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries. It has cave monastery, with five sanctuaries, and is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. 

I'm going to be staying in Kandalama for a few nights. Thanks for the tip and thanks to everyone else who has contributed.

Simonsen

Got back to Colombo after last night's game in 2hrs 40. An hour quicker than the outward trip. Kiwis deserved their win. 

Simonsen

Just seen the bagpipe ceremony of lowering the flag at The Galle Face Hotel in Colombo. 

dicktracey

At Nuwara Eliya, golf and high tea .... so colonial 

KBslittlesis

Get yourself on top of Sigiriya Rock Fortress & pretend to be Simon Le Bon.
G’wan…….mind you (unless it’s had an upgrade in the last 14yrs) it’s not for the faint hearted.

HastingsRed

KBslittlesis said:

Get yourself on top of Sigiriya Rock Fortress & pretend to be Simon Le Bon.
G’wan…….mind you (unless it’s had an upgrade in the last 14yrs) it’s not for the faint hearted.

Some massive bee/wasp nests when we went up there (didn't bother us at all though) great views and definitely one of the a highlights of our trip there.

HastingsRed

PopIcon said:

Addick_in_Exile said:

I am passionate about Dambulla, which has home to sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries. It has cave monastery, with five sanctuaries, and is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. 

I'm going to be staying in Kandalama for a few nights. Thanks for the tip and thanks to everyone else who has contributed.

We stayed at the Kandalama hotel and regularly had monkeys visiting the balcony it's in a lovely spot set in 55 acres of forest we also visited Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Kandy and Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage on a weeks private tour. After that we stayed in Colombo and Bentota (Taj Exotica hotel) for another week....fantastic trip (having Sri Lankan friends helped).

PopIcon

HastingsRed said:

PopIcon said:

Addick_in_Exile said:

I am passionate about Dambulla, which has home to sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries. It has cave monastery, with five sanctuaries, and is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. 

I'm going to be staying in Kandalama for a few nights. Thanks for the tip and thanks to everyone else who has contributed.

We stayed at the Kandalama hotel and regularly had monkeys visiting the balcony it's in a lovely spot set in 55 acres of forest we also visited Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Kandy and Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage on a weeks private tour. After that we stayed in Colombo and Bentota (Taj Exotica hotel) for another week....fantastic trip (having Sri Lankan friends helped).

I'm going to be in Ahungalla for a week first. We 100% want to adventure and experience some culture. However, we plan to spend some time just relaxing at the hotel enjoying some good weather. 

We'll likey spend a day at Wasgamuwa National Park, originally i wanted to go Yala, but it's few hours drive from either of the places we are staying at. And of course there is no guarantee you'll see leopards or sloths at either.

I've heard mixed things about the elephant orphanage(s). It was something we'd planned to go, but have decided to ditch and hope to see an elephant at Wasgamuwa.

HastingsRed

PopIcon said:

HastingsRed said:

PopIcon said:

Addick_in_Exile said:

I am passionate about Dambulla, which has home to sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries. It has cave monastery, with five sanctuaries, and is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. 

I'm going to be staying in Kandalama for a few nights. Thanks for the tip and thanks to everyone else who has contributed.

We stayed at the Kandalama hotel and regularly had monkeys visiting the balcony it's in a lovely spot set in 55 acres of forest we also visited Dambulla, Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa, Kandy and Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage on a weeks private tour. After that we stayed in Colombo and Bentota (Taj Exotica hotel) for another week....fantastic trip (having Sri Lankan friends helped).

I'm going to be in Ahungalla for a week first. We 100% want to adventure and experience some culture. However, we plan to spend some time just relaxing at the hotel enjoying some good weather. 

We'll likey spend a day at Wasgamuwa National Park, originally i wanted to go Yala, but it's few hours drive from either of the places we are staying at. And of course there is no guarantee you'll see leopards or sloths at either.

I've heard mixed things about the elephant orphanage(s). It was something we'd planned to go, but have decided to ditch and hope to see an elephant at Wasgamuwa.

We were there over 20 years ago so I guess things may have changed...have a good trip anyway.

PopIcon

How was the weather for those folks who recently travelled?

Looking at the forecast there have been really bad storms this week. 

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I got punched in the cock by a Toque macaque on the first day. This is becoming a fairly standard welcome for me.

dicktracey

Mixed in November ... when it rains, it falls heavy - tropical heat makes it humid.

iaitch

PopIcon said:

I got punched in the cock by a Toque macaque on the first day. This is becoming a fairly standard welcome for me.

I hope I never meet you Pop.

KBslittlesis

You could set your watch by the afternoon monsoon rain the first time we went.
When we first arrived we wondered why everyone disappeared at 3.55pm. We were in the pool as it was boiling.
Next thing, stair rods rain from what felt like out of nowhere.
It was beautiful swimming in it.