Anne, Daphne, Jane, John, Marie, Paige, Patricia & Tracey
Canada & England, May 2014
What did you like most about Sri Lanka?
The people/monuments/wildlife/countryside. Not many tourists.
The people were friendly and welcoming. I also enjoyed learning about the history and culture of Sri Lanka. The Rock Temple [Dambulla] and the visit to girl's orphanage in Kinniyai [near Trincomalee] were the highlights for me.
What did you like least about Sri Lanka?
The climate is fine for a holiday but I couldn't live in it!
The distance needed to travel to get there and the heat. Of course, there is nothing that can be done about either, so it just becomes a part of the experience. There was one time in Polonnaruwa that we were pursued by vendors, at other times they were very polite and gracious.
What is your opinion of your accommodation in Sri Lanka?
EXCELLENT! Varied. Very good food choices.
The choices of accommodations were excellent. Each hotel/resort was unique and provided a nice sampling of the burgeoning tourism industry in Sri Lanka.
What is your opinion of your chauffeur guide in Sri Lanka?
Excellent. Very good drivers and knowledgeable about the history and birds.
Oscar and Anura were great chauffeur guides. They were both very friendly and helpful. Oscar is very knowledgeable about his country's history and culture, however, I did have a little trouble understanding his speech occasionally. If he could slow down his speech a bit, I think it would be helpful.
Any other comments?
This is the best way to travel in my opinion. Very personal experience. Flexible schedule. It was my trip of a lifetime!
Overall the time in Sri Lanka was wonderful.
The accommodations were beyond my expectations. They were very high end as far as my world of travelling experience goes. The hotels offered everything needed and more. I probably enjoyed the more rustic, smaller, and colonial styles the most, such as Cinnamon Wild [Yala], the Tea Plantation Managers cottage (except for lack of fan) [Mandira Strathdon Bungalow, Adam's Peak], the Hotel Suisse in Kandy etc. However, the buffets at the hotels where half board was offered were quite amazing. Having said that, the best meal by far, Sri Lankan style was at Pathi and Suba's [Hanthana House, Kandy].
I was quite amazed at how clean it is throughout most of the country but quite surprised that generally things were more expensive than I had expected. I'm sure that was partly due to the hotels we were staying in.
I enjoyed everything we saw and did but I think Kinniyai [near Trincomalee] was a highlight. I felt we touched a part of the real Sri Lanka there.
The countryside is beautiful and the people were very open and friendly as well.
As for Oscar and Anura, I thought they were lovely men, good drivers [guides] and really knew well everyplace we went. They showed a personal interest in everyone and became a part of the group. The only thing I must say is that I had trouble understanding them, especially Oscar when they were talking about a site we were visiting. I feel I missed a lot of information that I would have liked to have.
It's unlikely that I will return to Sri Lanka because of the distance from Canada. If it was closer, my answer would be different. It fit the bill perfectly after a month in India.
Thanks to you [John] and Pathi, Oscar and Anura for making it a very enjoyable 2 weeks that will be added to my most memorable moments.
Overall this was an excellent tour with the right balance of activities and leisure time. I had a lifetime dream to visit one of the south Asian countries and this tour went well beyond my expectations. I feel that I have gotten a glimpse into the lives of the people of Sri Lanka and the memories of our travels will be with me forever.
I forgot to mention that the food was amazing. Whether we were eating in the resorts or stopping along the roadside for 'shorties' and bananas, it was always good. As a vegetarian, I have found that it can be challenging to eat when travelling. However, after the first week of over-eating, I had to consciously cut back. Everything was sooooo fresh and tasty!
Thank you John, Pathi, Oscar and Anura for putting together such a great tour.
The 17-day Sri Lanka Tour organized by Tikalanka Tours was one of the highlights of my life. I am a nature, animal lover and photographer and this tour gave me a great variety of experiences of Sri Lanka. From the southern coast in Galle, to my favourite location, inside Yala National Park for jeep tours with elephant, leopard, and other wildlife which passed by my bungalow at dusk and dawn; up into the Hill Country to see a working tea factory; to Kandy to see the historic Temple of the Tooth and then to Dambulla, Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa in the ancient Cultural Triangle; to Trincomalee in the northeast for beach time. With Oscar and Anura, local Sri Lankan guides who gave us background on animals, history and culture while driving us safely through our trip, they enriched my experience of the country that I have fallen in love with and I want to return with my husband again. Jane Gardner, nature lover, lover of history, now a Sri Lanka lover.
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