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I have to admit that I knew little or no about Sri Lanka earlier than my current journey there.
It isn’t a rustic that is talked about a lot, so I am certain I am not the one one, proper?
However I believe in a method it was good to reach with none expectations or preconceived concepts, as a result of it meant I used to be completely open to no matter got here my method on this journey.
In consequence, I realized A LOT in regards to the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”, Sri Lanka, which I’m very excited to share with you!
Listed below are 7 enjoyable details about Sri Lanka that I discovered notably fascinating:
Sri Lanka isn’t just like India
Sri Lanka is a teardrop-shaped island situated simply 24 kilometers off the coast of India. With a fast look at Google Maps, it could possibly be mistaken for an Indian island. Or you might assume that as a result of the 2 international locations are so shut, they have to share a lot of the identical tradition, customs, landscapes, and basic vibe.
Nonetheless, in actuality, Sri Lanka may be very a lot its personal nation, utterly unbiased of India and with its personal identification. Actually, I barely considered India whereas touring in Sri Lanka; The 2 international locations might nicely be as completely different as Sri Lanka and another Asian nation.
What then are the variations between India and Sri Lanka?
- Sri Lanka is an island, India just isn’t, clearly. However Sri Lanka additionally has a slower-paced island vibe general.
- Sri Lanka is calmer and fewer frenetic/chaotic/noisy than India.
- Sri Lanka is a cleaner and fewer polluted nation than India.
- Sri Lankan delicacies is completely different from Indian delicacies. Each are spicy and flavorful general, however Indian meals takes it to the acute.
- Each Sri Lanka and India love their tea; Nonetheless, Sri Lanka produces Ceylon tea, whereas India is devoted to chai (tremendous candy).
- Sri Lanka is far much less populated than India, with a inhabitants that’s 1/68 that of India (22 million versus 1.5 billion).
- Canine: Sri Lanka:: Cows: India. Or in non-mathematical phrases, canines are as widespread in Sri Lanka as cows are in India. Each animals personal the roads of their respective international locations.
- In each international locations you can be approached by pushy individuals who will attempt to promote you issues, however Sri Lankans appear to respect the phrase “no” greater than Indians.
- Sri Lankan The boys did not make me really feel uncomfortable. at any time (though there have been some instances of staring). Indian males made me really feel uncomfortable each day with their staring and unsolicited advances.
IMPORTANT NOTE: I skilled North India as a solo backpacker and Sri Lanka on an organized journey staying primarily in 4 and 5 star lodgesso these variables may have contributed to the variations I skilled.
Total, my expertise in Sri Lanka was MUCH extra pleasurable and pleasurable than my time in India, and I used to be excited to find that Sri Lanka was very completely different from India.
Sri Lanka is greater than you assume
Sri Lanka could look small on a map (particularly whether it is subsequent to India, the seventh largest nation on this planet!). Nevertheless it’s surprisingly fairly giant for an island, and in lots of instances it takes longer than you assume to get from A to B.
Throughout our two weeks touring the nation, we logged a LOT of hours driving (in truth, some days have been spent nearly completely on the highway, with nothing else deliberate). It did not look like a lot, mileage-wise, however what you do not notice till you are there may be that it is typically not straightforward to drive in Sri Lanka. Particularly within the south-central area, the roads are usually winding and bumpy, making driving slower.
I like to recommend reserving extra days than you assume you will want when touring to Sri Lanka, to account for the time it takes to get across the nation. Do not rely on doing too many day journeys from Colombo both; The most effective locations of curiosity are a number of hours away by automobile!
- Colombo to Pottuvil (east coast) – 6-8 hours
- Colombo to Ella – 5.5 hours
- Colombo to Kandy – 3.5 hours
- Colombo to Galle – 2 hours
- Colombo to Sigiriya – 3.5 hours
There are a LOT of canines in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka was stuffed with surprises (as evidenced by this listing of surprising enjoyable details about Sri Lanka), however for me one of the best shock was what number of canines there are on this nation.
I am not exaggerating after I say that there have been canines roaming the property of each resort we stayed at, and that we noticed many extra canines on the aspect of the highway than we did fruit and vegetable stands.
And by aspect of the highway I imply the LITERAL aspect of the highway. Not proper *on* the highway, however ON the sting of the highway. I used to be always amazed at how calm the canines have been and the way calm they appeared with oncoming visitors. Drivers appeared to don’t have any downside driving amongst canines, accepting their presence reasonably than honking at them to get them off the highway.
