Kandy is a pretty big town. The train station is a 10min walk from the
main street. I stayed at the Old Empire Hotel which is right next to
the Buddhas Tooth Temple, right in town. There are more places across
the lake. My room was 740Rs. Very basic, kinda crummy, no bug net,
shared bathroom and NOISY. some jerk was blasting Sri Lankan music in
the street at 2:30am. The restaurant serves a pretty good rice and
curry with chicken for 300Rs but it is VERY spicy.
Leaving Kandy I caught the last bus to Negombo at 5:20pm. The bus
costs about 100Rs and takes 4hrs. Tell the bus driver and/or conductor
that your going to the airport and they'll drop you at the entrance.
After getting dropped off it's about a 10 min walk to the airport
along the access road.
I flew out on flyDubai and they're the first airline I've ever had
weigh my carry on bag to make sure it's less than 7kg. FlyDubai has
nice new planes and I had a row to myself on the way to Dubai.
Showing posts with label Sri Lanka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sri Lanka. Show all posts
Monday, April 11, 2011
Adam's Peak
To Climb Adam's Peak you stay at the base in the village of Delhousie which is not a very nice place. It completely exists because of Adams Peak and is hardly a village at all. Its basically just a string of souvenir stalls. Most of the guesthouses are before you actually get into town. Stayed at Pansisi Guesthouse for 800Rs for a pretty nice room with 2 beds and a hot shower but they'll charge more if
you're more people. Also looked at Green House which is a homestay but
it's overpriced. 700Rs for a very small single room with a shared
bathroom with cold shower and they wouldn't even let me take the room
unless I bought dinner and breakfast from them. All in all they wanted
1600Rs all inclusive which was too much (you can get a good size meal
of rice and curry for 100Rs at one of the shops) and the room was
crummy. Don't even bother looking at Pilgrams Rest. It's 700Rs and it
had the worst rooms I've seen traveling. It looks better from the
outside which REALLY says something.
Leaving Delhousie I took the bus to Hatton (1hr, 55Rs) which was
suppose to leave at 11:30am but left early at 11:20. The bus dropped
off at the Hatton bus station which is a 5 min walk to the train
station. I ate a delicious rice and curry lunch at a locals only
place for 100Rs (walk through a narrow market alley that runs along
the station and it's the last place on the left). Train to Kandy left
at 1:50 and took about 3 hours.
you're more people. Also looked at Green House which is a homestay but
it's overpriced. 700Rs for a very small single room with a shared
bathroom with cold shower and they wouldn't even let me take the room
unless I bought dinner and breakfast from them. All in all they wanted
1600Rs all inclusive which was too much (you can get a good size meal
of rice and curry for 100Rs at one of the shops) and the room was
crummy. Don't even bother looking at Pilgrams Rest. It's 700Rs and it
had the worst rooms I've seen traveling. It looks better from the
outside which REALLY says something.
Leaving Delhousie I took the bus to Hatton (1hr, 55Rs) which was
suppose to leave at 11:30am but left early at 11:20. The bus dropped
off at the Hatton bus station which is a 5 min walk to the train
station. I ate a delicious rice and curry lunch at a locals only
place for 100Rs (walk through a narrow market alley that runs along
the station and it's the last place on the left). Train to Kandy left
at 1:50 and took about 3 hours.
Ella
Ella is a really cool little hill village. It's pretty geared towards
tourists but it's real small and has very friendly locals. When I got
off the bus a guy from Rawana Holiday Guesthouse took me to see the
place. It's up on the hill and the restaurant has really good views.
My room was in the back and had no views but I managed to talk them
down to 800Rs and they gave me a free welcome tea. Room was basic with
a fan (but it wasn't hot), 2 twin beds pushed together, bug net and
hot water (but it didn't work when I took a shower), and free wifi.
All the other places on the hill were more expensive.
Leaving Ella I took the train to Hatton (9:45am, 4hrs, 160Rs 2nd
class). There is also a first class "observation car" that is 4 times
the price and didn't look worth it at all. The train station is a 5min
walk from the center of the village. The train ride is really
spectacular through the hill country of Sti Lanka passing through
beautiful scenery covered in tea plantations. The left of the train
might get better views but it's hard to tell. Arriving in at 1:45pm
there was a bus waiting to go to Delhousie for Adams Peak (1.5hrs,
55Rs) but it didn't leave until after another train came at 3pm and
the bus was absolutely packed.
tourists but it's real small and has very friendly locals. When I got
off the bus a guy from Rawana Holiday Guesthouse took me to see the
place. It's up on the hill and the restaurant has really good views.
