Sri Lanka. Excursions 3d. & Trincomalee 7d.

06 July 2012 Travel time: with 06 June 2012 on 16 June 2012
Reputation: +111.5
Add a Friend
Send message

Good afternoon everyone. Sobsno I’m taken aback by our trip to Sri Lanka, that we saw where we were . . well, a little educational program on the trip (not everything, of course, but I will try to describe it as clearly and accessible as possible). So, I'll start, with your permission)).

House (fees and departure) - Airport (Donetsk) - airport (Dubai) - airport (Colombo).

We live in a separatist city - Severodonetsk. From the point of view of convenience and vivid curiosity and hope to fly from the “new terminal” (the new terminal for .. ard money was built after all) we decided to fly off from Donetsk, 150 km from us. The preparations began a day before departure, drawing up a list of clothes, food and documents . . Oh yes, let's step back, and I will remind you of things of primary importance . . The main thing on a trip is what you need in the first three days on vacation.


So, in hand luggage we put: foreign and Ukrainian passports (in your case they may differ ((: , money, of course, only in $ and part in your currency (for NZ and a comfortable return home from the airport). Now for things. Things first necessary, i. e. swimsuits, swimming trunks, a couple of sets of underwear, t-shirts, shorts, skirts (all with the expectation that if you lose or delay luggage, you can hold out for 2-3 days without spoiling your vacation), definitely the entire photo and video We also put drinking water in the luggage, I write that you want to take on the plane and save $ 30-200 depending on your appetite)). if you don't want to waste time and ruin your mood)). Hand luggage limit - 7 kg / person. Wow, I got carried away, the list is approximate, and for everyone, very personal, everything is given as a reminder tip. Well, I'll continue.

Morning has come, and I think everything, like everyone else, starts to panic - they forgot something)). Here we remember and check what is in the luggage. I think everything is wrong with you, and you are more collected)). Now let's talk about luggage. Here is our heavy artillery)). But it does not contain: tuxedos, shoes, evening dresses, explosives and drugs .. )) damn it, I couldn’t help but joke)). In general, everything that we will definitely wear, if there are doubts about things, then the category that falls under doubt remains at home)). We definitely take ours - Ukrainian vodka, let the Russians and Belarusians not be offended, we have better vodka)). Doses as always 1.5 liters / person. If someone smokes - I don’t, then we take a block of cigarettes, but the obligation is torn and torn apart in a suitcase)). We also took water and food for the return line (there may be an inflection, but such are we Ukrainians kurkuli). As for water and food.

Here everything is wished and of course there are almost no restrictions (our fellow Slavs from the CIS already after registration, and even after takeoff, stubbornly cracked eggs, cutlets, pies, chicken . . well, in general, all the food that you can find on the train)). And of course, after a 20-30 minute flight to the toilet, there was a queue with 10-15 people with diarrhea)). For suffocated cutlets, etc. , make themselves felt very quickly - summer is still)). We take only cookies from food, it may sound different, but it has already been tested and proven in practice. Don't think it's advertising, but we take Tuc cookies, there are different tastes, but with tastes you want to drink more. Water by default, but we take it with a dispenser so that, sorry for the details, the flakes from the cookies do not fly into the water)). Let's go further. Here is the departure, we left the north 7 hours before departure (departure at 14:15), i. e. at 7:00 in Ukraine, check-in took place 3 hours before departure.

Here we are already driving along the bumpy off-road Lisichansk-Artemovsk-Gorlovka (the driver did not know the way through Konstantinovka, but I had already forgotten it). Here we went far beyond Gorlovka and the echoes of Euro 2012 began (an excellent road). We flew to Donetsk very quickly. Here is the “old terminal” and the new one, I previously read on the off-site of the Donetsk airport on the distribution of departures by terminals and already knew that we were unlucky and we were flying from the old terminal. Since the time was calculated with a margin, we arrived 1 hour before check-in, but I was not at a loss and had a good meeting with a business partner)). Here is our time Heh. Everything is as always, the second floor, quick check-in and long (2.5 hours) waiting for departure. With the help of crossword puzzles and a tablet, the time flew by quickly and now we are already in the spaceship)). On board, you can hear the Russian voice of stewardesses (the flight belonged to FlyDubai) and this was pleasing)). Here is the take-off, in 25-30 minutes already over the father of cities - Rostov.


