Kathie

We are debating about where to go this year. Our short list is
1. the Love Boat Cruise from HCMC to Siem Reap
2. A return to Burma, particularly to see Mrauk U.
3. An all-Thailand trip, with stops at places we haven't been like Sukothai and some of the Khmer temples in Thailand.
4. A return to Sri Lanka

If we return to Sri Lanka, here are the places currently on our list:
1. Anuradhapura (we didn't get to visit last time because of safety concerns)
2. Buduruwagala/Kataragama/Tissamaharma (for more Buddhist temples, stupas, ruins, and the archaeological Museum at Tissa.
3. Galle
4. Perhaps a return to Tea Trails or go to Columbo, as we didn't get there our first trip

One thing that has moved Sri Lanka up our list is the planned new airport at Bentota to be built by the Chinese in 2012. We'd like to get back to Sri Lanka before it opens.

I'd be interested in the thoughts of fellow Fodorites who have been to Sri Lanka.

dogster

Well, I'd be there now if I'd only been able to find a room in Galle for the Literary Festival. Why not go <i>next</i> January?

http://www.galleliteraryfestival.com/

thursdaysd

I AM there now, and it's cool and grey and rainy (although very humid). Reminds me of England. I'm about to leave the Villa Araliya in Negombo - Villa quite nice although I have a couple of issues, Negombo tourist section very, very touristy, good meal at Lord's. Cultural Triangle up next.

Kathie

The Literary festival looks great. Unfortunately, we are probably locked in to the November time frame with just a little flexibility to go at the end of October or extend into the beginning of December.

Kathie

Ok, we've refined our thinking a bit on this. We are now down to two options, both return trips, Sri Lanka or Burma.

For Sri Lanka, we are sticking with our ideas about
1. Anuradhapura (we didn't get to visit last time because of safety concerns)
2. Buduruwagala/Kataragama/Tissamaharma (for more Buddhist temples, stupas, ruins, and the archaeological Museum at Tissa.

The second location is in the area of Yala, and we could opt to spend some time in Yala. How is the wild life viewing in the second half of November?

We are considering going to Columbo rather than Galle. Any input?

And we almost feel we like we HAVE to go back to Tea Trails as we loved it so much.

We have a quote from Boutique Sri Lanka. I never heard back from Red Dot.

thursdaysd

Will have input on Galle vs Colombo in a few days, lol. Based on reading I'd say Galle would be more interesting. I couldn't get a room there either and will day trip from Unawatuna.

Kathie

Thanks, Thursdays. I'll look forward to your report.

rhkkmk

i'm thinking in terms of a week for you at tea trails, for sure

Kathie

Wouldn't a week there be heaven?

Right now we're thinking three nights there. The problem for us is that we want to cover places we didn't see our first trip, so the places we want to visit are pretty spread out.

CaliNurse

Sort of off-topic, but there is a yearly literary festival in Jaipur too, Dogster and Kathie.

http://www.indiamike.com/india/jaipu...tival-t125047/

thursdaysd

If you're worried about Chinese tourist they're unlikely to visit Tea Trails, right? So you could save it for another trip. BTW, don't know anything about a new airport at Bentota, but there's a new international airport, conference center and port being built further east, near Yala. First sight of Unawatuna - overly touristy and overly touristed. Also, there's a large cruise ship moored outside Galle!

Kathie

I guess I'm just concerned about Sri Lanka becoming overrun with tourists. I expect the places that will be most impacted will be the beaches, which I have little interest in.

Even if we eliminate Tea Trails, we will spend a lot of our time driving. We're still looking at the options.

BTW, I used Red Dot's online trip calculator and the price from Red Dot and from Boutique Sri Lanka look to be very close.

thursdaysd

Kathie - where did you hear about the airport at Bentota? I asked my driver about it, and the only new airport he knows about is the oe I mentioned that'[s being built at Hambantota and seems to be more commercial than tourist.

On Galle vs Colombo, easily Galle. But possible better to do neither, as I thought old town Galle very touristy. I've loaded my photos of both - see http://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/R...ri-Lanka-Coast password coast - Galle is 37-64 and Colombo minus some of the hotel photos starts at 93. There are more hotel pix than usual because my father was in Colombo in 1944-45, and I think it's almost certain he spent time in the Galle Face hotel's bar while he was there.

crellston

Kathie/Thirsdays - Just in the middle of packing for our departure next week. A question! How cold does it really get at night in the hill country? Will a light fleece suffice Or do we need something heavier? - we are trying to travel light but are also planning to climb Adams Peak at night and am a little concerned that it could be quite cold at that time.

Kathie

Thursdays, I was told about the airport by a diplomat in India who said info about it came across his desk. Thanks for your comments re: Galle vs. Columbo. We're still up in the air about where to go.

crellston, a fleece should be enough in hill country. We didn't do Adams Peak, but I also heard it can be cold. On the other hand, when you are climbing, you are generating at lot of heat, so a fleece may still be enough.

thursdaysd

crellston - you may be luckier than I was - I've had bad luck with weather this whole trip - but I would say you needed more than a light fleece at night when I was there. It depends some on elevation, of course, Ella would be warmer, but I had two duvets on the bed at Nuwara Eliya and that was barely enough, and I shivered through the first part of the hike at Horton.

You absolutely need gloves, and probably a hat. Think layers, once the sun comes out you'll be hot. I'd probably take thermals to go with the fleece.

crellston

Thanks for the info. Now I need to go and find my gloves and hat!

thursdaysd

Kathie - meat to post this earlier - it's what the woman I met on the plane to Colombo had to say about ti:

"There's not a lot to do here - the national museum in Colombo - 3 has some great bronzes and is worth a visit if you're into that sort of thing. On Sunday, a bunch of artists come and display their work along Greenpath, also in Colombo - 3. Lots of it is incredibly tacky, but its right outside Vihara Mahadevi Park and makes for a pleasant walk.

Pettah is the oldest part of the city, and is filled with lots of little shops all cheek by jowl. Galle Face is a promenade by the beach, and you can eat one of Sri Lanka's favourite snacks there, but I suggest you only sample the issa vadai if you have a strong stomach. Food: if you love Japanese, you'll find plenty here. Sakura (Rheinland Place, Col - 3) is Sri Lanka's oldest Japanese restaurant and they do a nice katsu don and tempura. For Sashimi, Nihonbashi in Odel is the place to go. Odel itself is an incredibly popular department store, lots of overpriced Sri Lankan souvenirs. Also, Pilawoos, open all hours of the night, the perfect place for a chicken cheese kottu, but only if hygiene isn't such an issue.

Barefoot on Galle Road is a great place to buy handicraft stuff, and they have a gorgeous little courtyard where you can just chill. Beers and jazz. Close by is the Gallery Cafe - the building was once the office of Geoffrey Bawa and it's a beautiful space with a killer double chocolate cheesecake. Both Barefoot and Gallery also double up as exhibition spaces.

Hotel Renuka is the place for Jaffna cuisine, and its also one of the cheaper places to stay. Centrally located."

Kathie

Thursdays, thanks so much for the info. I really appreciate it.

We are still debating where to go, Sri Lanka or Burma.

laurenanne

where did you pick? we are thinking either of those two destinations for next january 2012.