Sri Lanka

[elliot]

Hi,

Has anyone been?

Looking to go on holiday for two weeks in November.... looking for suggestions.

On the list:-

Sri Lanka
Cuba
Jamaica
Thailand
Vietnam
Maldives

If you have been to a place, and can recommend it, could you also specify tour operator please!

Thanks

Elliot

[chriskirby101]

Been to Jamaica & Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka was like a war zone, as we landed there was a fleet of russian hind attack helicopter on the runway. Also ever street corner is colombo has a anti tank bunker on it. (real big guns). Basically never left the hotel because it was too dangerous.

Jamaica on the other hand is a great place just don't stay in the hotels like all the americans do. The local people are really nice and friendly. (visit the blue mountains! & bob's old house)

[elliot]

Chris,

Thanks for that - has Sri Lanka's situation changed much?

I have been to Negril - and absolutely loved in, thoroughly enjoying all the local wares :)

Would prefer not to return to Jamaica... but it is so amazing....

Thanks

Elliot

[chriskirby101]

We went to Sri Lanka feburary 1999 so it was a few years ago. I heard on the news that its worse now. The tammile tigers are still trying to
take the north of the island.

[elliot]

Anyone got any other recommendations?

I know loads of you have been Maldives way.

Elliot

[spottydog]

I saw a diving firend who now lives in Sri Lanka a few weeks ago and he said the situation has calmed down a lot. But I don't think the diving there is that brilliant since the reason he always uses when he tries to get us to visit is "close to the Maldives".

The Maldives seem to highly recommended at any time of the year. My club went in October a few years ago and said there was lots of big pelagic life but lots of currents.

Cuba I've been told is very nice in the right places (speak to Scuba En Cuba for diving there).

For Jamaica I would wonder whether the water will be particularly clear since it will be the end of the hurricane season. When we went to Tobago in November a couple of years ago visibility in the Carribean Sea was awful so most of our dives were done in the Atlantic.

Regarding Thailand I remember a post in the Divernet Destinations forum about certain parts to dive/not dive and I think it was talking about November but they are having problems with their forums at the moment so I can't search for the item.

HTH

[elliot]

SpottyDog,

Many thanks for that ..... Sri Lanka is certainly cheap relative to the Malideves!

What sort of level of hotel would you recommend in asia?

The short list, I think is prob between Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bali.

So much choice...... argggg

elliot

[Andy Hipkiss]

FWIW I used to work in Colombo and go diving at the weekend.

The diving to the SW of Sri Lanka is a bit so so but the island itself is an experience I will never forget. It is a fantastic place. Yes the check points in Colombo are a bit off-putting initially but you are unlikely to look like a Tamil Tiger and therefore the soldiers either ignore you or are very friendly. I even accidentally walked into an army base one Sunday morning and they couldn't have been more polite and friendly.

I heard recently that some of the dive sites on the east coast have opened up and these were reckoned to be of much better quality.

Regarding the danger then so far the conflict has avoid involving foreigners. Any danger is really only likely in the NE of the island AFAIK and I doubt anyone would take you there anyway.

Bear in mind Sri Lanka is the third world ... the hotels for westerners are very very good, however there are large chunks of the island that are truly third world. Now whether this appeals to you is down to your attitude. Culturally it's one of the most exciting places I have ever been to.

If you do go, DO go to Odels in Colombo shopping. As you may know a lot of designer clothing is made out in Sri Lanka and locals laws means a percentage has to be sold within the island. "Cheap" does not really describe how much things cost there :) Take an empty suitcase ... it will be full on your return trip!!!

In summary: for a pure dive holiday then probably not unless it is on the east of the island ... for an experience of a lifetime including diving, then yes for sure.

HTH

[elliot]

Andy,

Many thanks for your review.

Your description of the island has totally sold Naomi and I... who enjoy the adventure along with the beach (Ghana last year).

Could you recommend anywhere in particular to stay?

Many thanks

Elliot

[Andy Hipkiss]

Elliot,

OK, at the w/e I used to stay here http://asiatours.net/srilanka/hotels/coral_garden.html however I would recommend you go further south or south east than I used to since I used to have to travel down on a Friday nite/Sat morning and back on a Sunday nite and that's about a far as I wanted to travel. Hikkaduwa (pronounced hicca-doo) is "ok" for diving at best. You are better served near Galle (pronounced Gaul) and Nilaveli beach. I doubt it's open yet (:( ) but if Trincomalee is available GO THERE!!!