Here we are flying over the mountains of Georgia, flying over Iran and here are the emirates (Dubai). We sat down quickly, quickly got off the ladder and . . by the way, who flies further with us, we get off at the first bus stop to the 2nd terminal, as a rule. Who has already “arrived”, then go further)). The control was passed quickly again (they treat whites condescendingly), but it’s better not to have metal on you)), because the arch will squeak (gold up to 200g. also does not cause alarm) .. ). Now, after passing the control, and on our beloved, or only mine . . as you yourself think - a dutik)). We also stock up on their swill, now in hand luggage)). Well, we are Slavs like that, that's why we criticize so immediately)). Again, the wait passed quickly, because 1.5 hours of waiting before departure, half was stolen by the Dutik, and the second by their so-called donalds)).

So boarding the plane, the flight was delayed during landing, it’s like always, flights from Dubai to Colombo don’t want to fly on time, but these are not the problems of aircraft, don’t be afraid, these are their “minds” in dispatchers such)). Here is the take-off, already “ours” on board are not 85%, but 2-5%. No one claps during takeoff anymore (a habit of the Slavs since Turkey). So we are surrounded by some Arabs)), well, almost alone. By the way, the toilets have become freer, there are no sour cutlets, and those of ours, already scientists, are prepared for such flights and do not risk food)). Here is the landing in Colombo (estimated time 3:55, we were 40 minutes late). Let me remind you that the time difference from Ukraine to Sri Lanka is +2.5 hours. How long have we been waiting for you - Colombo)). The total flight time is about 10 hours.

Airport (Colombo) - Our tasks - Meeting the guide

We pass very quickly through the gangway, oh, I completely forgot, order, if possible, seats on the plane from the 5th to the 7th row.


If closer, then there is a chance to sniff the toilet and look at the ops of people in line)). If you sit in the tail, there is a chance to go out for a long time and then stand in line for a visa for just as long . . Here is the visa counter. It costs $25, you can save money and order it through the Internet and pay $20. Here is our turn for a visa, I give two passports, pay $ 50, they give me one and this is where it starts . . This not very white and very arrogant employee requires (I'm not a dewist, but still . . or if white is stupid) more $ 50, I ask him for what another 50, the price list hangs over their heads. It’s like he didn’t pay me, although I already have the receipt in my hands . . And if it weren’t for the guys from Kazakhstan, then I would have filled him right there with what he had instead of his face (of course, my vacation would have ended there) . . But then everyone panicked, and his boss waved him off with a slight movement of his hand and they gave me a second passport . . maybe I offended someone here, but I consider all people to be people, and those who themselves don’t feel like a person anymore . . I’m on them..

In general, sorry for the digression. This is where the territory of the English language begins. Without knowledge of the language in general, from Colombo to Kandy, it is possible to live, but it is difficult, because there are very few Russian speakers (knowledge of at least a school course is desirable). Further with the language is worse, but it's later. Again I lost my thought, moved away from the topic, but I seem to have written something useful. We got a visa, we run for luggage, because there are cases when we didn’t have time to pick up our luggage, and not because it took a long time or it wasn’t filed, but because it is no longer there (there are cases when our compatriots even for other nations will not to say, they don’t take their own luggage . . they took someone else’s bag with us and they would have left for a couple of minutes .. ) Here is our suitcase, it’s a sin not to rejoice like children)). We grabbed him with joy and run to the exit, because we have already guaranteed 50% of our rest with success)). Before leaving, we go to the bank and change our hard-earned $ for their rupees (be sure to keep a check). Course ~1*127. Next, we go for the sim.

I took Mobitel for myself, the package price is $ 12.1600 rupees go to the account (we also make sure to insert a SIM card and make a test call). If you intend to call often, then I recommend replenishing at least 2000-5000 rupees (according to requirements). As practice has shown (a call ~ 2 UAH to a mobile and 1.5 to a hospital), then 5000 is enough with a margin (if you come to rest and just call your relatives and work (control), if you decide to work even on vacation, and your work is connected with telephone conversations , then top up by 7000-10000, and then without problems (no commission for topping up) you can top up your account all over the country. While I was buying a SIM card, our guide Saman (0770292956) found us. , but because he doesn’t have enough money, he earns money on excursions (he has a license for this). Well, now I’ll clarify a little. We went from JoinUP! , from Sri Lanka Concord Exotic Voyager (excursion organizer).

