Joanna James
Having gone through almost three decades of a civil war the country has now developed and is now able to share the beauty within, with the rest of the world. If you have decided to head to this paradise island here are 7 things you should know before you head over.
Apart from the golden beaches and the bright blue glistening waters, Sri Lanka has a lot to offer in terms of sight-seeing, travelling and cuisine. Find the different locations and excursions you would like to be a part of an experience, in order to avoid the disappointment of missing out on certain places and activities at the end of your trip. Find a reputed tour guide or agent such as Connaissance de Ceylan that can expose you to the best options to make the most of your stay.
Sri Lanka even though it is a small island which is just 430 kilometres tall and 220 kilometres wide takes up a lot of time on the road as the roads can be extremely busy. There is hope because highways are being built so in a few years, travelling would be a lot easier around Sri Lanka. Tours need to be planned accordingly so that you visit locations close to one another methodically in order to avoid wasting time on the road. Travelling by train is comparatively more comfortable and convenient and has the options of first class and second class coaches.
The stunning beaches make for some picturesque moments but the season in which you visit the country is of utmost importance in order to decide where you can head to in order to make the best these golden sandy beaches. Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons which are the North-east monsoon ranging from December to March and the South-West monsoon spreading from June to October. Depending on the season you can decide which beaches to visit.
The different kinds of places that you will come across varying from the street side shops 'kade' to the luxurious 4-star hotels will give different experiences. Most of the street side shops will have tasty Sri Lankan food which is likely to be cooked at a household. These shops are not the most hygienic but they are not unbearable. The 5-star hotels are a good experience but are definitely on the pricey end of luxuries.
Despite having gone through a civil war which separated the country for many years the locals are friendly and helpful. Be mindful though, they have a tendency to be overly helpful even when the situation is out of their control. They will offer to help you, most of the time out of a good heart but it is wise to be cautious. Most Sri Lankans can understand at least a little bit of English which makes conversing easier.
Sri Lanka is still a rather conservative country as the majority of the country are Buddhists. It is advisable to take some cover-ups, flowy dresses and t-shirts along with you because most places require you to be covered up outside of the beach. You can get your hands on some cheap cover-ups and sarongs in most sea-side locations.
Animals are not treated with a lot of respect or love and locals will offer animal activities such as horse rides and elephant rides. Be mindful not to encourage any form of animal activities as it encourages animal cruelty within the local community. Sri Lanka even though a small island has an extensive history and a rich culture and they have a lot of monuments, ruins and temples that you can visit. Always be mindful to be respectful of their practices and rituals so that you don't offend the locals or their beliefs.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
