Tour for Sri Lanka?
Aug 31st, 2010, 01:39 AM
#21
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http://www.galleliteraryfestival.com/
<i>January’s events are a celebration of literature, the creative arts and traditional Buddhist rituals. At the end of January, poets, writers, artists and architects from the world over will converge on the historic 17th century Galle Fort for the celebration of writing, photography, music, ecology, architecture and cuisine at the annual Galle Literary Festival. </i>
Wednesday 19 January 2011 is Full Moon.
<i>During the full-moon Poya in January, the ancient Kelaniya Buddhist temple just minutes away from the island’s capital, will hold their annual perehara – a dazzling cultural procession with scores of elephants all dressed in their finery, traditional dancers, drummers, flag bearers, and Buddhist monks, all walk in procession in honour of Lord Buddha. </i>
<i>January’s events are a celebration of literature, the creative arts and traditional Buddhist rituals. At the end of January, poets, writers, artists and architects from the world over will converge on the historic 17th century Galle Fort for the celebration of writing, photography, music, ecology, architecture and cuisine at the annual Galle Literary Festival. </i>
Wednesday 19 January 2011 is Full Moon.
<i>During the full-moon Poya in January, the ancient Kelaniya Buddhist temple just minutes away from the island’s capital, will hold their annual perehara – a dazzling cultural procession with scores of elephants all dressed in their finery, traditional dancers, drummers, flag bearers, and Buddhist monks, all walk in procession in honour of Lord Buddha. </i>
Aug 31st, 2010, 05:12 AM
#22
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Thanks everyone - I'll go off right after breakfast and investigate Red Dot!
justshootme - no, I haven't looked at Bradt for Sri Lanka - I found their guides for Georgia and Armenia overloaded with info for drivers, and basically useless for choosing hotels. Maybe the SL guide is better.
inquest - I'm not a beach person - I was just figuring on maybe three nights somewhere on the south coast - and I was certainly going to take the train there.
dogster - I plan to fly into Colombo Jan 9th (still need to book that) and leave anywhere around the 24th to the 27th - I'm thinking earlier rather than later. Thanks for the festival dates.
"On the hazards of trains for females - it's ju-u-u-ust possible that the dangers of 'eve-teasing' reduce a weeny bit once Eve gets to be sixty..." - that was my thought exactly - until a couple of incidents in the Middle East last year.....
justshootme - no, I haven't looked at Bradt for Sri Lanka - I found their guides for Georgia and Armenia overloaded with info for drivers, and basically useless for choosing hotels. Maybe the SL guide is better.
inquest - I'm not a beach person - I was just figuring on maybe three nights somewhere on the south coast - and I was certainly going to take the train there.
dogster - I plan to fly into Colombo Jan 9th (still need to book that) and leave anywhere around the 24th to the 27th - I'm thinking earlier rather than later. Thanks for the festival dates.
"On the hazards of trains for females - it's ju-u-u-ust possible that the dangers of 'eve-teasing' reduce a weeny bit once Eve gets to be sixty..." - that was my thought exactly - until a couple of incidents in the Middle East last year.....
Aug 31st, 2010, 06:49 AM
#23
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Thursdays, I will look for the card. I'm at my office right now, so it will be tonight befoer I get a chance to look for it.
I'm glad to see dogster back to help with your planning. His point about considering transport from point A to point B and from point B to point C is a good one. We used a dedicated car and driver in Sri Lanka, and for most of the trip that was perfect. But once we got to Tea Trails, we didn't use him for 4 days. At that point, we just needed to get back to the airport. We are using the point to point transport approach in Sikkim and Darjeeling.
I'd suggest you post a question about women on trains over on Thorntree. Also, check on the LP prices for lodging - they are often wildly out of date.
I'm glad to see dogster back to help with your planning. His point about considering transport from point A to point B and from point B to point C is a good one. We used a dedicated car and driver in Sri Lanka, and for most of the trip that was perfect. But once we got to Tea Trails, we didn't use him for 4 days. At that point, we just needed to get back to the airport. We are using the point to point transport approach in Sikkim and Darjeeling.