Don’t think it’s advertising, but everything was arranged for what they paid for and what they agreed on, everyone got it ...The girl in our agency is quite adequate, sociable and sociable, but since the agency is still young, there is little practical experience on trips, but this compensated discounts)). We worked on more than one hotel, excursions, and the weather. Provided samples of filling out a visa, which also accelerated the processing. Yes, and there were positive impressions from the agency, already from only one person and even before the trip)). Again, I went far, now a couple of clarifications and then we eat))). By the way, JoinUP! in Sri Lanka, in a very good standing, I don’t know how it is in other countries of course (we learned this already when traveling and talking in hotels and guides). At the exit from the airport, a driver was waiting for us, who immediately snatched our bags and loaded them at the speed of sound)). T. to.


we were in June - the rainy season in the west of the island, when leaving the airport doors we immediately felt very high humidity (after air conditioning, you can feel the difference). But after getting into the car, everything returned to its place)). With comfort, everything is in order, there is a place, an individual condo was present. That's where it all started.

Excursions 3 days

Here we are already tired, but happy, we are heading across the country to Pinnovala, this is an elephant nursery that was founded in 1975. On the way we started to taste local fruits. Their diversity is very numerous and it makes no sense to describe all this, because some varieties have seasonality and for a full palette of taste, I think you need to live a year in Lanka. I will describe some fruits later when I talk about markets and markets.

On the way, we were offered an elephant ride, a private farm, the pleasure costs 2000 rupees, your equipment is rented for 100-200 rupees. The walk passes between palm trees, pineapple bushes and other plant fauna. At will, without additional payment, it is possible for an elephant to bathe with you in a stream in which black water monitor lizards of wonderful beauty swim. We refused, limited ourselves to just entering the water and a couple of splashes from the trunk (all this without getting off the elephant). You may decide. And again the road, houses, shops, schoolchildren, mopeds . . Here we are on the spot. After the rather poor houses next to the road, there is a rather rich nursery. In front of the entrance is a large image of an elephant. Here is the opening of the nursery, we quickly ran through the steel gates of the nursery with Sri Lankan schoolchildren (a very reasonable school program, which is sponsored by the state, all schoolchildren repeatedly visit all the sights of the country).


While we took a couple of photos, our guide has already bought tickets and now we are walking with some of the largest mammals on the planet. Dozens of friendly elephants walk around. There are a lot of teenagers (up to 2 years old elephants have no teeth and feed exclusively on milk). Here is the main elephant - the father of the reserve. A very large and rather old elephant (tusks are about 1.5 meters, tusks for Sri Lankan elephants are generally very rare). He is blind, poachers tried to kill him several times for the sake of those tusks. The elephant received several dozen bullets from our compatriot AK-47 assault rifle. But the blessing was cured and well-groomed. Now the elephant is closely engaged in demographic growth in the nursery)). By the way, no matter how sad, but all the elephants from the nursery, if they leave the territory, they either end up in zoos or work . . Here is the first rain.

After taking a few photos, videotaping the game of a young elephant with an elephant (he was tied, very inquisitive and mischievous, as the locals told me), very gentle courtship, yes . . yes . . that's what I say - man)), we headed for the exit . And here again the road, right-hand traffic and very slow speed (country limit 72 km / h). And here we are at the tea factory. Fatigue makes itself felt, a day has passed without sleep (I do not sleep in any state, except lying down). A very nice girl gave us a tour, at our request very quickly, we even refused free tea tastings, which I recommend to you, very good tea. We quickly bought the tea that we drink (black medium, green) and quickly into the car. Here is the batik factory. I won’t tell the whole process, it is entertaining and worth seeing, then the first people who wanted to sell us something began)).

The factory bought a canvas, small in size, can be framed like a picture. In the figure, as it should be in Lanka, an elephant and an image of the island. The price tag was $ 25, which was expensive, but I liked it, and I bought it without bargaining, and fatigue was already talking about itself. They gave us $23 and gave us a small picture from batik. When we left, the merchants were already waiting for us. There was only a plate from the standing one, I think they understood what kind of plate it was. The price of 1200 rupees was named, to which I said 500, just reflexively, because I know how to bargain with them. I was refused, I said buy and got into the car, when starting off, he was already running after the car and sold it to us for 500. Here we are again on the road. The next stop is the Royal Botanical Garden. Before him we stop by the garden of spices. This is probably a separate topic, but briefly. I will not tell you what is there, but I will tell you how to behave.

