Sri Lanka through the eyes of the Latvian operator Alsvets
Sri Lanka through the eyes of the Latvian operator Alsvets
The journey took place from November 23 to December 05.2024.
This is my first journey with ALSVETS, and I note how the last time I purchased tickets for the plane on my own. The company offers tickets, but from Riga, and I need from Tallinn. It turned out perfectly, in both cases (there and back) the route was laid through Istanbul and planes from Tallinn and Riga arrive in Istanbul with a difference of about an hour, so from Istanbul to Colombo we already flew in the same plane with the group and not upon arrival and did not A separate transfer was needed. And the reverse output turned out similar: to Istanbul together. And in all cases, it was the Turkich Airlines.
The first day, the flight Tallinn - Istanbul
I swore safely - they gave places together (saved on the cost of places).
The flight delay for 30 minutes and flew out even later. The inspection took place without laying out, there was almost no one for the people.
But the plane was complete. The plane was fed (pasta or meat, salad, buns, sweet and drinks).
In Istanbul, a transit zone. They went to their gate for a long time, 25 minutes. Very beautiful and a lot of shops. Buying in a ticket for ticket and passport - it takes time, but there were almost no people at night !! !
The flight Istanbul - Colombo. A plaid, pillow, slippers, socks, sleeping mask, headphones, toothbrush and paste, cream were given a plane on the plane.
Night flight, but almost immediately began to feed (about four in the morning). In the menu of the pasta or chicken, and the rest is like in the previous plane.
The second day.
upon arrival on passport control, the visa was online in the passport put a stamp. Then they got luggage.
Immediately at the airport exchanged money for 295 for the euro, bought 100 GB of mobile Internet from Dialog.
At the exit I met the guide. The bus is 40 local, but the group of 17 people (there was also a second group, but we almost did not intersect).
A trip to the Pegasus Reef Wattala hotel.
hotel. At the entrance, a closed barrier, which was opened for us. The baggage was left on the bus and went to the hotel. Service personnel open the door to the hotel. They planted in the lobby, treated with a welcoming drink (nectar from Papaya). The guide quickly made a settlement and gave out the keys to the rooms.
number on the third floor. The suitcases were brought by service staff.
After the settlement, they took a walk to the sea. A red flag and a poster about the ban on bathing are hanging (probably simply because there is no salvation service). The wave is almost absent, the entrance is sandy, like the beach, but fast, the water is warm but not blue (quite muddy).
Dinner Swedish table with appropriate pay for drinks. Food on the first table is European, further to remove more and more local - a synonymous synonym. In addition to the abundance of food, there is a lot of sweet dessert.
A score was not made near the hotel from the side of the street, but looking from the window of the bus a little terrible impression (not everything is as civilly as we would like. )
The third day
breakfast at 7 o’clock. The Swedish table is a lot of things.
After breakfast, departure at 8.30. Before leaving, they put up suitcases in the corridor. The service personnel delivered their suitcases to the bus.
A trip to the pINNAWALA ELEPHANT Orphanage). We arrived at a time when the elephants were already in the river. The system is not entirely clear. Tickets were bought and, as always, for foreigners many times more expensive. Then they went to the river and did not show tickets anywhere. There were about 20 elephants in the river, to say that they were hardly washed there, only small elephants bathed and washed the elephant a little to the side. Then they turned on the vitaite and led all the elephants through the voduta by raining them. Then they left the river and went along the road. After that, we went on the way to the nursery.
And so we presented a collective ticket there and passed. There were elephants in the wild and we saw them, then we went to the aviary where we sold fruit for feeding and we fed the elephant. They were in the nursery for about 20 minutes, but they did not see particularly new and interesting - they could do all this by the river! : -((
After this event, we were brought to a reserved lunch. Swedish table for 10 euros, drinks for an additional fee. Everything is edible, of course, dishes of varying degrees of praise and you need to choose.
Further, completely unexpectedly, because it was planned for tomorrow, an excursion to Sigiria (Lion Rock) (Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress). The situation was complicated by low cloudiness and rain. It pours from above, below the puddles, streams and strong winds along the steps. As it turned out, that everything is not so disgusting, although the species are lubricated due to rain and cloudiness and not everything is visible. They returned wet through and through.
brought to the hotel (Pelwehera Village Dambulla). Settlement, welcoming drink, placement.
