Page 58 - Tourism Diary

TD TRAVELINSIGHTPEDIA
Beware, on the train, you will see a crowd that you
never saw before. If you are lucky, you will get to
sit on the floor with your backpack. Local sellers
will stop by every 10 minutes, trying to sell food
and drinks. This chaotic train ride really is the most
authentic must-do activity while exploring Sri Lanka.
It is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Dambulla Cave Temple
Once again, ENTRANCE FEE. To be honest, it was
one of the biggest disappointments of our trip. In
Buddhism Temples, you are not allowed to enter
with shoes. Okay, we already knew that part. But at
Dambulla Cave Temple, they made us pay for leaving
the shoes in a wardrobe in the yard. Apart from that,
the temple was pretty impressive. It was different
from the temples we visited before. The only time
it rained during our trip was when we were inside
the temple. So we enjoyed the tour covered and
protected from the rain by ancient walls. In Sri Lanka’s Las Vegas, Ella
It is impossible not to feel the touristy vibes in
Ella. From the moment you step out of the train,
you see the western influence on the streets. Bars,
restaurants, happy hour offers welcome you. Other
than the town center, the most iconic site in Ella
is the Nine Arch Bridge. You can visit the site by
Tuk-Tuk and walking 1-2 km. I definitely suggest
going there at sunset. We did, and it was stunning.
After sunset, you can go back to town for dinner and
drinks. One of the best things about Ella is that you
can find both in late hours.

4 Days Exploring Sri Lanka’s Coastal Towns
Kandy, Where Culture and Nature Meets If you travel down the coast to the south, you will

We spent two nights in Kandy, but we didn’t have get the chance to visit many beautiful coastal towns.
much time to visit the city itself. If you have enough We started with Mirissa, after a 5-hour bus ride from
time, you can visit the traditional dance shows and Ella. A bus ride with locals on narrow winding roads
the botanic garden. Also, this is the place from where is the charm of exploring Sri Lanka. In Mirissa, we
you can take the famous Kandy to Ella train ride. had our first good coffee since we arrived. We also
The train trip costs 350 LKR for first-class and takes went to a beach party, where we tried the local beer.
8 hours. The first train is around 8-9 AM. We were It was very strong. Later on, we went to Palm Hill
at the train station at 6-6:30 AM. They let you buy and saw a spectacular view.
the ticket one hour before the train arrives. Then the The next day, we went to Unawatuna where we
adventure begins. enjoyed the sun on the beaches a bit more. Then

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