This is not for behavior, but for some loading of their products, but no one will force you to buy anything there. I bought tooth powder for myself - 100 rupees, and a face cream, the result was very interesting - 1200 rupees (I didn’t notice the difference, well, at least I didn’t get blackheads). That is, if you do not need this product, then do not even start a conversation, but just say time and buy (as practice shows, there is nothing to buy there and there is no need). Then my strength finally ran out and we went to the Hill Top Hotel. We were greeted very cordially, offered to drink fresh juice (for free) and we smoothly migrated to the apartments. After washing and taking a nap for 2 hours, we decided to continue . . Here is the garden. The garden area is very large. A huge number of plants. A greenhouse with orchids, their history will impress lovers of this plant, for myself I found out that this plant is a parasite)). Alley of palm trees, thickets of giant bamboo, iron tree, stone tree, sausage tree ..


yes, yes, exactly this (the fruits resemble a dumpling, but are not completely edible), a hearty or cannon tree . . well, to list everything, there will be another couple of pages. By the way, I’ll go a little off topic, Kandy has another name - Senkadagalapura (the ancient capital of Sri Lanka). And now we are already striving for the Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada-Maligawa), this object is important for the Buddhist pilgrimage. Many ceremonies take place here and no less holidays are held. The most colorful and spectacular holiday is Esala-Mangallaya. The temple is very beautiful and rich. Carved wood, paintings, sculptures . . Again, it's impossible to describe everything, come and see)). The dress code is like in all Buddhist temples - bare feet, torso and shoulders are closed and knees are covered (I decided to remind everyone). Next to the temple, an artificial lake, in the center of which there is an oasis (once the kings built all this for recreation). There are a lot of catfish and carps in the lake.

If you have a couple of pieces of bread, they will “kiss” your hands)). And again we are on the road. Now we are going to Dambulla. In the cave temple, which was built before BC. This temple houses the largest collection of Buddha statues. There are five caves in total. In each there are altars for offerings, covered with orchids and lotuses. After a quick inspection we go to the exit. We are already waiting for the evening national dance show, we are going back to Kandy. And now after the show, we head back to the hotel for a light rest and breakfast. After washing and resting a little, we head to the meal. Great variety of food, everything is fresh, lots of fruits. A cuisine with a strong national bias, but there is also a European one. Their onion and curry soup is something. After a couple of spoons, the sensation of an exploding nuclear bomb in the mouth (I love spicy and for me this is just right). By the way, taking into account the sharpness of their cuisine, I never had heartburn, which made me very happy)).

After tasting a little of everything, I decided not to spoil myself and ordered fried crabs and old daniels. The crabs turned out great. After I took my dose (200 ml. ) and had enough of crabs (crabs were cooked by the chef (oh, how he cooked them), and it was included in dinner), I paid for the drink (I don’t like to pay later) with a satisfied face left the restaurant and with a smooth gait moved to the apartment. The channels in the room are only English, Hind and Sri Lankan . . English has already begun to remember)). Here is the morning. After taking a shower and collecting things back to the restaurant. And we are spoiled again, all the same huge plates of fruit, again a cuisine of several directions (but Sri Lankan-spicy prevails), yoghurts, ice cream, etc. In order not to be sated, I ate about a liter of yogurt, ate fruit and washed down with fresh juice ( I’m joking, of course, I ate terribly, but their yogurt is credited).

Before leaving, I went to the reception, to pay for the mini-bar (I was tempted to try the local beer - Lion) cost, if I had not forgotten, 300 rupees. If we compare it with our bottled, then it is much better, but worse than our Lisichansk draft)). On the way to Sigiriya (Lion Mountain) and the next hotel, we stopped at a rather large Indian temple, there are a lot of figures on the facade, in general, everything is beautiful and you need to see it only with your own eyes . . Here we are. Bungalow type hotel - Sigiriya Village, very picturesque, and I liked a lot of different smells (some not very fragrant, but of plant origin, whatever you might think))). Having worked out according to the scheme - rest, we were again in the ranks and ready to explore further. The hotel was a few minutes drive from the Lion Mountain. And here we are Already in front of the mighty rock, on top of which the kings lived.


In front of the rock, there are two levels of deep defensive ditches with water (when I said that I would cross this moat on foot and there was no sense in it, there was no protection, the guide corrected me and reminded me that the moat was overgrown with lilies (you can’t see what swims there) and it was very many crocodiles, and then I realized its hidden property). Further across the bridge are artificially created swimming pools and fountains (smart sewage like the Romans). Here for the first time I saw a plant - touchy)). When touched, it closes and this happens quite quickly. And of course monkeys and chipmunks (lena in their language), they are everywhere in the country. And here we are at the foot, the surroundings, etc. again I will not describe further, because there is a lot of everything and it’s impossible to tell everything. Here are our first steps (1200 steps to the top). Again, the whole ascent cannot be described, but in short . . A mirror wall, it was rubbed with wax, honey, fats, etc. , and a mirror effect was achieved on the stone (the king liked to walk and examine himself) ..