I'd suggest you post a question about women on trains over on Thorntree. Also, check on the LP prices for lodging - they are often wildly out of date.
Aug 31st, 2010, 07:03 AM
#24
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And while your car and driver is doing nothing, you're paying him, the car rental AND the allocated mileage for the day.
Thursday, Sri Lanka ain't the Middle East. The train to Kandy and thence to Ella is absolutely the way to go. Chances of being groped in the observation car are errr... quite small.
However, your celebrated fan dance strip-tease is best left for another occasion. It would be a big success after dinner at Helga's Folly.
Thursday, Sri Lanka ain't the Middle East. The train to Kandy and thence to Ella is absolutely the way to go. Chances of being groped in the observation car are errr... quite small.
However, your celebrated fan dance strip-tease is best left for another occasion. It would be a big success after dinner at Helga's Folly.
Aug 31st, 2010, 07:09 AM
#25
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Good suggestion Kathie - I don't even need to post. This is from Jan this year:
"This [warning in LP] worried me a little, but I have just returned, having travelled on half a dozen trains, buses, three wheelers and solo on my bicycle, and in my experience I had no reason to worry at all. I found everyone I came across to be amazingly friendly and wonderfully helpful. At no point did I feel threatened or even like I needed to be especially on guard. In fact the only remotely scary thing that happened to me was getting chased by some snarling dogs who obviously weren't a fan of my bike (or me on it)!
So I just wanted to post and share my experience, so that any future female travellers that have read those paragraphs and are now unsure about their trip can have their minds put at ease."
Will put trains back in the mix. (Still not wild about buses, but for other reasons.) Red Dot seems willing to provide a car and driver for sections rather than a whole trip.
dogster - I can't imagine my fan dance being a hit anywhere! My waltz, perhaps.
"This [warning in LP] worried me a little, but I have just returned, having travelled on half a dozen trains, buses, three wheelers and solo on my bicycle, and in my experience I had no reason to worry at all. I found everyone I came across to be amazingly friendly and wonderfully helpful. At no point did I feel threatened or even like I needed to be especially on guard. In fact the only remotely scary thing that happened to me was getting chased by some snarling dogs who obviously weren't a fan of my bike (or me on it)!
So I just wanted to post and share my experience, so that any future female travellers that have read those paragraphs and are now unsure about their trip can have their minds put at ease."
Will put trains back in the mix. (Still not wild about buses, but for other reasons.) Red Dot seems willing to provide a car and driver for sections rather than a whole trip.
dogster - I can't imagine my fan dance being a hit anywhere! My waltz, perhaps.
Sep 6th, 2010, 11:42 AM
#26
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Thursdays, I realize I've been delinquent. I promised you the contact info on the transport company that furnished our car and driver. We booked through Boutique Sri Lanka, but they subcontract transport.
I found the card, BUT - the web address is no longer active. The company was ECD Global, but a web search turns up only an old webpage with links that no longer work.
I found the card, BUT - the web address is no longer active. The company was ECD Global, but a web search turns up only an old webpage with links that no longer work.
Sep 7th, 2010, 05:20 AM
#27
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I have read with interest the contributions of Kathie, Mohommed, and justshootme and others. We are travelling to Sri Lanka for 6 weeks Dec / Jan. Our "rule" is never less than 4 nights in any one place. We'd like to have a car and driver from (for example) Negombo to Anuadhapura (4 nights) to Habarana (4 nights) then Kandy where we will no longer want the driver for 10 days. Is it possible to get a driver from A to B and then another driver and car to appear in several days time? We may want drivers to hand about at some places to do day trips etc but in others when we are just relaxing (Tea Trails, or Galle) we won't want a driver. Any suggestions of a good / safe (a nervous ER nurse) driver would be welcomed!
Has anyne been to Trinco lately - is there and hassles with travel there?
Has anyne been to Trinco lately - is there and hassles with travel there?
