Sri Lanka Travel: Things not to do
I traveled in January 2016 through Sri Lanka – alone, as a woman, on my own and without a travel book, but with my mobile phone and a local sim card (for mobile internet connection). In this blog I reveal some of my recommendations for your travel in Sri Lanka. This is absolutely my own opinion. I like to share ideas and personal recommendations as well as no go’s with you – feel free to comment on my blog! My travel character I like to experience a new country as if I lived there country: local food, local public transportation, the offtrack, not to many tourist spots (of course, some are very important to see), some words in Sinhalese or Tamil language and staying with local people. 5 Things not do to in Sri Lanka 1. Jaffna It is my opinion and I know that you might see it different: Jaffna is in the very north of the country 2. Go alone up the „single tree mountain“ In „Single Tree Mountain“ in Nuwara Elija I had a bad experience when I went up the hill: the ladies – who collect tea, want you to take photos so that they can ask for money – are absolutely not the problem. I give almost all of them some of my big water bottle and they were fine. The problem was when I walked down the hill – totally in harmony and alone. A man just appeared in my way with his trousers open and his penis in one hand – on the other a small bottle: at first glance I thought he was masturbing – but then he ran to me – with the open trousers. I stopped going nearer and tried to speak with him quietly and without fear. To be honest, my knees were shaking a lot (I don’t know if because of the hill I went down or because of this situation). I could have run back up again, but I knew that he could be faster and up there was nobody to help me. I could have tried to fight with him but he was a man with a bottle in his hand. I decided to speak really loud that I don’t want to show him my body or do anything else. But he became angry in his face when I stated to shout – with the hope somebody would hear me and help. Then I decided to speak to him – normally and from person to person. I said him that please he should let me pass my way and „that’s it“. Nothing will happen. I don’t know how many minutes I spoke to him like that for, but… suddenly a red car came up the road (!!!) and the man disappeared. I didn’t stop the car which was on the way up but said „thank you“ in my mind and continued quickly on my way down. 3. Kandy Yes… I am so sorry, it is a nice place around the lake (above) but for me, personally, Kandy was a bit boring (if you are there, you MUST see the botanical garden!) 4. Colombo Yes, it is the capital, but it is loud, a lot of traffic jam, nothing really worth to see there. 5. Never buy without bargaining Taking a massage in the beach without bargain: if you don’t like to be surprised or cheated, ask the price before taking any service like hostels, TUK TUKS, guides or massages! I meet somebody who was asked if he want to see some turtles, they didn’t speak about prizing and in the end both of them were disappointed. What else you might find interesting about Sri Lanka In Sri Lanka you find different religions living peacefully together: the major ones are Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Language When Sri Lankas want to say Yes with body language, they don’t shake their head like we do, but move their head a little bit from right to left (tending their head). First I was very confused, but then I checked it. Sri Lanka language is Sinhalese (the bigger part of the country) or Tamil (in the noth), but a lot of people speak simple English. In the bus you always find somebody who could help you with saying when you should get out – the best is to tell the person who collects the money. Train ride In my opinion it is enough to pay a 3rd class ticket. Often you find a seat in 3rd class. Bus ride Cheap as well, you pay for a long ride of 3-4 hours like 150 rupees, that is about one euro. Be aware not to sit under a music box, because the Bollywood style music sometimes can get very loud! Don’t forget your earplugs. Some bus drivers drive like crazy – very fast and always honk – but the truth is that mostly they are really good drivers and usually on time. Is Sri Lanka safe for women travelling alone? I would say: yes! In general, locals here are very friendly and interested in others. You should perhaps not go separately when you want to climb a mountain or visit a lonely place, better join a group. In the beach you can speak to a family group or a couple to have an eye on your belongings when you go for a swim. Have some self esteem when you travel – that always helps due to the fact that the most asked question of me was if I was married. Some woman have photos from a friend in their pocket and will say that’s their husband – I didn’t (and could have at least 5 new husbands here…). But normally men are not pushy (like sometimes in some South American countries). What does the dot in front of their head mean? When woman get married they put a red point on their head.