It's worth noting that the average monthly wage is about 30 - 50 bucks at most! You can hire a taxi driver pretty much full time. Therefore I'd strongly recommend you do if they speak reasonable English ... passing thru places without any context I guess is a bit boring ... being immersed in the history and current situation I found excellent ... warts (and there are a lot of warts for our "Western" sensibilities) and all.

You MUST go to Kandy and if you play golf at all, it is essential to play at Nuwara Elliya (bet you can't pronounce that ;) ) Golf Club or maybe Victoria International Golf and Country Resort in Kandy. Kandy and Nuwara Elliya are must see places. In fact a lot of the central mountain areas are almost too perfect for words IMO. NB: There are a few odds and sods places in the mountains that do have malaria .. if just staying in on the coast (inc Colombo) you don't need the tablets (I never even saw a mosquito) ... if you venture into the mountains, then you really really should that the tablets just to be safe.

What else can I tell you ... erm ... be careful about the curries ... their "mild" = hot , "hot" = hospital treatment :D Avoid "devilled" food like the plague ... your tongue won't fit in your mouth for weeks! Trouble is though ... it's damn tasty even if you do then glow in the dark! Expect most of the curries to include bones and all ... flavour is placed more highly than presentation apart from in the 5* hotels designed for us wimpy lot. Do avoid pizzas and the like .. a number of my colleagues had very dodgy tummies afterwards (not me thankfully ... I was normally diving :) )


Apart from that ... Don't just sit in the hotel. OK the hotels are fantastic and IME provide service far beyond any I've had in Europe but Sri Lanka offers so so much more.

There will be stuff you don't like. For example, an elephant may be chained inside a temple grounds which is absolutely repugnant to me. In other places some local "entrepreneur" will offer you the services of a young girl or indeed boy I found out having refused the initial "kind" offer (eek!), regardless if Naomi is with you or not. However they don't tend to hassle you like other places. "No thanks" seems to mean "no" and that's the end of it.

... but then you hit the beauty of the island, the vibrancy and the cultural diversity. IIRC there are 7 national religions on the island (including the 4 major religions of the world) and every few days is a festival. Fantastic!

Oh erm ... if you thought the French or Italians were suicidal drivers ... welcome to Sri Lanka!!! Don't even think about hiring a car .. you need a local ... trust me, you really really do!

This isn’t a bad site: http://www.sri-lanka-tour.com/index.html

[chriskirby101]

I guess we went at a really bad time...... I wanna go back now. I feel i've missed out on so much.. :( :( :(

Oh well.... Tis life.....


AH your very right about the driving though. We had to get a taxi to our hotel... They just Full beam and indicators as weapons.. And the tuk tuk's oooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh god.

[JasandJules]

Been to the Maldives. Nice holiday, even in the wet season (Whale Sharks !!), nice diving with plenty to see, good instructors. The Island itself was quite boring unless you are a sun worshipper (bar the Diving/Drinking in the evening)..........

Tobago is the place I would suggest though. Ok diving, fantastic Island, lovely friendly people, great fun, nicest place on earth.

[gman]

Elliot
I can reccomend giravaru island in the Maldives.House reef is only about 20 yard away,in fact you can walk to it along the jetty.thousands of fish including dolphins,sharks and giant turtles.I paid about £1100 2 weeks all inclusive in May,with cosmos ;)

[Kevin Douglas]

Andy,

Can I book with you. :D
Do you work for a travel agent.
You make it sound wonderful.

It makes me want to go and I didn't ask the question.

Atb

[elliot]

Andy,

Many thanks for a very thorough review... we are definately sold on going there out of the list - as we believe the maldives is something to save for a bit....

I cannot wait already!

Many thanks again

Elliot

[Andy Hipkiss]

Kevin,

LOL ... now there's an idea , a career change :) One thing I did worry about when typing up my thoughts about the island is that it won't suit all. It is "foreign" in the extreme (apart from the hotels) and this won't suit everybody. It's a hell of a long plane trip to not enjoy yourself!

Chris,

Did you ever go in a tuk-tuk? Damn they are scary :D Once (in Colombo) was enough for me! Hysterical the way they were all done up in disco lights and the like.

ROFL about the indicators .. I'd forgotten about that ... yup, their use seems purely to be for confusing the "enemy". IIRC it's indicate the opposite way to where they want to go so they can take a bigger arc getting around the corners.

The other weapon of choice seems to be the horn or maybe the pressing the horn makes the engine go faster , certainly the drivers seem to be permanently tooting away :)