Posted by Yin Teing on June 21, 2010 under Anuradhapura, Travel Schedule | 
When I was in Sirigiya, I stayed at the Sirigiya Village hotel. After a tired day of travelling at Polonnaruwa and Sirigiya, the hotel was a welcoming sight. It is really 5 star as it is like a mini house by itself.
When I entered the room, there were even the “Welcome” sign as you see below. During the time I went, the room occupancy was so low because of the war. But at least this hotel have more foreigners compared to other hotels.
Food were laid up buffet style and in the morning when you get up, it is quite pleasant to scroll around. Usually the driver will drop you before it gets dark- so if you are like me travelling alone, you would basically spend the night hole up in the room. There were lots of TV channels to watch from.
Because that time I was afraid of being alone in hotel rooms, I actually left the TV and lights on the whole night.
Waiter service was very good. That time when I was travelling, I was a vegetarian- I had no problem getting vegetarian food- usually the tour guide company will inform the hotel in advance so there would be more vegetarian dishes.
Posted by Yin Teing on January 30, 2010 under Anuradhapura, Travel Schedule |
On the day I arrive at Colombo, Sri Lanka, the driver picked me up and we travelled over 200km to Anuradhapura. On that day, I did not manage to visit any place but got to see the life along the roads that we passed by. We were stopped a few times by the army then because it was war time. Thinking back, I really wondered how I had the courage to go alone.
Anyway, we arrive at Palm Garden Village Hotel at Anuradhapura, passing the main army camp.
The rooms are housed in little semi-D bungalows, as you see at the picture below:
Read more of this article »
Posted by Yin Teing on January 21, 2010 under Travel Schedule |
I am grateful that Air Asia started flying to Colombo, Sri Lanka starting from June 2009. When I went there in 2006, I took Sri Lanka Airways from Chennai- and that flight cost me about RM600- just a short distance between Chennai and Colombo.
With Air Asia flying there, when you book during a sale, you can get yourself a good bargain. You can also opt for their holiday packages at reasonable prices.
Sri Lanka is really a country with lots of offer – Air Asia’s advertisement pretty much sums it all- it has beautiful beaches, highlands, jungle/safari parks, Ayurveda and healing, as well as spiritual. I hope I will have the chance to go back there in the near future.
Posted by Yin Teing on September 23, 2009 under Anuradhapura, Travel Schedule |
I decided to go ahead with the trip despite many advice from well meaning friends to do otherwise. Well, I did not initially wanted to go alone but I had less than 2 weeks to plan the trip, so the time was not enough to bring any friends. Anyway, I had customised my tour JUST to visit ancient Buddhist sites, to view carvings, monastery and ancient ruins which date back thousands of years. No safari, beachside, tea plantation or shopping- so I didn’t think anyone will be interested anyway.
From what I learned by visiting Sri Lanka, I would like to share this with Malaysian friends who are thinking of visiting there:
**Note: Today (16 Oct 06) I have to withdraw a point that I had writen earlier about the country being safe as I just watched the Breaking News in BBC about 90 people dying in a blast near Dambulla. Still, I would say that if I am given free flight tickets and enough annual leave, I would not mind going back again***
1. If you wish to save more cost, first, buy only the air ticket from Matta fair. Then make arrangement with a travel agent in Sri Lanka. You should know the type of places you wish to go (you can do some research in the net or buy the Sri Lanka guidebook from Lonely Planet/ Footprint). Then just inform the travel company of the places and they will arrange an itenary for you.
2. About travel agents: do be careful. I have gotten comparison from a few agents. Some are overpriced, some give the itenary that is impossible to be followed. At the end I engaged the agent recommended by my friend: Lanka Vacations (but the last i checked, their url http://www.lankavacations.com/ is no longer working)–refer travel schedule provided by them below. I STRONGLY recommend this travel agent because it is excellent. Actually my friend’s uncle got heart attack during the trip to Sri Lanka. The owner of the agency personally took care of her uncle while the rest of the family comes back to Malaysia. The agent customised a package to the places I wish to go, offered me full board (accomodation at 5 star hotels with good meals) at a very affortable prize.