The suitcases were brought to the room.
Surropily, but neither the weather nor the temperature in the room does not allow you to dry clothes and it is very unpleasant and problematic.
Dinner on the Swedish table about which we can say that you will not stay hungry, but not so diverse.
The fourth day.
Breakfast, alas, without frills, but not mainland, there were no fruits, tea is one species (and this is in Sri Lanka), “coffee” in the kettle.
at 8.30 Departure to Polonnaruva (PolonNarwa). Entrance 30 dollars. First a museum. Then an inspection of the city. It rained again. On the way to another object, we drove into a restaurant. Lunch Swedish table, the same 10 euros, but, alas, most dishes are sharp.
Further cave temple Dambulla Cave Temple). Upon completion, we drove to the point for the sale of fruits and, then, to the wine store.
The hotel room was removed, tea and coffee were added.
Dinner is similar to the previous day.
The fifth day
The second breakfast in this hotel, alas, it did not differ from the previous one and could leave much to be desired. As usual, at 8 in the morning they put the suitcases in the corridor that the guys delivered to the bus.
The first stop of the spices garden (ISIWAA AYURVEDIC Village, Matale). A positive impression was not left by a visit to this institution. Some spices were shown as the main emphasis was made on Ayudver, how to use the derivatives of these plants for medicine - they are treated from everything, but we need a course, a long course. Some processes were shown (carry billet harvesting, cinnamon harvesting).
After the ten -minute massage was proposed to those who wish and at that time was a story about those wonderful means that are made there with an accent that they can be bought. Well, - a shop where you can buy everything voiced! But, alas, spices there with Gulkin’s nose and pepper, coriander, cardamom was not there, they said it ended.
Well, miraculous funds are sold at such sky -high prices that the desire to buy almost disappeared. That is, everything is designed for tourists, an ordinary bored place. As a conclusion - an almost empty waste of time.
After lunch, a restaurant on the fourth floor with a standard Swedish table of 10 euros. Good lunch.
Next, visit the Temple of the Buddha tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa). Beautiful, and rainy weather contributed to a moderate number of visitors!
Suddenly, an extra hour turned out to be and we devoted it to visiting a grocery supermarket that did not strengthen our expectations. It seems that all the gifts of the island are exported.
It was not without a cultural program. We visited the club where we were introduced, mainly with the culture of the local dance (Cultur Dance Show). It was colorful and the hourly performance passed quickly.
Already in the dark, we went to the hotel (Hotel Topaz Kandy), a hotel at an altitude of 630 meters and our bus is not able to climb such a steep and narrow road. We were transferred to a small bus and the suitcases were loaded into a truck.
The hotel is located at the top with chic views on the surroundings that we have only felt so far, but did not see because of the darkness.
Welcome very sweet tea. The number went on the third floor. A very beautiful number in which is very convenient and comfortable.
Dinner is excellent, but the prices for drinks are high.
The sixth day
Breakfast is very worthy, though coffee from thermos. Further, the offenses in the corridor are unwanted to part with the hotel you like. Again, an intermediate bus from the hotel in a connection with a truck with suitcases with a transfer to their bus.
The first stop jewelry factory (Kandy) Limited Jewellers). They showed the history of the construction of mines and introduced the technology of stones.
Then they showed samples of stones and talked about them. They showed real people at workplaces that processed stones. Well, then what they invite us - a salon for the sale of products. Beautiful, expensive, but we had buyers.
The second stop of the Batik Factory (Gunatilake Batiks, Kandy). We saw history, technology, real workers and the manufacturing process. A store with high prices, but beautiful and, again, there were buyers.
Botanical Garden of Paradeniya, which was the following, was examined on a filler bus. Four categories of plants: brought, local, growing, including in Sri Lanka and poisonous. A large garden is required much more time than we were given.
Lunch was on the way to the tea factory in the "cloud" (really higher than some clouds at an altitude of more than 1 km) of the restaurant. The buffet is already familiar in assortment, but there was a plus of machine coffee.
It turned out to be a little problematic to get to the restaurant, I had to use the bypass path, because there were landslides on the main road and the passage was closed.