My room was in the back and had no views but I managed to talk them
down to 800Rs and they gave me a free welcome tea. Room was basic with
a fan (but it wasn't hot), 2 twin beds pushed together, bug net and
hot water (but it didn't work when I took a shower), and free wifi.
All the other places on the hill were more expensive.
Leaving Ella I took the train to Hatton (9:45am, 4hrs, 160Rs 2nd
class). There is also a first class "observation car" that is 4 times
the price and didn't look worth it at all. The train station is a 5min
walk from the center of the village. The train ride is really
spectacular through the hill country of Sti Lanka passing through
beautiful scenery covered in tea plantations. The left of the train
might get better views but it's hard to tell. Arriving in at 1:45pm
there was a bus waiting to go to Delhousie for Adams Peak (1.5hrs,
55Rs) but it didn't leave until after another train came at 3pm and
the bus was absolutely packed.
Marissa
Is a small beach town on the southern coast Getting there I took the 2;05 train from Colombo to Mattara and got off at the Walligama stop around 6:00pm. The train was 2nd class and had comfortable seats but leaving Colombo it was packed and I didn't
get a seat. It was alright though cause I prefer standing or sitting
in the open doorways of trains anyway. In Walligama there are tuk tuks
waiting that will take you to Marissa for 200 to 250Rs. I paid 200.
There are also buses, possibly for only 9Rs, but I wanted some comfort
and the buses looked absolutely packed. Its only a short 10 or 15 min
ride though.
In Marrisa I went to the Palms Villa hotel on the beach which is
listed in the Lonely Planet as costing 660Rs to 1500Rs. When I got
there they told me a room is $45usd! They were nice and tried to point
me in a cheaper direction. I walked across the street and up a little
hill to Mount Garden Guesthouse where they offered me 1000Rs and then
came down to 800. It is a family run place and everybody is friendly
and my room sorta had a view. Room had a big bed, bug net and fan.
Leaving Marissa I hopped on the local bus to Matera (30min, 20 Rs).
They drive down the main road in Marissa all the time. The Mattera bus
station is pretty big, dirty and chaotic. To get to Ella I first had
to take a bus to Wallaya (4hrs, 152Rs). To find the bus just ask
around. Then change to a bus for Ella (1 hr, 45 Rs). This bus
continues on to Bandarawella. It all went very smoothly and the
longest I waited was in Matera for 30min. The drive from Wallaya to
Ella is spectacular, try to sit on the right side of the bus.
get a seat. It was alright though cause I prefer standing or sitting
in the open doorways of trains anyway. In Walligama there are tuk tuks
waiting that will take you to Marissa for 200 to 250Rs. I paid 200.
There are also buses, possibly for only 9Rs, but I wanted some comfort
and the buses looked absolutely packed. Its only a short 10 or 15 min
ride though.
In Marrisa I went to the Palms Villa hotel on the beach which is
listed in the Lonely Planet as costing 660Rs to 1500Rs. When I got
there they told me a room is $45usd! They were nice and tried to point
me in a cheaper direction. I walked across the street and up a little
hill to Mount Garden Guesthouse where they offered me 1000Rs and then
came down to 800. It is a family run place and everybody is friendly
and my room sorta had a view. Room had a big bed, bug net and fan.
Leaving Marissa I hopped on the local bus to Matera (30min, 20 Rs).
They drive down the main road in Marissa all the time. The Mattera bus
station is pretty big, dirty and chaotic. To get to Ella I first had
to take a bus to Wallaya (4hrs, 152Rs). To find the bus just ask
around. Then change to a bus for Ella (1 hr, 45 Rs). This bus
continues on to Bandarawella. It all went very smoothly and the
longest I waited was in Matera for 30min. The drive from Wallaya to
Ella is spectacular, try to sit on the right side of the bus.
Nagombo
Arrival: landed at 12:05am and the zipper was packed! Apparently tons
of flights come and go through Sri Lanka late at night. The airport is
pretty nice and I considered sleeping there cause it was already late.
There is a "transit hotel" in the airport which is on the airside of
the terminal, meaning that it is within security and customs so if I
stayed there I would then clear customs in the morning. I checked it
out but it was full and the guy told me that its normally $45usd for 6
hours anyway! I had heard that it was $20usd so I'm not sure whats up.
After clearing customs there are many money changers, an ATM and
prepaid taxi booths within the airport. Their first price for Negombo
(the nearest town to the airport was 1500 rupies but I got one place
down to 1000. I thought I could still do better though so I went
outside. Outside was a madhouse with tons of traffic and no taxis that
looked even remotely official. There was another taxi stand outside
that I'm certain would have been cheaper but they told me it was only
for Sri Lankan citizens. I got plenty of offers from freelance taxi
drivers to take me but most of them seemed pretty creepy and they were
offering 1200 Rs anyway so I went back inside and bought my cab to
Negombo for 1000. The taxi ride took 10-15min. There are public trains
and buses you can catch near the airport but I'm pretty sure they
don't run late at night.