A small performance with cobras and pipes (taming), one either didn’t like me, or the camera rushed in my direction (it turned out she had a tooth removed) and I took a position - run away (so I didn’t know that she didn’t have a tooth) . . We went through the souvenir market, bought another plate. And then, with a sense of accomplishment, we went to the hotel. After rinsing, we smoothly switched to the pool. Although the time of its work was over, no one prevented us from getting wet there. The pool is not deep, max depth is 1.8m. but I was very pleased with the flowers floating in it, similar to orchids, which fell from nearby trees. Damn, I'm not a melancholic, but damn it's nice, and for a gift))). While we were swimming, dinner was already being served. The list of dishes was less than in the leading hotel, but still pleased with the same difference from the previous hotel. After dinner and drinking a couple of bottles of beer, we went to bed, waiting for tomorrow and finally the ocean)).

But now the thought of the room is gnawing, what if it is bad . . Here we are moving off the road to a nondescript street, it starts to scare me, the landscapes are depressing - cows, littered fences, etc. . . But here is our hotel - Lotus Park Hotel

Trincomalee. Hotel - Recreation


We are in place. Our guide does not leave us and begins to draw up documents for us (it was very nice). Here they give us the keys and we go to the room, I crossed my fingers . . We open the door and see - but the room is normal, we run to the toilet, damn it, and everything is in order there - and on the exhale I say: "and now the ocean. " We smoothly say goodbye to the guide (gave him 2000 rupees, as for me it’s not that much money for me, but it’s already nice for him), well, we said goodbye to our silent driver (gave 500 rupees) and heard him speak. We were thanked and disappeared into the dusty curtain of Sri Lankan roads. Again, I’ll step back a little and maybe I’ll look in front and maybe I’ll reinsure you a little. With the Russian language in the hotel at all. The same can be said for the coast.

And so it is in the East. But even if you don’t know English at all, then such a scheme as a sheet and a pen works)). Thankfully I speak basic English. But this should not stop you, because the language will bring you to Kyiv. And if you do not understand a person, just do not agree and let him try to explain to you (he sells you, provides a service). Let's continue. Here is the ocean. Buying up, I got ecstasy and was pleased)). The evening was coming on smoothly, by the way it gets dark earlier than ours, at about 18:00 in their language. Then a feeling of hunger woke up (in principle, the hotel did not order food, we were only fed breakfast). The feeling of hunger led along the shore, by the way, if you stand with your back to the hotel, and face the ocean, then there is nowhere to the right)). Gone to the left. There are three establishments here. If you stand with your back to the hotel, then the first institution is Golden Beach (if memory serves) with average prices (not small), and the same cuisine.

The second is simpler - Silver (this is its old name, now there is no sign at all), and the prices are half the price and the food is quite normal (I mostly ordered giant shrimp - 500 rupees, crabs (2 large) - 700, lobster -3200 (there was a price 800, but one of our compatriots suggested that ours can soar them at 3200)), for this I called her by her profession, well, you understand)). The third establishment at the Chaaya Blu hotel is very expensive, like the hotel itself. A pork steak, which must be ordered a day in advance, which has already lived in the freeze for a couple of years, cost us 2200 rupees, beer - 500. Speaking of beer. The first restaurant was 400, the second was at first 150, but then for some reason it became 300, and the third 500. Having had enough of dinner, we decided to go to bed earlier. They fell asleep like babies. Here is the morning. We were brought tea to the room, it surprised me)). Leaving 100 rupees on the bed, we went to have breakfast and realized that there would be an opportunity, it was necessary to refuse their food altogether)).

There is also a girl Olga), I wrote for her already above (she told the locals that she is a model with us, well, she knows better) she can help those who do not know English and generally help, if you understand)). Well, actually I think to finish, because it’s already scary to read what I wrote. The holiday was a success, I recommend it to those who want peace, diving, fishing, whales and cheap fruits. Let me remind you that the trinky season is from April to October. The country is colorful and there is something to see, I have not described everything, because I think that this information is enough. If you want to know the whole country, then you need at least 7-10 days just for excursions. I don’t advise you to come for the sake of the beach, because being in Lanka and not seeing their riches is the same as smearing black caviar on bread and sand . . There is still a lot left in my head that has not been told to you, but if you yourself see it all, then Can you tell me something that I missed)). If you have any questions I'll be happy to advise.


But let me remind you, I am not a tour agent, and I do not have information about the cost associated with flights and accommodation. I can only give reliable information on the resort and excursions. Let me remind you again that I will write about the hotel itself in a separate topic, maybe it will come in handy for someone . .

Translated automatically from Russian. View original
To add or remove photos in a story, go to album of this story
Similar stories
Comments (12) leave a comment
Show other comments …
avatar