The last place in our route of this day was a tea factory (Damro Labookellie Tea Centre and Tea Garden). The standard show of technology and process ended with a store. By and large, there is nothing special to buy - everything is ordinary enough with the exception of white tea (gold and silver tips), and the price is not small. A plus remains the fee date - it is literally two -week ago.
In the evening we arrived at the hotel (Araliya Red).
Like the city of a hotel in the English style, even quite pompous, everything is beautiful. A welcome glass was mushroom soup of mashed potatoes. Further settlement.
The number went on the fifth floor. Very beautiful and a large number without a balcony.
Dinner on the Swedish table.
The hall is beautiful, but the assortment could be approximately appropriate to the entourage, but it is quite pragmatic completely ensuring saturation.
Seventh day
In the same way he showed himself and breakfast. In addition, the complete absence of cheese, ham and bacon. And there was not even a freshly prepared omelet.
After the acquired scenario - suitcases outside the door, landing on the bus and exit. A major case happened. As a result of landslides, trains were canceled and we could not perform the planned trip. The whole route had to be held by bus. The replacement of the trip by train was a visit to the Nine Arches Bridge. We were brought as close as possible to the place and then on the tuk-tuka almost to the bridge. A small descent and we are on the spot.
Continuing the trip, we looked at the waterfall (Rawana Ella).
In addition to the waterfall, the monkeys had seen enough and even saw with their own eyes how one of them climbed into the jeep put his paw into the bag and pulled out Lark Box from there. After that, she left.
Then there was a lunch according to the developed scheme. After lunch, the trip to the hotel along the coast reached the southern point of our route (almost the south of the island) after which we went to the north along the autobahn and settled in the hotel to dinner.
Hotel (Hotel Turyaa Kalutara 4*) right on the coast, it seems that you can jump from the balcony right into the sea. The noise of the sea is significant. The number went on the sixth floor (last). All rooms have windows with views of the ocean in the room, everything is except for the iron (you can take it for recipe). There are no problems with sockets, including European ones. The water in the shower was hot! Very beautiful and comfortable.
Dinner is good, but not as perfect as it could be.
eighth day
The weather was not lucky, in the morning it rains again. Breakfast without coffee but ham appeared.
Rain up to 12, after that we went to Bodara Bodhiya) on the tuke tuke that was ordered by Uber for 342 rupees (1.1 euros). Expected five minutes.
After a cultural excursion, they just walked in the stores. We reached the store and turned back. The most noteworthy was the fact that they found a workshop on the workpiece of spices and there were able to buy white pepper (750 rupees per 100 g) and cardamom (2400 rupees per 100 g). They also purchased a carry sheet - tore off directly from the bush.
back through the uber to the tuk tuke for the same money. And next to the standing Tuktuker asked for 800!
Dinner is similar to the previous one and there was enough European food.
Ninth day
After the next breakfast, a new voyage. This is an unplanned tour of it and we have been asked (40 euros per person)
We left at 8.30. First stop tea store. Alas, there is no FOB level and above, only gold and silver tips.
The next stop a turtle nurse (Victor Hasselblad Sea Turtle Research and Conservation Centre) (https:// maps. App. Goo. GL/22WST2BXRMGFTFE8).
The nursery has existed for 46 years. Each year, more than 70 thousand babies are produced at sea. Showed one, two and three -year -old crumbs. They also saw turtles for rehabilitation. It was very interesting. They took a picture with a 10 kilogram turtle in their hands.
Then they visited the Line for Lunar Stone Minus ( MOSTONE MINES and gem Palace ) (Front of School, Kahawa - Batapola RD, Meetiyagoda 80330). We saw the mine, the rise of the breed, its flushing, processing. They talked about various stones, showed them. At the end, as usual, a visit to the store. They made a lot of purchases. Bargaining is appropriate. Enjoyable and real prices. Interesting.
river safari (https:// maps. App. GOO. GL/S9KFGW34PX2CT7BC9) (Madu Ganga) was the following event. They seated all 17 people in a row in a boat and slowly taken (weak motor). They brought them to the mangroves, they also saw small monkeys there.
Then they took the other side and there a special person made a photo shoot with a small crocodile of which he gave in his arms (for a fee of 500 rupees), squeezed on his shoulders and head. On the way, we stopped at the “store” on the water where, mostly, they offered coconuts.
