Hello World! And a Happy New year 🙂 (I know I am crazy late for that but well, a good wish is always relevant!)
I am back. When I left from here, I was a Mamma of one, prepping up my nursery for the little one to come. And now I have a almost 6 year old and a 1 year old in my tribe. Life’s been busy to say the least. After I’ve had my second one, life with one kid has seemed like a breeze. Now with 2 and work, I have had my hands pretty full. And have been putting all my creative energy on my insta account. But hopefully this year I’ll be able to do this space more justice too.
We started off the year with a trip to Sri-Lanka. And since a few of you asked for travel tips on my insta page. Here I am. Back on my blog after too long a break.
So it was my first time there. I loved the country. Its clean, has so much to offer despite being so small. Amazing food and humble and kind people. It was a short trip for us and we covered only a small part of it. Hope to go back again soon to explore more.
TOP EXPERIENCES
- The Safari in Udawalawe
- Visiting the beaches:
- Unawatuna
- Mirrissa
- The Galle Fort
- Turtle hatchery
- Shopping at The Paradise Road in Colombo
- Enjoying amazing sea food
- Enjoying a cocktail by the beach, in Mirrissa, while watching the sunset
Sunset on Mirrissa Beach
The last sunset of 2017.
At the Turtle Hatchery
In and around Galle
THE SAFARI IN UDAWALAWE
Leopords.Ahhhh the leopards! The main reason why most people do a safari in Sri Lanka.Leopard spotting is the big game at the parks. Unfortunately, leopards are very hard to spot because they are solitary and elusive mammals, hunting at night and sleeping during the day. We were not lucky enough to spot a leopord, but thanks to the keen eyes of my 5 year old, we did see a wild cat.
Peacocks. Both parks are a heaven for bird watchers, particularly for peacocks. Crocodiles. What my 5 year old was most keep to see. Reptile lover that he is. Unfortunately, we managed to spots only some bobbing heads in the lake.
Entry fees for Udawalawe National Park
In Udawalawe, the park entry fees are the same: $15 for one day or $30 for two days. However, hiring a jeep for half a day should be a bit cheaper, around 3,500 rupees ($24 / £16).
A safari Jeep will fit around 4-8 people (depending on the size of the vehicle), so when you share the cost between the number of people, it is not so expensive.
SHOPPING AT PARADISE ROAD, COLOMBO
We planned our trip specially such, so that we would have a day on our way back in Colombo. So we could shop at the lovely and unmissable Paradise Road. A Home store not to be missed when in Sri-Lanka.
They have lovely mix of everything home. Table ware, Kitchen ware, cushions and more. And a lovely cafe too. Must must visit.
WHERE WE STAYED
Sergeant House
This is a small luxury boutique hotel in Unawatuna, a town is Southern Sri-Lanka. Known for it’s coral reef and palm lined beaches. The hotel is in a colonial-style building with stylishly decorated rooms in a modern style. The pool and garden area is lovely and the chef serves up a delicious mix of Thai, Sri Lankan, and western specialties. You can choose each day from the menu, what you’d like them to serve you for the night.It’s wonderfully secluded and quiet. And the Unawatuna beach with all its restaurants is just a short walk away. The staff is friendly and helpful. There is also a Spa offering some fantastic Ayurvedic massage.
We reached very early in the morning, as our flight timing was such. So the room was still occupied. The staff did their best to make us comfortable in a small area outside. And also served us break-fast which was a delight!
The service and food especially are something you can look forward to, in this boutique hotel.
KEY INFORMATION
BEST PERIOD TO VISIT
Sri Lanka’s climate is rather complicated for such a small country, due to the fact that the island is affected by two separate monsoons – though this also means that there is usually good weather somewhere on the island, at most times of the year. When thinking about the best time to visit Sri Lanka, it’s worth bearing in mind that the basic pattern can vary significantly from year to year, and that global warming has disrupted these already complex weather patterns.
The best time to visit the west and south coasts and hill country is from December to March, while the best weather on the east coast is from April/May to September.
Sri Lanka’s position close to the Equator means that temperatures remain fairly constant year-round. Coastal and lowland areas enjoy average daytime temperatures of around 26–30°C (often climbing up well into the 30°Cs during the hottest part of the day). Temperatures decrease with altitude, reducing to a temperate 18–22°C in Kandy, and a pleasantly mild 14–17°C in Nuwara Eliya and the highest parts of the island – nights in the hills can be quite chilly, with temperatures sometimes falling close to freezing. Humidity is high everywhere, rising to a sweltering ninety percent at times in the southwest, and averaging sixty to eighty percent across the rest of the island.
HOW TO GET THERE
At present, the only way to get to Sri Lanka is to fly into the island’s international airport at Katunayake, just north of Colombo. From the airport you can take a taxi or pre-book one through your hotel. Which is what we had done. We had the van waiting for us when we reached and we drove directly to Unawatuna. Approximately 2.5 hours of a drive on way.
