Page 57 - Tourism Diary

We used a van from Colombo to Pinnawala Elephant
Orphanage and to Kandy for 50$. Again, be careful
with the drivers – they may look nice and friendly, but
they still try to take advantage of tourists.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
The Orphanage was one of the coolest places we
visited. Feeding the elephants, bathing them, and even
just looking into their eyes felt very special. When you
arrive, you have to pay the entrance fee. You can also
buy a ticket for the bathing which takes place near the
If you want to buy a SIM card at the airport, make river. Later inside, you can buy a ticket for feeding an
sure to bring some dollars. The prices are pretty good, elephant. All these events are scheduled, and you can
but if you are in no hurry, it is better to get one in the find the schedule at the front desk. It is also the most
town. You can go to the city center by bus – it costs perfect place for taking amazing photographs and
200-300 LKR per person (1-2$). Colombo is a crowded tasting fresh coconuts.
city with humid air, but you get used to it soon.
In Colombo, you can use the local taxi which is called
TUK-TUK. It costs 90-100 LKR per km. So, be ready
to negotiate for the price because the local drivers will
try to take advantage of your foreignness. Colombo
is not really a touristic city, so 1 day is enough to see
everything it has to offer. Seema Malaka Temple and
Gangaramaya Temple are must-see locations. And if
you take a walk down the coast, you will find some
good bars and restaurants with an amazing view.
Be careful with the local food – everything in Sri
Lanka is spicy and by “spicy” I mean “HOT”. If you
don’t like spicy food, better ask the waiter about the In the Ancient Sigiriya
dish before ordering. Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress, and it is pretty
famous as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There, you
have to pay for an entrance ticket too. Be careful with
the local guides who will tag along with you and start
explaining the place. If you want extra information
about its history during your tour, it might be a good
idea to pay them. But we toured the fortress without
a guide. Keep in mind that you will need at least half
a day there to climb to the top and down. Meanwhile,
be careful with the cute-looking wild monkeys
running around!

You can find super cheap accommodation everywhere
in Sri Lanka. Prices vary between 6-8$ per double
private room. The food is also cheap, as well as buses
and trains. The only two things that might be a bit
expensive are tickets for the monuments and private
taxis. You can ask for a private van/taxi at your hotel/
hostel to enjoy the country in a better way.

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