With further advancement, they saw Varan. The final point was a visit to cinnamon plantation where they showed the workpiece process and the process of selling products. It seemed to me that a few “puffed” and uninteresting event.
I turned out to be a sunny day and we stopped on the Hikkaduwa beach for bathing and communication with real sea boured turtles. The wave was not contributing to the inspection and desire of turtles (there were only two). I note that swimming in this place is not comfortable, even at a distance you stumble upon a stone aground. You need to swim to the right of this place.
On the way we stopped in a wine store.
It was a store without a grille and you could take a walk with the examination of the shelves. Cosmic prices (30 euros for ordinary wine).
And at the end of the city of Galle (Galle). More precisely, due to the fact that they oversaturated their program only 45 minutes. So I managed to almost run around the fortress. Unfortunately, it was not possible to taste the charm and atmosphere on the run. But, of course, the object is necessary in the programs for visiting.
At the beginning of the eighth, we arrived at the hotel where they were doused, I note that on this day lunch was missed and a walking appetite was saved.
Tenth day
After breakfast, on which Marakuya (somewhat unripe) hiking on the beach appeared in fruit. I tried to go into the sea opposite the exit-something embarrassed me, probably saw a stone at a distance from the shore. Having passed a little to the left, opposite the lobster cafe, he was able to go and swam at a short distance. The exit from the sea looked quite acceptable.
In the morning, they examined the territory of the Varana hotel.
Then they visited Richmond Castle. The description and pictures can be seen on the network, I can say about my feelings that I would not have lost anything if I had not visited. We got by car ordered by Uber. Moreover, the first car without reaching 300 meters was lost - I went the other way. The second car drove up quickly and cost 100 rupees more than on the tuk-tuka. In addition, the car waited for us on the return trip without taking money for it.
once again visited the recommended " warehouse spices ”(https://maps. apple. com/? ll = 6.557227, 79.969998 & Q =%D0%9E%D1%82%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0%B0%D1.8F%20%D0%B3%D0%B5%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%8F & T = M).
Then we went on foot towards the hotel. On the way, we met a tea store (Nuraeliya Tea, Kalutara) ( https://maps. apple . com/? Address = Galle%20road, %20%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%83%D1%82%D0%D1%80%D0%B0, %20%D0%A8%D1%80%D0%B8-%D0%9B%D0%B0%D0%B%D0%D0%D0%B0 & LL = 6.596223, 79.958860 & Q = Galle%20road & T = M ). Were very satisfied with prices and assortment.
Continuing walking, we got to the Arpico store after which they ordered a tuk-stroke by Uber.
The evening bathing was more problematic, the wave was slightly higher and the exit from the sea was difficult, the primary wave drags back and the next throws forward on the sand.
Pizza appeared for dinner (not in the Italian version, but in the bakery, in which a large layer of the roll).
Eleventh day.
day for sunbathing. We had breakfast, bathed into the sea, water aerobics and yoga. For lunch they went to the lobster and tasted the crab and lobster. 66 euros !! ! The sauce is sweet, praised. Garnish Free potatoes that did not seem appropriate to me.
For dinner, the table was the same crab in Chile's sauce - they did not take a chance.
Twelfth day.
Breakfast, bathing, aerobics, sunbathing.
After lunch, we gathered in the vegetable market, ordered Uber, but the local "mafia" did not let go, I had to go out onto the road and take it there.
The vegetable market operates on Wednesdays after 14 hours, but it is only a vegetable, so this location can be safely reproached.
Then we went towards the city and found fruit trays a little not reaching the bridge. There were delicious fruits (not counting the bananas, mangoes and pineapples that are everywhere, there were delicious mangoostins, sweet marakuya, Rambutan, red bananas) so we recommend this point.
For dinner, a squid with a fish prepared in fruit was served, this is not counting the usual situation.
In addition, we were pleased with dancing right in the hall.
In the evening, I made a check for an airplane, the seats were again together.
The last day.
Breakfast, pleasure last day of the sun, swimming on the sea, which was not without an emergency - the wave threw it ashore and the sand tore off the skin. Therefore, water aerobics remained not visited.
at 12 o’clock they handed over the number and the suitcases were taken down - they paid for the drinks (the whole amount for drunk drinks during dinner).