On the whole, Sri Lankans appear to coexist very nicely with all of the stray canines that appear to inhabit each mile of their nation. All the canines we discovered gave the impression to be clear, fed, and well-behaved, regardless of not having an precise proprietor.
Sri Lanka is so various
A recurring thought I had whereas touring across the nation was that Sri Lanka has a little bit little bit of all the pieces, however not essentially the *greatest* of something.
Some international locations are recognized for one or two very talked-about locations or experiences, which means you verify them off and shortly transfer on to the subsequent nation in your want listing.
Sri Lanka is a rustic the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in all kinds of landscapes and adventures with out having to cross the border. Day by day of a visit to Sri Lanka gives one thing completely different – it truly is in regards to the journey, reasonably than the vacation spot.
- White sand seashores? Verify.
- Safari? Verify.
- Temples? Question (x 4645734546).
- Tea plantations? Verify.
- Surf and yoga? Verify.
- Do you hike within the mountains? Verify.
Sri Lankan hospitality is prime notch
Sri Lankan hospitality is a number of the BEST I’ve skilled wherever on this planet.
Not as soon as did I’ve to hold my very own baggage, which I SO appreciated after 4.5 months of lugging it all over the world. He all the time magically arrived from the automobile to my room in each resort we stayed in (even the 3-star lodging) with out me having to carry a finger.
However nowhere was their excessive stage of service extra evident than once we have been eating. We had waiters and managers always checking in with us to see how we have been doing and if we appreciated the meals, even when it was a self-service buffet. They have been more than pleased to accommodate any dietary restrictions (though typically this was initially misplaced in translation).
The overall theme gave the impression to be that Sri Lankans need you to stuff your self with meals at each meal and love what you eat. We might order one thing easy for breakfast, for instance, and we’d all the time serve it together with a considerable amount of different meals, even when we wished nothing else. Then, once we did not contact the opposite objects, they’d be stunned and nearly frightened.
In case you’re like me and eat to dwell, you is perhaps a little bit delay by the high-level service supplied at meals. Personally, I favor to eat one thing easy and proceed with my day, with out the necessity for issues. However if you’re a foodie and dwell to eat, you’ll LOVE consuming in Sri Lanka. You’ll by no means go hungry and you’ll by no means face bland meals, that is for certain!
Now please be aware that my opinion on this can be barely biased as I traveled to Sri Lanka with the tourism board and stayed primarily in 4 and 5 star lodges. By nature, service in a luxurious resort ought to be excessive; Please be aware that we now have unofficial VIP standing and it’s no shock that we have been handled like royalty all through Sri Lanka.
However even outdoors the lodges, the place the sellers did not know who we have been, I discovered the Sri Lankan individuals to be very pleasant, hospitable and desperate to serve.
READ MORE IN THIS POST: Finest 4 and 5 Star Accommodations in Sri Lanka (Boutique Accommodations Included!)
Sri Lanka may be very younger
Do you know that Sri Lanka solely gained its independence in 1948? That was simply 75 years in the past!
Earlier than 1948, Sri Lanka was colonized by the British (who else?) and was truly known as Ceylon. Then, in 1972, it was declared a republic and altered its identify to Sri Lanka.
And earlier than British rule, Sri Lanka was occupied by the Portuguese and Dutch. There may be nonetheless proof of European colonization all through the island, notably within the structure. Nuwara Eliya, for instance, appears to be like straight out of Britain, and Galle is a well-preserved Dutch-built metropolis. Colombo additionally has some colonial buildings all through the town.
Sri Lankans apply quite a lot of religions
One other factor that stunned me about Sri Lankans is that they apply quite a lot of religions. 70% of Sri Lankans are Buddhists, 13% Hindus, 10% Muslims and seven% Christians (principally Catholics).
Over the course of two weeks, we noticed temples/shrines devoted to all 4 religions, all stunning in several methods. On Day 2, I had a second of cognitive dissonance once we handed some form of Catholic show on the aspect of the highway, with tuk tuks whizzing by and indicators round it written in Sinhala script. What a juxtaposition!
because of Tourism in Sri Lanka for staying for two weeks in Sri Lanka. Please be aware that every one opinions expressed right here and elsewhere on this weblog are my very own, unbiased, and never influenced by any items or incentives chances are you’ll obtain.
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