Buzz
Sri Lanka may not be a popular destination for young Vietnamese, but if you want to 'change the scenery' by immersing yourself in nature and exploring ancient values with historical significance, don't overlook this place.
Unforgettable 10 Days in Sri Lanka
Among the countries I've visited, Sri Lanka may lack some conveniences. However, my 10 days here left me with unforgettable impressions.
I initially thought Sri Lanka was a miniature India, as looking at pictures, the people and daily life in both countries seemed quite similar. But I realized that to evaluate a place, you must see it with your own eyes.
Currently, there are no direct flights from Vietnam to Sri Lanka, so travelers may have layovers in a third country.
Vietnamese travelers can apply for an online visa in advance when heading to Sri Lanka with a fee of just 35 USD on the eta.gov.lk website (abbreviated as ETA). Before the departure date, I prepared a bank statement, round-trip flight tickets, accommodation details in Sri Lanka, leave request, salary statement, ETA confirmation, and carried sufficient cash. This made the customs process smooth, with minimal inquiries, and I was stamped for entry without hassle.
I spent 2 days in the capital city, Colombo. To experience the life of the Sri Lankan people, I booked accommodation with local residents. You can book a room at Skyroom through the Airbnb app for around 1 million VND per night. Some places may charge extra if you opt for air conditioning, but with Skyroom, the room rate includes all fees.
In Sri Lanka, the primary modes of transportation are buses or tuk-tuks (similar to mopeds in Vietnam). Most buses do not have air conditioning, making it a bit uncomfortable during the summer. Alternatively, you can choose Uber for convenience and speed.
In Colombo, you can visit Mount Lavinia Beach, the city center, Colombo's old market, and Independence Square. If you love food, especially seafood, you cannot miss LuanTao on the shores of Mount Lavinia.
Also, don't forget to try the hamburgers at Dinemore. Compared to other hamburgers I've had, the ones at Dinemore are incredibly tempting. The place is always crowded, following the motto of 'delicious, nutritious, and affordable.'
If you want to relax with live music in bars, visit In on the Green, and try the grilled ribs with a uniquely flavorful sauce.
Explore the 'Sri Lankan Dalat'
On the third day, we arrived in Nuwara Eliya, a 6-hour bus ride from the capital Colombo, buying tickets directly at the station. Nuwara Eliya resembles Vietnam's Dalat, with a cool climate and expansive tea hills. Sri Lanka is renowned for its various famous teas, and I enjoyed daily brewed tea with fresh milk almost anytime, anywhere.
In Nuwara Eliya, we chose to stay in a room with Uncle JP's family, on a high hill offering panoramic views of the city. Uncle JP, an experienced homestay host, provided a spacious room, was very hospitable, and served complimentary breakfast prepared by him.
When in Nuwara Eliya, you can visit waterfalls, the town center, churches, and, especially, the Pedro Tea Factory. At the tea factory, you'll get to observe the tea-making process to have a packaged end product.
During our two days here, we remained loyal to the Pub&Restaurant as it offered numerous food choices at reasonable prices. Don't forget to try dishes related to curry because Sri Lanka is renowned for its curry selections!
Kandy – Central City of Sri Lanka
Leaving Nuwara Eliya, we headed to Kandy by bus. The travel time is around 2 hours, and tickets can be purchased at the station.
We booked a room at Kandy Hill Bungalow for approximately over 1 million VND per night. This hotel is situated on a mountain peak, requiring a lengthy ascent, somewhat secluded and isolated from the outside. However, the interior and the panoramic view of the entire city from the hotel are exceptionally beautiful, making it worthwhile despite its drawbacks.
We decided to hire a tuk-tuk for a full day, which turned out to be more cost-effective than individual segments. Some notable places to visit in Kandy include the botanical garden, Kandy Lake, and the tea factory.
Sri Lanka is inherently a Buddhist land, so those who love spiritual and historical culture can visit Ancient Senkadagala Kingdom, the Kandyan cultural center, and the Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic).
Seaside City of Bentota
To reach Bentota, you'll need to take a train back to Colombo and continue by train from Colombo to Bentota. However, as mentioned at the beginning of the article, Sri Lanka may not be very convenient, so for a safe journey and comfortable seating, it's recommended to purchase first-class tickets through the website https://onlinebooking.exporail.lk/exporail/online.htm.
Based on my experience, when traveling from Colombo to Bentota, due to negligence in not pre-booking tickets, we found the first-class seats sold out at the train station. Consequently, we reluctantly had to purchase second-class tickets.
Initially, I thought second-class tickets were not much different in quality from first-class, but in reality, there were no assigned seats. This meant standing for an hour and a half, dealing with overcrowding and squeezing in the congested train compartment under the scorching weather without any air conditioning.
In Bentota, we stayed at Village Headman’s Bungalow. It's an old mansion with a picturesque setting, and the staff is very friendly. The hotel is conveniently located as buses run continuously.
We opted to rent a motorcycle to have more flexibility in transportation, as the attractions were quite far apart (approximately 70km between them). Don't miss out on the fantastic seafood in Bentota, especially the crab and prawns at Crab restaurant in Hikkaduwa or Cinemore (buffet style).
To embark on a Sri Lanka journey, you must have a resilient mindset and good health as there is considerable travel involved. Some aspects in Sri Lanka may disappoint you, such as standing in the crowded second-class train, as I mentioned, but there are things that will bring joy beyond your imagination. My trip to Sri Lanka brought me a spectrum of emotions and left unforgettable impressions.
Source: Ngô Hoàng Anh/Tuổi trẻ
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
MytourFebruary 20, 2019