Sep 7th, 2010, 05:47 AM
#28
Original Poster
Thanks Kathie. Looks like I won't get Sri Lanka planned before I leave. I may just wing it - perhaps book the first night or two, and check into drivers. I'm trying to finish up India before I go, and I'm tired of planning!
Sep 7th, 2010, 05:49 AM
#29
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Yes, you can certainly get a driver from point A to point B, then another from point B to point C, etc. Your hotel can arrange it, or, if you book though one of the booking companies (Boutique Sri Lanka, Red Dot, Sri Lanka in Style, etc) they can arrange it for you.
By arranging a car and driver though the booking service, if anything goes awry, they will take care of it. A friend had an experience of the booking service sending the wrong kind of car, and they replaced it quickly when she talked with them. They will also replace a driver, if needed. If you hire an individual, rather than through an agency, you do not any any recourse.
It sounds like a wonderful trip! I'm envious of the 6 weeks you have.
By arranging a car and driver though the booking service, if anything goes awry, they will take care of it. A friend had an experience of the booking service sending the wrong kind of car, and they replaced it quickly when she talked with them. They will also replace a driver, if needed. If you hire an individual, rather than through an agency, you do not any any recourse.
It sounds like a wonderful trip! I'm envious of the 6 weeks you have.
Sep 7th, 2010, 01:40 PM
#32
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<b>Kathie</b> Six weeks is India, Sri Lanka is just two or three. Depends on whether I decide to spend CNY in/around BKK or in Myanmar. BTW, could I ask for the contact info for you BKK TA? I'm going to need to book flights to/from Yangon at some point.
<b>Mohammed</b> How do you feel about the east coast vs. the south? Do you have a recommendation for a beach with AC accommodation but not over-much development? Is there such a thing?
<b>Mohammed</b> How do you feel about the east coast vs. the south? Do you have a recommendation for a beach with AC accommodation but not over-much development? Is there such a thing?
Sep 8th, 2010, 11:56 AM
#35
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East Coast/Trinco/Nilaveli is fabulous an incomparable to south/west however east Coast Season runs March to September.
West Coast is best Dec-March. Lot of places to choose from, depends what you fancy, diving/fishing/just a big beach in a more remote location....
Bentota - great beach but a little over commercialised
Hikkaduwa/Narigama - crowded great beach but a bit hippiish, discos, restaurants etc
Heritance/Ahungala very nice beach with a good hotel
Galle - not much beach but great atmosphere, nice hotels, Unnawatuna beach ios nearby for an nice dip and also the idylic secret "jungle beach" is nearby, acesible by Tuk Tuk etc.
Mirrisa - very nice
Weligama - nice has some nice properties
The Fortress - Koggala - beautiful hotel but poor beach
Tangalle - quite remote, rustic, closer to Yala, but not the best swimming spot
hope this helps....
West Coast is best Dec-March. Lot of places to choose from, depends what you fancy, diving/fishing/just a big beach in a more remote location....
Bentota - great beach but a little over commercialised
Hikkaduwa/Narigama - crowded great beach but a bit hippiish, discos, restaurants etc
Heritance/Ahungala very nice beach with a good hotel
Galle - not much beach but great atmosphere, nice hotels, Unnawatuna beach ios nearby for an nice dip and also the idylic secret "jungle beach" is nearby, acesible by Tuk Tuk etc.
Mirrisa - very nice
Weligama - nice has some nice properties
The Fortress - Koggala - beautiful hotel but poor beach
Tangalle - quite remote, rustic, closer to Yala, but not the best swimming spot
hope this helps....
Sep 9th, 2010, 11:55 PM
#36
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Thanks for the info. While I understand that the "season" for the East Coast is from March, we will be in Sri Lanka Dec / Jan so is it worth going there?
We are quite keen to do so as my father-in-law used to relate stories of the troop ships stopping at Trinco on the way to or from the Middle East (from Aus) during the war - he said when he saw Trinco he thought he'd died and gone to heaven!
We are quite keen to do so as my father-in-law used to relate stories of the troop ships stopping at Trinco on the way to or from the Middle East (from Aus) during the war - he said when he saw Trinco he thought he'd died and gone to heaven!
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