Our unforgettable vacation! Make friends with the locals!
I never write reviews, but it's impossible to resist here))) So, in order! Preparing to leave, I read all the reviews. Arriving in Sri Lanka, we immediately changed money (1 dollar-152.6 rupees) and went to Hibiscus Beach Hotel & Villas 3 *. Upon arrival, fresh fresh juice was waiting for us, which was very useful in such a heat. Rooms. Settled right there on the 2nd floor in a room overlooking the ocean. In my opinion, the rooms are chic both on the first and on the second floor (on 2 - ocean view, albeit partially, on 1 - its own exit to the lawn). The rooms are clean, linen and towels are changed every day. No complaints! We took only breakfast, and did not regret it at all (but more on that later)). The territory of the hotel is guarded, nothing is lost, the locals are standing behind the fence (from this it was a little "jarring"). By the evening we planned where we want to go (we took a two-day excursion to Kandy, Sigiriya, with an overnight stay at the Panorama Hotel - it's just a miracle). Nutrition. As soon as you go to the beach, there is a SUN? FUN restaurant on the right. It is there that MADU cooks. The restaurant was opened at the end of January 2018 and no one has written about it yet (after reading the reviews, I was also going to eat at the restaurant, which is located immediately to the right at the exit of the hotel, but still eating with an ocean view is much more pleasant than with a view the railroad, right? The dishes in almost all restaurants are the same (their names), but no one cooks the way MADU cooks! Be sure to try the crab soup, and if you are traveling with a large group, you MUST take a large seafood mix for 6 thousand rupees. Don't let the price scare you: what you get will exceed all your expectations. These are large plates of rice, french fries and salad, 10 king prawns, 3-4 crabs, 2 lobsters, squid, a piece of shark and tuna, a whole coral fish. We took 2 families, ate ate). In the conversation, it turned out that MADU cooks in the restaurant for free, helps his friend SEMI, which was also a surprise for us). But get used to it, they are such people, very kind and open, real. Let me give you an example: when the fishermen arrived, the locals, who were moving away from it with fish, reached out to the boat. . When I asked what was happening, they explained that 20 kg would be enough for fishermen for their families. fishes. Everything else is just distributed to the locals. . . Without words. Local residents. . . In general, the locals deserve a separate chapter of this novel)))) Our vacation was a success, among other things, because we just started to be friends with them. Sincerely. Do not shy away like the plague, but give candy to children (do not forget to take sweets with you, chocolate, which, by the way, was brought even cold, seeds, some baubles (we took our flag, then presented MADU))) and just hand them out . Seeing that I was burned, a local seller on the beach tried to save me, bring me Aloe Vera cream (by the way, cooler than any Panthenol). Sun: We were smeared all the rest of the 50th and still burned out. Mostly you burn yourself in the ocean. Some bathed in shirts and caps. Ocean: clean, transparent, gentle, but. . . with character. The waves are constantly beating. Less in the morning, more in the afternoon. And the current increases, which simply pulls you into the ocean. It pulls so hard that it is very difficult to get ashore. So be VERY careful! Transport: Local tuk-tuks, that's something. . . for 100 rupees you will be taken to Kalutara and back for shopping, drivers are usually Russian-speaking, tuk-tuks stand right outside the hotel. But we always agreed to recommend a driver to us, which, by the way, is also not unimportant, given that there are no rules of the road in principle) In general, we also solved such questions as giving him money to buy red rum on the way to the excursion through MADU (and brought rum and change from 100 dollars). By the way, I really wanted to get acquainted with the local life, and I was lucky))) MADU invited us to visit. I was amazed at the cleanliness and hospitality. They took out a beautiful emerald-colored tea set from the sideboard for us and gave us delicious tea. Shopping: it’s not worth buying anything on excursions, everything is very expensive, and nearby, leaving the hotel and turning right, you need to go to the crossroads where the Buddhist Temple stands and turn left, cross the railway and there are small shops where everything is) . For fruits, alcohol (including beer - 150 rupees per jar), teas and spices, you need to go to Kalutara by tuk-tuk. Excursions: we went on 2 excursions - two days in Caddy with Nisa and in Galle with Madu. Everything is very interesting, everything is organized wonderfully, we traveled in a comfortable minibus with a Conder. But with Madu it was more interesting and more fun))). When we left, our real friends saw us off: Madu, Semi and Nisa. MADU gave me their local weed, with which they cook soup, and now I have a chance to eat at least a little similar dishes))) Semi gave me a Sri Lanka souvenir plate and a wooden tuk-tuk))) In general, they saw us off with the whole village))) very warm and sincere. So, our recommendation: tune in for a good rest, take gifts and sweets and get ready to receive and give positive emotions! And we will definitely be back.
