Finding the freshest food or the cleanest rooms can be a process of trial and error, and higher prices are certainly no guarantee of quality. Restaurant service is usually courteous, but very slow. People you meet are curious and friendly, and old-fashioned manners are important. Always keep your cool: raising your voice and pointing are rude—and counterproductive. Guesthouse and hotel menus often offer a strange mix of local, pan-Asian, and Western staples, with croque monsieur and Chinese fried rice on one ambitiously sprawling menu.
The Sri Lankan menu will be far superior in freshness and in execution, and even the most basic eatery is likely to offer a satisfying Sri Lankan breakfast.
In Colombo, try Senkade for basic, cheap and good Sri Lankan buffet-style food. But go for the combination dishes. Look beyond the spin. There has been no accountability for human rights abuses perpetrated by the military during the war, or in the years since, and the government has made no formal acknowledgement of the well-documented number of Tamil civilian casualties—the updated toll is thought to be at least 70, —killed in the final months of the campaign against the LTTE.
The government is also dragging its heels on a UN investigation into possible war crimes committed by both sides. But life in Sri Lanka has been shaped more by spirituality, in whatever form, than by any one faith. Hindus have folded Buddhism into their canon by making him an avatar of Vishnu. Be respectful of all religious objects and buildings by behaving and dressing modestly. Perceived insults to Buddhism—such as taking photos of your friend kissing Buddha, or with your back to him—are taken seriously.
Eating is serious business. My friend witnessed this at her own wedding. Know your rice and curry. Sri Lankan cuisine was formed by the spice trade. Curry in Sri Lanka is identified by its color, or base spice. The original Sri Lankan curry is black, with black pepper and roasted spices. Red curry gets its color from the chillies introduced later by the Portuguese.
Brown curries are the same as black but unroasted, then there is white curry, using coconut milk. Get your sambols. A cross between Indian chutneys and Indonesian sambals and salads, Sri Lankan sambols punctuate every meal with spice. The most popular ones are seeni sambol , a tropical take on onion jam, featuring deep-fried onions spiked with chili flakes and bonito fish flakes; pol sambol , a dry, lemony coconut chutney; and katta sambol , starring chilli flakes and tiny, dried prawns or fish flakes.
Plan ahead. Plan small stages in advance, especially if you plan to take trains. Train tickets come in reserved or non-reserved, and in several classes—from tourist-catered viewing carriages, down to first, second, and third. Prepare for crowds and loud music. Buildings in Sri Lanka sometimes have the three-pronged UK socket, sometimes the two-pronged European one, and, often in older buildings, the rounded three-pronged socket used in India and Nepal.
Some rooms have outlets for all three plugs, but sometimes only the latter. The shopkeepers will even test them for you before you buy. Dress sharp. Nearly 70 years after Independence, many Sri Lankan traditions are still shaped by colonial legacies.
This is most apparent in places like the quaint hill town of Nuwara Eliya, where many restaurants and members-only clubs have strict dress codes. Drivers in Sri Lanka are responsible and respectful. Pedestrians have the right of way, with the exception of buses. Tuk-tuks will gladly take you where you would like to go and are typically quiet drivers that are focused on getting you to your destination quickly.
If you look carefully, when you are given change, or served your afternoon tea, the workers will put their left hand on top of their right hand as a sign of humility, gratitude and service.
Sri Lanka is home to many Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims. If you are looking for highest concentration of cultural spots within a small area, look no further than Sri Lanka. Interested in Buddhist temples? Intricate Hindu Temples and Mosques? Sri Lanka is the place to see them all. The unique and timeless temples are breathtaking, and the rich cultural sites offer much to see. Buddhist claim this is the site of a footprint of the Buddha. With a wide variety of temples, comes a wide variety of culture and experience.
Apart from the religious aspects of the culture, you will see that the people vary from place to place. It is an amazing thing to see the Tea Pickers of the Hill Country, the fishermen of the ocean, and the rubber harvesters of the plains within such a close proximity to each other. Every town is different with diverse cultural experiences to offer. Sri Lanka is also unique in its rich Colonial History. Sri Lanka just recently became an independent country in Come to Sri Lanka, and you can head to the hill country with a cool crisp breeze, enjoy a hot cup of tea, and a explore a vast array of history and culture.
No pearl in the Indian Ocean is complete without beautiful beaches. With Maldives being just a short distance away, Sri Lanka also ranks high with amazing beaches. Want beach lounging to be your main activity while you are here? Look no further! The beaches here will not be polluted, and the sand will be free of trash. Sea Turtles 3 feet wide swim wildly in the turquoise ocean of the south. Head a little further and see the mysterious, yet mesmerizing purple sand of Hikadua.
While India has its own array of wildlife, Sri Lanka is home to thousands of unique species of animals. Sri Lanka has been featured on many wildlife shows, and one documentary shows an entire kingdom of monkeys and their own unique society.
Sri Lanka is home to species of birds, most of which are bursting with color unlike any bird you have ever seen. Although small in area, Sri Lanka is not limited on things to do.
If you are looking to spend less time and energy traveling and more seeing multiple sites, then Sri Lanka is the place to do this, whereas in India it would be much more difficult.
Do you like the city? Stop by Colombo for some delicious food and see the bustling parks with lively people. For instance, Sri Lankans use different types of curry powder, dependent on what ingredients are in the dish. I consider myself someone who can handle a decent amount of spice; but I suggest you go for the mild option as the Sri Lanka chili can be extremely spicy!
My favorite dishes were pumpkin curry, coconut sambal, and Kotu Rotti. I highly suggest taking a cooking class at least once during your visit to Sri Lanka.
You should also try eating in the traditional Sri Lanka method; with your hands! It takes a few times to get accustomed to it but in the end its good fun and its less dishes to be cleaned.
As a native San Diegan, I feel at home when I am close to the water. Surrounded on all sides by the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka boasts some of the most breathtaking beaches along its spectacular coastline. The shores in Sir Lanka have a unique charm to them and offer up some incredible swimming, fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, sunbathing, and whale watching. And the most unique aspect about Sir Lanka beaches is that no matter what time of year you go there is always a beautiful stretch of sand greeting you with nice weather and calm waters.
Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons that affect different parts of the island and different times. The landscapes in Sri Lanka are breathtaking.
The saturated green hues of the rolling tea plantations in Hill Country were really a highlight for me. By far one of the best ways to experience the beautiful landscapes in the Hill Country is to take the scenic train ride from Ella to Kandy. Passing through a massive plantation of teas, where women can be seen dressed in colorful saris picking tea leaves, it was truly a sight to behold! The photos I took from this trip will never be able to portray just how unbelievably beautiful this island truly is.
Sri Lanka is the perfect destination for animal lovers and the wildlife is amazing. This small island has so many national parks teeming with fauna.
Some animals you can expect to see are elephants, leopards, sloth bears, crocodiles, monkeys, water buffalo, deer, peacocks, wild boar, and a wide variety of birds. Each park is different, but they all offer up some incredible animal viewing.
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