just back from 2 wonderful weeks in sri lanka
Jan 4th, 2018, 02:18 PM
#21
I'm also having thoughts of being in the region next winter, for Sri Lanka and I'm overdue to visit a friend again in Pondicherry, essentially Tamil Nadu. He's a guide by profession and maybe could work out something fun for us. Hmmm.
Jan 4th, 2018, 06:22 PM
#23
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Apologies, Mme Perdu--typo on your name above, and the unfinished sentence which was supposed to say "thank you for the explanation of possible reasons for the current difficult of finding good moderately/modestly priced places.
Are you offering a room near Sacramento? Thank you. After last night's scare earthquake down here on the Hayward Fault, I should maybe take you up on it!
A Pondy meet-up in winter 2018-19? FUN!!
Are you offering a room near Sacramento? Thank you. After last night's scare earthquake down here on the Hayward Fault, I should maybe take you up on it!
A Pondy meet-up in winter 2018-19? FUN!!
Jan 4th, 2018, 06:44 PM
#24
Yes, an hour north of Sacramento on 49. You'd be most welcome. I missed the news about the earthquake altogether. You can send me a message via the pm function on the website on my profile page.
Jan 5th, 2018, 03:00 AM
#25
4bams,
Thank you so much for the wonderful trip report! I love your brief but very clear pointers!
I was sure I posted yesterday, but somehow it didn't come through. I'm planning a trip to S. India and also considering including SL, depending upon the length of time we will have. And if not next year, sometime!
And the rest of this thread is great! If there is a GTG, I'm definitely planning to go to S. India in early 2019, so count me in!!
Thank you so much for the wonderful trip report! I love your brief but very clear pointers!
I was sure I posted yesterday, but somehow it didn't come through. I'm planning a trip to S. India and also considering including SL, depending upon the length of time we will have. And if not next year, sometime!
And the rest of this thread is great! If there is a GTG, I'm definitely planning to go to S. India in early 2019, so count me in!!
Jan 5th, 2018, 08:51 AM
#26
Seriously, when is best for southern India? November or February?
Feb '19 would definitely fit in with my plans and Pondicherry is one of the places I really want to see. what a great place for a GTG!!!
Feb '19 would definitely fit in with my plans and Pondicherry is one of the places I really want to see. what a great place for a GTG!!!
Jan 5th, 2018, 11:13 AM
#27
Hi, Ann,
I’m planning a trip for January 2019 - not sure yet if it will include SL but definitely S. India. I’ll have a better idea in the Spring - planning this to be the first post-retirement trip and would like to leave the winter behind! I only wish I could do it right now (brutal winter here on the east coast USA). It would be great to overlap somewhere, though!
I’m planning a trip for January 2019 - not sure yet if it will include SL but definitely S. India. I’ll have a better idea in the Spring - planning this to be the first post-retirement trip and would like to leave the winter behind! I only wish I could do it right now (brutal winter here on the east coast USA). It would be great to overlap somewhere, though!
Jan 5th, 2018, 12:09 PM
#28
<<It would be great to overlap somewhere, though!>>
indeed it would progol. with calinurse and Mme P, that would be 4 of us.
[and so sorry about your terrible weather/earthquake at present - enough to make anyone want to escape].
indeed it would progol. with calinurse and Mme P, that would be 4 of us.
[and so sorry about your terrible weather/earthquake at present - enough to make anyone want to escape].
Jan 5th, 2018, 12:18 PM
#29
If we're serious (I am in principle) we might consider a private means of communication. I believe I've seen progol on TravelGumbo.com, as I am. They have a function enabling all of us to converse and where we could share email addresses privately. I'm PortMoresby there.
Jan 6th, 2018, 06:52 AM
#33
Bril - let's start off by trying the private messaging service on the new fodors, but just in case of glitches, my email address is [email protected].
Jan 10th, 2018, 07:35 AM
#35
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I thought I would weigh in. My wife and I are off to Sri Lanka in 10 days. We're there for 3 weeks and then fly to Chennai where we start a 6 week exploration of parts of the south and north of India with Indian Panorama.
Our 3 weeks in SL starts in Negombo and then down to Mirissa and Galle for roughly a week. From Galle we are heading to Ella, Kandy and Habarane for 4 nights each before 'completing the circle' back to Negombo.
Hiking, visiting spots in the Cultural Triangle, and enjoying good food at local places are high on our list of interests. Any hints/suggestions/ideas are most welcome'
Our 3 weeks in SL starts in Negombo and then down to Mirissa and Galle for roughly a week. From Galle we are heading to Ella, Kandy and Habarane for 4 nights each before 'completing the circle' back to Negombo.