I stayed at the Silver Sands (1540Rs, 229 Lewis Place, tel: (031)
2222-880). My room was in the back and very quiet with a balcony (no
view), hot shower, fan and bug net. They charge 10% service charge on
everything which is annoying but they did quote the room price as
including it so that was good. The place is pretty nice and I'd stay
there again. The hotel is beach front and has a restaurant that makes
a huge and delicious rice with curry for 350Rs.
Negombo is an ok place with a decent beach but the water didn't seem
that clean. It's not bad for being so close to the airport though.
Leaving Negombo I took the 10:30am train to Colombo for 40Rs. It takes
about 1.5 hours to get to the main "Colombo Fort" station where you
catch other trains going wherever. The Negombo train ride was pretty
fun cause the cars are like subway cars but the doors are permanently
open so you can hang out the doors and watch Sri Lanka rip by. It
really was great. The Colombo station is easy to navigate, has a
tourist information office, a grimy food court and luggage storage and
is in the center of town just a 10min walk to the ocean. There is also
a market selling clothes and stuff right next door. 3 wheelers or "Tuk
Tuks" WILL try to rip you off whether they're a "meter" one or not. If
it is a meter one then check the odometer before and after the ride
and the rate is 50Rs per kilometer. Otherwise agree on a price before
using the that rate as a guide. I think the 50rs/kilometer rate might
be roughly applicable nationwide. One driver in Colombo wanted to
tried to charge me 250Rs per kilometer! Lots of people are very
friendly and wanted to talk to me, some were being nice, some were
trying to get me to buy something and one guy I think was just kinda a
creep. But anyway, spending more than a couple hours in Colombo
doesn't seem necessary.
of flights come and go through Sri Lanka late at night. The airport is
pretty nice and I considered sleeping there cause it was already late.
There is a "transit hotel" in the airport which is on the airside of
the terminal, meaning that it is within security and customs so if I
stayed there I would then clear customs in the morning. I checked it
out but it was full and the guy told me that its normally $45usd for 6
hours anyway! I had heard that it was $20usd so I'm not sure whats up.
After clearing customs there are many money changers, an ATM and
prepaid taxi booths within the airport. Their first price for Negombo
(the nearest town to the airport was 1500 rupies but I got one place
down to 1000. I thought I could still do better though so I went
outside. Outside was a madhouse with tons of traffic and no taxis that
looked even remotely official. There was another taxi stand outside
that I'm certain would have been cheaper but they told me it was only
for Sri Lankan citizens. I got plenty of offers from freelance taxi
drivers to take me but most of them seemed pretty creepy and they were
offering 1200 Rs anyway so I went back inside and bought my cab to
Negombo for 1000. The taxi ride took 10-15min. There are public trains
and buses you can catch near the airport but I'm pretty sure they
don't run late at night.
I stayed at the Silver Sands (1540Rs, 229 Lewis Place, tel: (031)
2222-880). My room was in the back and very quiet with a balcony (no
view), hot shower, fan and bug net. They charge 10% service charge on
everything which is annoying but they did quote the room price as
including it so that was good. The place is pretty nice and I'd stay
there again. The hotel is beach front and has a restaurant that makes
a huge and delicious rice with curry for 350Rs.
Negombo is an ok place with a decent beach but the water didn't seem
that clean. It's not bad for being so close to the airport though.
Leaving Negombo I took the 10:30am train to Colombo for 40Rs. It takes
about 1.5 hours to get to the main "Colombo Fort" station where you
catch other trains going wherever. The Negombo train ride was pretty
fun cause the cars are like subway cars but the doors are permanently
open so you can hang out the doors and watch Sri Lanka rip by. It
really was great. The Colombo station is easy to navigate, has a
tourist information office, a grimy food court and luggage storage and
is in the center of town just a 10min walk to the ocean. There is also
a market selling clothes and stuff right next door. 3 wheelers or "Tuk
Tuks" WILL try to rip you off whether they're a "meter" one or not. If
it is a meter one then check the odometer before and after the ride
and the rate is 50Rs per kilometer. Otherwise agree on a price before
using the that rate as a guide. I think the 50rs/kilometer rate might
be roughly applicable nationwide. One driver in Colombo wanted to
tried to charge me 250Rs per kilometer! Lots of people are very
friendly and wanted to talk to me, some were being nice, some were
trying to get me to buy something and one guy I think was just kinda a
creep. But anyway, spending more than a couple hours in Colombo
doesn't seem necessary.
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