Мой волшебный отпуск My magical vacation

Just returned from vacation, emotions are still seething, memories are fresh, and at night it staggers from the ocean waves. Since we were in Sri Lanka for the first time, I will try to describe everything “at first impression”.
1. Flight.
Air Arabia airline, there is no free food on board, you can order it online in advance, you can buy it directly on board, but not everything from the menu is available. We took sandwiches on the road - that was enough. Water can be bought on the plane - 0.5 of water costs $ 1 (for comparison - 0.5 Bonacva in Boryspil - 20 UAH, but this is not about Sri Lanka). The flight was delayed by 30 minutes, but this did not affect the transfer in Sharjah - the connection there is 2.5 hours. Departure from Sharjah is also delayed by 1 hour. Takeoff and landing - no complaints. Along the way, the route is tracked on the monitors, you always know where you are and how much time is left. There are no Russian-speaking stewards on the second leg of the flight, but this is not a problem at all, they will definitely understand you. The flight back from Colombo was delayed by 1 hour. And because we had only 1 hour 25 minutes to dock in Sharjah, we were a little worried, but the plane was waiting for us and flew to Kyiv almost without delay. Luggage is normal, everything is whole. Thank you airlines.

2. Transfer.
We have a tour operator "Turtes". We have been using their services for a long time and we are satisfied. When we received the luggage and approached the guide, on his advice, we immediately exchanged money for local currency and bought a local SIM card "Dialog". Very good and inexpensive connection. Leaving the airport, we immediately plunged into the tropical heat - after the rain, the evaporation is such that it gives the impression of a steam room. Convenient minibus, with air conditioning, tourists only to our hotel. Warned by the traffic on the Sri Lankan roads, they were preparing for a painful and long journey, but... having arrived in Colombo at 4.20, we were at the hotel already at 7.00 ! ! This is the time for passport control and baggage claim and money exchange, and the actual road to the hotel itself - we were preparing for the worst. And of course, you need to understand that the road from Colombo to anywhere on the island is one continuous busy street. Only the guide knew where one ended and the other began. This does not apply to toll roads, they are amazing, and in a year there should be several more autobahns connecting all the cities of the island.
3. Hotel and Sri Lanka itself.
We were warmly welcomed at the hotel, while we were preparing a welcome fresh juice, they gave us the keys to the rooms. For our Ukrainian chocolate bar, I got the opportunity to choose the number myself. After 15 minutes we were in the room, and after half an hour we were fed breakfast. Keep in mind - if you have breakfast on the day of arrival, you will not be given a lunch box on the day of departure. The room is small but with everything you need. Everything worked, the beds were comfortable, the bed was white and pleasantly smelling, the towels were a little sloppy, but clean. The food was very good, there are spicy dishes, but they are separate, very tasty soups, pineapples, papayas, watermelons and bananas every day in the morning and in the evening. The hotel is clean, well maintained, a lot of greenery, a very warm pool. And then I was "flooded"....The ocean… This big, breathing, bubbling, living miracle captivated me from the first touch. Why is he so warm? Why so affectionate, despite the massive waves? Why such soft sand? Why are there no people on the beach, as we are used to? BECAUSE IT REALLY IS HEAVEN!!!! ! I didn’t leave the ocean for two hours, swimming (just hanging out on the waves) is a real thrill for me personally. Yes, for those who like to swim, this is not the right place, there are no "bananas", catamarans, water bikes and other benefits of civilization. But it's wonderful! Me, the ocean, the sun and the cute one, I went for this. And swimming in the Sri Lankan sunset is beyond words at all - an enveloping warm, gentle, crimson-pomegranate glow - and you swim in this - waste....Were in the city of Kandy and in the city of Galle. I liked everything, except for the time spent on the road, very tiring. I rode elephants, drank delicious tea, admired the scenery, swam along the Bentota River with a swim in the jungle, turtles, a jeweler, a spice garden, a very beautiful Royal Botanical Garden... But I was drawn to the temple. There was again a familiar feeling - cozy. It doesn't matter what religion you are, but visiting any holy place I love myself thinking - I'm under protection. Mentally I thank the Lord for the blessings sent, and only now I can say for sure - the rest was a success.

4. The rest.
Excursions were bought from the local beach boy Nisa. An interesting guy, but on his own wave. Always ready to help, sometimes even for free. For shopping, we went by tuk-tuk (200-300 rupees) to Kalutara to the market, or to the Arpico supermarket. Everything is very accessible. Coconut 80 rupees, pineapple -150-300 rupees, water 6l - 150 rupees. We dined on the ocean in a cafe - a dish of coral fish, fries, salad and rice - 800 rupees - very tasty ! ! Came to the Buddhist New Year - April 14th. This holiday is very family and temple, street processions, as we wanted, we did not see. All shops were closed for two days. Souvenirs were bought on the street near the railway crossing, though a little expensive, in the store at the hotel you can buy cheaper, my advice.
five. ……
I will definitely be back... Because I overlooked a lot, didn’t touch, I wasn’t surprised, I didn’t buy, I didn’t... I didn’t... I need to go to Lanochka for at least 10 days, a week is very short. But I have already managed to fall in love with this small magical country, albeit with not very educated, but very good-natured people, with year-round lush greenery, with an insanely warm ocean. The smiles of the Sri Lankans, sincere and captivating, speak of a great future for this pineapple paradise, they only have to solve the problem with garbage and roads (I compare this with Europe, where you rarely meet people who smile, but they have civilization !! ) Sri Lanka has soul and it is huge, and that means a lot. Sorry, the last paragraph is not about the hotel at all. It just blew up again. . .
Have a nice vacation. I will answer any questions on the topic.