Hiking, visiting spots in the Cultural Triangle, and enjoying good food at local places are high on our list of interests. Any hints/suggestions/ideas are most welcome'
Jan 10th, 2018, 01:15 PM
#37
me too, Habsfan.
In Galle we just enjoyed pootling about - we only had two days there but it's a very nice place. There are very nice craft and shops, cafes, [where a passer-by took the opportunity to share his book of photos of the Tsunami with us, which was very moving] jewellers, the court [where I should like to have spent more time] an excellent and thankfully air-condiitoned museum, and lots more besides. We stayed in the Fort and used tuk tuks to get about; we liked the Fort very much but the town outside is also very interesting and worth exploring. There is also a cricket ground just outside the walls where if you are lucky you might see world class cricket being played.
In Galle we just enjoyed pootling about - we only had two days there but it's a very nice place. There are very nice craft and shops, cafes, [where a passer-by took the opportunity to share his book of photos of the Tsunami with us, which was very moving] jewellers, the court [where I should like to have spent more time] an excellent and thankfully air-condiitoned museum, and lots more besides. We stayed in the Fort and used tuk tuks to get about; we liked the Fort very much but the town outside is also very interesting and worth exploring. There is also a cricket ground just outside the walls where if you are lucky you might see world class cricket being played.
Jan 10th, 2018, 03:01 PM
#38
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Habsfan 10, have a fabulous trip!! I'm envious!! Can't speak to the SL portion, but look forward to learning from your and other feedback from other post-er including 4bams and annhig who'v preceded you.
As for India, hainvg traveled with IndianPanorama to both South and Northern India, I've no doubt that you will have a great trip--you're in excellent hands with them!
As for India, hainvg traveled with IndianPanorama to both South and Northern India, I've no doubt that you will have a great trip--you're in excellent hands with them!
Jan 10th, 2018, 03:26 PM
#39
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Have a great trip Habsfan !
I agree with annhig, Galle is a charming, try A Minute by tuk tuk for innovative SL food and lovely views. Don’t miss walking the walls of the fort (if you’re lucky you’ll get free cricket) !
I agree with annhig, Galle is a charming, try A Minute by tuk tuk for innovative SL food and lovely views. Don’t miss walking the walls of the fort (if you’re lucky you’ll get free cricket) !
Jan 26th, 2018, 10:52 AM
#40
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Glad to see so many people talking about Sri Lanka, but I would love to see more... we saw very few North Americans when we were there, but the Europeans have discovered the destination. Most of the tourists seemed ‘local’ ie, from India or other parts of Sri Lanka. Not sure why Sri Lanka isn’t more popular- we thought it offered so much, the travel was pretty easy, no flights needed within the country, distinct regions each offering different experiences, your money goes pretty far, lovely people, great food and weather, safe, quite distinct
regions,exotic...
interesting that many in this thread enjoyed Galle- we thought it was a pleasant couple hours, but really quite touristy and full of shops. In retrospect we would have just made it a stop and not bothered to stay overnight.
Again, can’t say enough about our Sri Lankan travel agent- really made everything go smoothly, and we are pleased we didn’t bother to make our own bookings etc
domeone above ( am having trouble scrolling on my phone so can’t see who) asked about costs of hotel. We went at Xmas, high season, and some hotels we were 3 in a room so that made the cost higher. I can’t recall individual room costs, but none are exorbitant for what we got. A couple places we had to take what was avail as we booked late and these were more budget hotels, I would not recommend that level of travel as there is a big difference for what we got vs the cost- ( noise/food/bathrooms all suffered ) but in the end the hotels didn’t really matter as we were not there much
we did not make it to tea trails- fully booked way ahead, and wow, costly!
The our Bentota hotel food was amazing, not to be missed. Look forward to hearing more about others thoughts!
regions,exotic...
interesting that many in this thread enjoyed Galle- we thought it was a pleasant couple hours, but really quite touristy and full of shops. In retrospect we would have just made it a stop and not bothered to stay overnight.
Again, can’t say enough about our Sri Lankan travel agent- really made everything go smoothly, and we are pleased we didn’t bother to make our own bookings etc
domeone above ( am having trouble scrolling on my phone so can’t see who) asked about costs of hotel. We went at Xmas, high season, and some hotels we were 3 in a room so that made the cost higher. I can’t recall individual room costs, but none are exorbitant for what we got. A couple places we had to take what was avail as we booked late and these were more budget hotels, I would not recommend that level of travel as there is a big difference for what we got vs the cost- ( noise/food/bathrooms all suffered ) but in the end the hotels didn’t really matter as we were not there much
we did not make it to tea trails- fully booked way ahead, and wow, costly!
The our Bentota hotel food was amazing, not to be missed. Look forward to hearing more about others thoughts!