Sri Lanka in 3 weeks: Travel Recommendations (with Video)
I traveled in January 2016 through Sri Lanka – alone, as a woman, on my own and without a travel book, but with my mobile phone and a local sim card (for mobile internet connection). In this blog I reveal some of my recommendations for your travel in Sri Lanka. This is absolutely my own opinion. I like to share ideas and your personal recommendations as well as no go’s with you – feel free to comment on my blog! My travel character I like to experience a new country as if I would live in this country: local food, local public transportation, the offtrack, not to many tourists spots (of course, some are very important to see), some words in Sinhalese or Tamil language, stay with people from here. 10 things to do in Sri Lanka in 3 weeks 1) Going west: Hikkaduwa, beach it is a nice beach in the south west, more touristic than Tangalle, but for the start it’s cool to get down and relaxe some days here. I stayed in Hector ’s place – the owner, a German lady called Gudrun and her Sinhalese (Sri Lankan) husband offered me a nice room with double bed and shower for just 2000 rupees (after a litlle bargain and due to the fact that I was alone). 2) Going south: Tangalle, beach in the south Touristic, but not to much. This beach was perfect to me, because I could run in the morning some kilometres and then have directly afterwards a swim. So nice! You will find a lot of fish restaurants in the beach with fresh fish or shrimps. A plate with rice or French fries and Salat cost around 9 euros. If you are interested, you can see turtles putting their eggs in the sand at night in a special zone some kilometres away. You can go to the turtles with a Tuk Tuk – entrance is 1000 rupees. You cannot take pics. After around 45 days the baby turtles come out of their eggs. 3) Going east: Trincomalee, beach and harbour A little bit similar to Tangalle but in the north east. When there is no season, there are only a very few tourists and you can get a cheap prize in massages and accommodation. I stayed in „Sun Shadow“ near the beach and near the Christian Church in a doble bed room in Upuvali beach for just 1500 rupees a night. You can go by bus around 20 min and see Nilaveli beach – it is a long and very quiet beacj – next to the national parc Pidgeon Island. The entrance there is 2500 rupees. 4) Going up: Pidurangalla, Sigiriya If you come to Sigiriya and want to climb a mountain with a fantastic view, you can elect. The Pidurangalla is in my eyes the more interesting one of the two mountains. And it is a lot cheaper to enter (500 rupees) than the other one (4200 rupees!!!) and you have a fantastic view! You can do a nice mediation from upstairs- it is great. 5) Going further up: Climb Adams Peak Yes- you must do that! I think it was even a little sportive for me to climb all the 5200 stairs (I hope I counted right), my legs hurts the next day – yes- but the view is amazing! I did the climbing with my friend Janine from Germany and her boyfriend and we joined there the same day. You don’t need a guide, the stairs have light and there are lot of people climbing up. We needed 2 hours and started at 2.45 hours and had enough time to the sunrise. I walked with long trousers, sweater and rain jacket because up the peak it can be rainy and a little cold (around 10 celsius). A good advice from my travel friend Janine: take a Tshirt with you for changing on the top of the hill- yes you will sweat a little bit. 6) Luxury – take a tea in Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya Visit the Grand Hotel in Nuwara Eliya for a High Tea if you want to see a very nice hotel in Sri Lanka. They have a nice piano hour every day. Sent best regards to Shaam – he is at the reception and a very friendly and nice guy. 7) Stay at least once with a local During my stay I did Couchsurfing several times: Thanks . It was nice to get to know the way local people thinks and live and it is also an economic way to travel: the idea is to offer a couch or bed for free – and you do the same in your country for travelers. Sometimes they show you the real Sinhalese / Sri Lankan breakfast: String Hoppers or Cocos Rotti with dhal curry and chilli with cocos. Thanks Jeya, Butter, Benjamin, Shaam and Sujeewa that I could stay with you. 8) Go by train from Ella to Kandy Or go viceversa – at least a chunk of the distance. You will go through different clima zones when you come higher and it is really nice to see tea plantations, different vegetation and feeling the change. 3:50 Min short audio-slide-show about Sri Lanka by train Einfach hier klicken: Audio-Slideshow by Sarah Lindner (auf Deutsch, in German) 9) Eat and drink in Sri Lanka My last travel recommendation: Drink a lot of lassies, fresh juices (I always ordered without sugar), fruit salat with ice cream and „rottis“ (often with egg, vegetables … you get sometimes dhal to the rotti). The shakes in Sri Lanka are always fresh made: jammy! 10) Visit STEPS Online Children Help Project nearby Baticaloa This is really important: If you have the chance to go east then you should visit the children project STEPS Online. They help with 6 pre schools to give a good education to the village kids. They don´t have
Fest oder frei Arbeiten?
Fest oder frei Arbeiten? Eine kleine Entscheidungshilfe für den, der sich noch nicht entschieden hat. Einfach auf den Link klicken, das PDF herunterladen und durchgehen. In meiner Arbeit als Dozentin an der Uni Hamburg war eine Frage die gesamte Zeit unter den Studenten latent: Habe ich das Zeug zum frei arbeiten? Soll ich frei arbeiten? Ist das sicher? Mein Rat in dieser Sache: Ladet euch das folgende PDF herunter und kreuzt ohne lange Nachzudenken an, wo ihr sofort zustimmen könnt. Dann überlegt einmal, was euch wichtiger ist – und bei welchen Punkten evtl. noch „Bauchschmerzen“ sind.