After the sunbathing is again. About 15 hours they looked into the shower that is near the fitness center - very convenient. By the way, for extending the number for one hour, you need to pay $ 10, that is, if we needed up to four, then $ 40. We did not go to this and cost excellently.
Then we went to the "lobster" and ordered the soup of one of the crab of the other seafood. Cooked for 20 minutes. And it turned out that there were a lot of crab in soups, it turned out about the same as the day before, ordered by a separate dish. Even the pinchs gave. The difference turned out to be that the day before it cost 33 euros, and now the soup cost 7 euros!
They just managed to eat and immediately on the bus - transfer to the airport. We got about 1.5 hours.
At the airport at the entrance, luggage is shine through and there is a metal detector, check the availability of tickets.
You can carry water.
Further Hall in which there is where to sit, shit and eat. We arrived early, so we had to wait before the announcement of the landings for registration. And, the passage to the racks in a certain passage where tickets are checked again.
The numbers of the racks were 21-27 and we, by mistake, without studying the information, stood in the general queue. And it was necessary to get to where there were racks for registered Online. True, in the middle of the line we realized and passed registration on the Online empty racks, while issuing a ticket, which will need to be presented at the entrance to the gate where the part will be torn off.
On the inspection, they forced to remove the shoes and pull out the computer. Passport control also passed - put a stamp.
Duty Free zone is not so big and surprisingly a lot of stores with good level tea that we did not see in the country. Also on sale was quite decent coffee.
And, a passage to a gate means that it will already be impossible to return.
Before the passage, inspection, mark
On the plane, they fed twice.
In Istanbul, there is also an ambush, you need to go into the transit zone through inspection, the computer pulled out, did not take off your shoes.
Suitable from the zone e and there, after E1, there is the opportunity to drink real Turkish coffee prepared in the sand.
Then they parted with the group and flew to Tallinn.
as a result:
Satisfied with the trip.
The country left a pleasant impression. And our fears about unsanitary conditions and the presence of all residence were not justified. This applies not only to hotels and places of our local stay, but also in the country as a whole. Using the “heard” - this is not frightening India, this is an adapted option! So you can safely plan a trip to Sri Lanka!
We can say that it is impossible to saturate a visit to all places for such an insignificant temporary period, so those excursions that were, will quite allow you to get acquainted with the history and culture of the island. As noted above, part of the excursions are sharpened to business, but it is quite difficult to change something (after all, you do not know what and how it will be), besides, do not forget that you are tourists and you must leave money. And, alas, considerable money - everything is expensive!
The host company was Aitken Spence Travels and everything was organized at a good level and all the problems and wishes were solved promptly.
hotels in which we lived very good and the words of gratitude are appropriate here both our operator and the receiving side.
About tea and spices! Before the trip I read a lot of reviews and recommendations and, basically, everything is so! You can buy in bored places, but it will not be the best and not the cheapest!
So, for example, at a tea factory you can buy high -quality and fresh tea, but this is the tea of the "middle hand", but it fully satisfies the majority of tea lovers. In chain stores, I did not see decent tea, but the packages were beautiful. At the airport, by the way, there is decent tea, surprisingly, but it is beautifully packed (once wrapping) and in the area of duty -free (it is believed that the second scrap is actually cheaper). So if you need very good tea, then you need to look for specialized points. This also applies to spices!
Actually, I did not see the minuses of this trip and to get acquainted with the country I well recommend this tour! Here, the excursion part is time to lie and warm in the sun. In a particular case, we were a little unlucky - the Fengal cyclone caused strong rains and the first part was lubricated.
But, usually, at this time of the year on the western side of the island (where we rested) sunny weather, and on the eastern rainy. The choice of hotels is very good!
Of the wishes, I would like to add a full -fledged excursion to Galla, however, not excluding turtles. But the water safari (included in this excursion) is an amateur and I did not like it. As a wish for the host side could have been an organization of visiting not only Buddhist temples but also Hindu.
And behind all this splendor is the Riga company ALSVETS with which you can agree on everything and which knows and knows how to do its job. I recommend them and I think that this is not my last trip with them! Thanks for their work!