Air fares remain fairly constant year-round – in general, the further ahead you book your flight, the better chance you have of getting a good deal. We flew Sri-lanka Air and it was a comfortable flight. Also, for us it was super short! Probably the shortest flight I have been on.
FOOD
Sri Lankan food is delicious, so make the most of it while you’re there. However, knowing where and when to find the good stuff may prove a harder task than you anticipated. Bowl-shaped hoppers (savoury rice flour crêpes) are a highlight, though they are typically only served first thing in the morning or in late afternoon. Rice and curry is a lunchtime affair, while kottu rotty (chopped flatbread stir-fried with eggs and vegetables) is only available in the evening.
Those familiar with Asia will be surprised at the lack of street food stalls; instead, some of the best food can be found in the kitchens of small guesthouses.
You can read more here. About the top 10 things to not miss while in Sri-Lanka to eat.
SAFETY
Yes, the country went through a 20 year civil war, but life has since returned to normal after the end of the war in 2009. Sri Lankan people are famous for their hospitality, and violent crimes towards tourists are virtually unheard of. I have met some of the kindest and most welcoming people in Sri Lanka! Just as you would for any other country that you travel to, exercise a reasonable amount of caution and keep an eye on your personal belongings when you head out. Don’t flash money around and leave expensive jewelry and electronics in your hotel room or at home.
LANGUAGE
Sinhalese and Tamil are the two primary languages spoken in Sri Lanka, but I’ve personally found that many people also speak or understand basic English. Most people who work in, or live around, major tourist destination cities like Galle, Mirissa, Weligama, Unawatuna, Colombo and Kandy will be able to communicate in conversational English.
Here are some useful phrases you should know before you go:
- Ayubowan = may you live long, a formal way of greeting someone. You can also just say “hello” or “hi”
- Istuti = thank you
- Kohomadha = how are you?
- Hari = okay, got it, fine (you often say this twice – “hari hari”)
- Lassanai = beautiful
VISA
Most visitors will need to apply for a Sri Lanka tourist visa (except for nationals of Singapore, Maldives and Seychelles) but this is easily done online for a fee. My recommendation is to apply a week or 2 before your trip, it usually takes 24-48 hours for the visa approval to come through.
TIPS
- As soon as you arrive make sure you get a SIM card with access on the Internet, it’s easy to find them also in the Airport. Using a local SIM is very cheap and 4G is great in all the touristic areas. I had the mis-fortune of losing my sim just when we got the new one. But then I was connected with whatsapp with my old number. So it was all good.
- Don’t forget bugs and mosquitos repellent. Being a tropical country they are everywhere. The draw-back of all the lovely greenery you are surrounded with. We carried mosquito patches for the boys, but despite having them on, all the time, they still got bitten. 😦
- Sri-Lanka is an extremely safe travel destination, locals are humble, good-hearted and welcoming. Respect their culture and you’ll enjoy an amazing time!
- Unlike other popular tropical destinations, Sri Lanka remains relatively pure, untouched and unspoiled. Yes, there are massive tourist destinations and slightly shady beach parties, but you won’t find anywhere like Kuta, or Patong in Sri Lanka. With tourism rates projected to explode over the next few years, now is the perfect time to visit!
SRI-LANKA WITH KIDS
Sri-Lanka is absolutely family and kids friendly, there are so many activities to do all together and resorts and hotels welcome them with open arms.
FOOD
The food wasn’t a problem anywhere. The hotel made special meals for our one year old on request. My 5 year old was happy with all the sea-food on offer everywhere. The only thing you need to be a little careful of is the spice. The chilly could get a bit much for the kids.
Sri-Lankan food, which is very similar to our Indian cuisine is something you can find everywhere. Its also easy to find westerner restaurants that serve Italian.
SLEEP
Our hotel arranged a crib and high-chair. As would most resorts on request.
ON THE GO
The secret to traveling with a 1-year-old can best be summed up in two words: Be prepared. Whether you’re going a short distance or far away, bring a large diaper bag stocked for every eventuality.
That means lots of easy-to-handle snacks (like dry cereal, fig bars, or crackers), milk, water, plenty of diapers and wipes, a sweater in cool weather, two changes of clothes (in case of diaper blowouts, carsickness, or other spills), extra clothes for you (you never know when you’ll become part of the mess), comfort objects (bear, blankie), and multiple diversions (such as board books, small toys, and finger puppets). Also, ensure your baby bag is equipped with a changing pad. If not carry disposable sheets. You never know where you might have to do a diaper change in an emergency!
On airplanes, travel early in the day to avoid delays. If you can afford it, buy a separate seat for your toddler (and take a car seat on board) to give everyone more room. Give your child something to eat or drink during takeoff and landing to encourage swallowing, which helps reduce painful pressure in the ears. Having your child suck on a bottle, breast, sippy cup, or pacifier works well.
TRANSPORTS
- Uber (app android e IOS) works well in Colombo and is super convenient. From Unawatuna, we hired the van to move around to the nearby areas.
- For a daily field trip rent a taxi driver. We hired a van as we were a big group and needed the space with the kids. In Sri-Lanka, like in India, the car seat for kids is not mandatory.
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