3. If you are visiting monasteries, and especially ancient sites, you are expected to be well covered & take off your hat and shoes. So if you have sensative feet, bring a pair of socks along. It means walking on hard granite, stone and sand in the middle of the hot sun. But if you go with a joyful heart, you will hardly feel any tireness or pain at all
4. Do tip if you can. Take heart that most people, especially those working in the outskirts only get peanuts. I noticed a very low occupancy rates amongst hotels in Anuradhapura and areas of the Cultural Triangle because many people are afraid to visit the area. A mere 50 rupees (less than RM3) means a lot to the porter who carries your bags to your room. And why not buy your mineral water from the stalls/shops at the roadside- it may be more expensive than the supermarket but you will be giving these people a break.
5. However, if you visit various tourist places, there will be guides offering their services, children begging for money or people approaching you to sell things. For such cases, to avoid complications, it is better to say no politely. However in some places, you are obliged to use a guide from the place and pay them a small fee- always seek advise from your guide on the appropiate action to take.
A guide in Sigiriya (Lion Rock Temple)
In Sigiriya, I had hired an guide (because the tour did not cover my tour guide’s entrance tickets). My tour guide had advise me to get a guide to bring me in Sigiriya because if not, every step of the way, there will be people approaching me, or talking to me. Once I engage the service of someone, the rest will not disturb (some kinda of unspoken code, I guess).
He spoke good English and explained the history of the site. I was very afraid of heights and he was very helpful. I did not dare to climb up the spiral staircase to view the wall famous paintings and he offered to climb up to take the pictures for me. Anyway, after I came down from Sigiriya and paid the guide, gave him my Robustoson sweets for his dry cough. Later my tour guide told me that the guide actually have a son (5yrs old) who is aneamic and every month the boy need to get blood transfusion. They hardly earn enough to make ends meet (because there are so many guides there). Still, they earn their money righteously. My tour guide who had been in this line for about 12 years, know him personally.
Posted by Yin Teing on September 22, 2009 under Anuradhapura, Travel Schedule |
Here was my travel schedule as provided by the tour agent:
Note: I stayed in mostly 5 star hotels with mostly buffet food. Was well worth the money I paid for. I’ve followed the schedule quite closely, but my driver decided to also take me to Avukana Buddha statue because he felt I would like the place. He was right, I love the place and the abbot there had given me an invitation to stay there the next time I visit.
Day 01 at 11.50am
Pickup by driver guide from airport
Proceed to Anuradahapura
Lunch at Local Restaura
nt Dinner & Overnight At Palm Garden Village Hotel
Day 02
Breakfast At Hotel
After B/F Sightseeing of Anuradhapura Srimaha Bodhi, Isurumuniya, Ruwanweli Seya Thuparama, etc……….
Lunch at Local restaurant
Visit MIHINTALE
Dinner & Overnight At Palm Garden Village Hotel
Day 03
Breakfast At Hotel
After B/F Proceed to Polonnaruwa
Sight seeing at Polonnaruwa
Lunch at Local Restaurant
PM Sightseeing of Sigiriya **SIGIRIYA ROCK TEMPLE
Dinner & Overnight At Sigiriya Village Hotel
Day 04
Breakfast At Hotel
After B/F Proceed to KANDY Via Visit DAMBULLA CAVE TEMPLES
VISIT TOOTH RELIC TEMPLE
Lunch at Local restaurant
Proceed to Negombo Dinner & Overnight at Goldi sands (only this hotel was not very good)
Day 05 – 11Oct
Departure Transfer to Airport at 5am (I took a morning flight home)
We will offer you a very Special rate for the above tour programme @ US$ 465/-nett including Accommodation on full board basis (4*-5*) for 01 SGL room
+ A/C Car or Micro Bus with English speaking driver guide
+ entrance tickets to historic sites + Government Taxes
The Rate excludes last night Stay near Airport Hotel Tour Package = US$ 465/-Goldi Sands = US$ 50/-Polnnaruwa Entrance = US$ 20/-Total US$ 535/
-Our representative will provide you the balance of US$ 65/- at the airport deducting US$ 535/- from the US$ 600/- as per your request
Looking forward for your visit to Sri Lanka
Best Rgds,Rohan.
Lanka Vacations (Pvt) Ltd.43. St Anthony’s Mawatha,
Colombo 03, Srilanka.
Tel 0094 – 11 – 2576330 , 0094 – 11 – 2576668Fax 0094 – 11 – 2576282email :lankavac@slt.lk , resvac@sltnet.lkWeb : www.lankavacations.com/ (url not working the last time i checked in june 08)
