Sri Lanka trip :
pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/ashwinivg/Srilanka#
Naveen and I decided at the last minute to utilize our 10 day holiday; the cheapest as to Sri Lanka. 7000 bucks round trip from Chennai. We hopped on a Shatabdi from Bangalore and set off.
Our first stop was at Colombo, a late night crash at the Intercontinental Hotel . We were hardly impressed by the hotel or Colombo; the army is everywhere and passports will be checked every few meters. Besides that, there is not a whole lot to do in Colombo.
We met a travel agent who promised to take us around Sri Lanka for a lumpsump. The plan entailed being driven around in a car , getting out at scenic points, taking out our cameras and clicking pictures. Finally, after much deliberation............we decided to venture out on our own with the Lonely Planet as our guide and with the intent of keeping our budget to a minimum. Which, we actually managed; the entire trip including airfare for 2 of us, cost us 60K (of course, including the activities - rafting / snorkelling / water skiing ... etc and shopping).
First stop was at Kandy. We took a bus from Colombo bus terminal, it is a long windy route, and travel by bus is definitely cheaper, but it takes double the time. This was also the case throughout the trip, the commute which frustrated me most was a 27km stretch which took 1 hour!!! The bus driver stopped at every 50 yard interval for anyone who wanted to get on the bus.
Now........ I am digressing, Kandy was also pretty much a washout, we visited a temple and decided not to enter. Entrance charge for foreigners at all places of interest is atleast 100 times higher than for the natives! The best part of the trip was that we met Dimuthu, who helped us plan our trip from Kandy. BTW, he is also mentioned in the Sri Lanka Lonely Planet.
The fun starts now...................
First stop from Kandy was at Kithulgala where we went white water rafting. Both of us had a blast, and jumped into the river for some body rafting as well. Next stop was at Nuwara Eliya, called the Little England of Sri Lanka. And, it surely lived up to its name, it was damp and cold and miserable! Nuwara Eliya was a pit stop to Horton Plains; Horton plains is beautiful, it is a UNESCO preserved site and has diverse flora. The trail in Horton plains is about 10 kms and winds its way through World's end and mini world's end, a 800ft sheer drop, which we weren't able to see thanks to the mist and Bakers Falls.
Next stop was at Ella, a sleepy little town facing Ella Rock. There are little hotels dotted along the road looking upto the rock. Ella is a quaint little place, with tea plantations and nice hiking routes. Naveen and I, with the help of the map provided at the guest house, lost our way and ended up at Ella Rock. The view from the top is spectacular with mountains surrounding us.
Finally, we got to Bentota and beach life. Since we were not visiting Sri Lanka during peak season, the party scene was non-existent. Bentota did not hold much appeal, except for an hour long snorkeling session. The coral was beautiful and so were the fish, we also managed to get spooked by a sea urchin.
On the last day of our trip, which was the best, we landed in Unawatuna for some water sports. We took the tube ride thrice and I had the best time of my life. And then, there was the water skiing; after a short beginner course, both of us managed to stand up for a few seconds on the skis!!!!
pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/ashwinivg/Srilanka#
Naveen and I decided at the last minute to utilize our 10 day holiday; the cheapest as to Sri Lanka. 7000 bucks round trip from Chennai. We hopped on a Shatabdi from Bangalore and set off.
Our first stop was at Colombo, a late night crash at the Intercontinental Hotel . We were hardly impressed by the hotel or Colombo; the army is everywhere and passports will be checked every few meters. Besides that, there is not a whole lot to do in Colombo.
We met a travel agent who promised to take us around Sri Lanka for a lumpsump. The plan entailed being driven around in a car , getting out at scenic points, taking out our cameras and clicking pictures. Finally, after much deliberation............we decided to venture out on our own with the Lonely Planet as our guide and with the intent of keeping our budget to a minimum. Which, we actually managed; the entire trip including airfare for 2 of us, cost us 60K (of course, including the activities - rafting / snorkelling / water skiing ... etc and shopping).
First stop was at Kandy. We took a bus from Colombo bus terminal, it is a long windy route, and travel by bus is definitely cheaper, but it takes double the time. This was also the case throughout the trip, the commute which frustrated me most was a 27km stretch which took 1 hour!!! The bus driver stopped at every 50 yard interval for anyone who wanted to get on the bus.
Now........ I am digressing, Kandy was also pretty much a washout, we visited a temple and decided not to enter. Entrance charge for foreigners at all places of interest is atleast 100 times higher than for the natives! The best part of the trip was that we met Dimuthu, who helped us plan our trip from Kandy. BTW, he is also mentioned in the Sri Lanka Lonely Planet.
The fun starts now...................
First stop from Kandy was at Kithulgala where we went white water rafting. Both of us had a blast, and jumped into the river for some body rafting as well. Next stop was at Nuwara Eliya, called the Little England of Sri Lanka. And, it surely lived up to its name, it was damp and cold and miserable! Nuwara Eliya was a pit stop to Horton Plains; Horton plains is beautiful, it is a UNESCO preserved site and has diverse flora. The trail in Horton plains is about 10 kms and winds its way through World's end and mini world's end, a 800ft sheer drop, which we weren't able to see thanks to the mist and Bakers Falls.
Next stop was at Ella, a sleepy little town facing Ella Rock. There are little hotels dotted along the road looking upto the rock. Ella is a quaint little place, with tea plantations and nice hiking routes. Naveen and I, with the help of the map provided at the guest house, lost our way and ended up at Ella Rock. The view from the top is spectacular with mountains surrounding us.
Finally, we got to Bentota and beach life. Since we were not visiting Sri Lanka during peak season, the party scene was non-existent. Bentota did not hold much appeal, except for an hour long snorkeling session. The coral was beautiful and so were the fish, we also managed to get spooked by a sea urchin.
On the last day of our trip, which was the best, we landed in Unawatuna for some water sports. We took the tube ride thrice and I had the best time of my life. And then, there was the water skiing; after a short beginner course, both of us managed to stand up for a few seconds on the skis!!!!
posted by ashwinivg at 4:25 AM
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