Travel tips for Sri Lanka

Travel tips for Sri Lanka

1. Sri Lanka is a humid country.

2. The food is mostly non-vegetarian. It is seldom served hot for eating.

3. Rice and bread are staple food.

4. Exchange Forex or TC in banks. Countryside Hotels offer unfriendly rate for exchange.

5. Sinhalese smile a lot. They have customer service mentality.

6. Females look good and wear western wear comfortably. They wear tight dress and children tend to wear jeans, mini skirt and adults wear skirt mostly.

7. The food looks Indian but it does not have indian taste.

8. Fish and Chicken related food available through out the country. Pickle concept not practiced in Sri Lankan hotels.

9. Strict vegetarians have to adjust to rice, dhal and some kind of salad when they travel outside Colombo. Colombo has got Anjappar, Amaravati and couple of vegetarian restaurant in a neighbourhood called Bampalapitiya.

10. Liquor is sold in neighbourhood shops in Sri Lanka for a moderate price. Hence, no need to stock the liquor.

11. Train services connect the entire country. Trains also have a one observation compartment with transparant glasses.

12. Sri Lankan people wake up early and goes to bed early say 6:30am to 7:30pm. Tourist need to plan their work accordingly.

13. Laksala is a good souvenir shop of Sri Lanka.

14. I didnt explore the night life in Colombo hence could not comment.

15. Carry and Keep your passport ready to show during security check-ups.

16. Pre-paid SIM Card buying in Sri Lanka requires Local ID proof !!!

17. Sri Lanka follows patriarch system. Dowry system is prevalent for arranged marriages. But majority of marriages happening out of love life.

18. Hundreds of people travel out of Colombo to Kandy, Anuradhapura, Galle (pronounced as goal) regions on weekends. Hence, plan your appointments accordingly.

19. Internet facility is available only in major cities.

20. Textile shooping is recommended in Sri Lanka for price sensitive tourists.

Vodafone - Elevator - TV Commercial Lyrics

I fell in love with Vodafone - Elevator - TV Commercial. Here is the lyrics:
The commercial can be seen in Vodafone website.

Blue skies
in open air
there's a place
for us somewhere
take me away
somewhere far away
beyond the sun
take me away
somewhere far away

Sri Lanka trip - thanksgiving

On Yasith - Our Reluctant Guide

Yasith named as our co-ordinator for our official project. Also, he ended up co-ordinating the entire branch trip. He is very quiet, humorous and always smiling. He is very knowledgeable about landscape, culture, places, history and geography. He was very proud of his country and was forthcoming and explaining a lot throughout the trip. We enjoyed his companionship very well.

On Sarath - Our Mr Discipline

Sarath was the driver and responsible for steering us. He is well mannered. He drove comfortably without violating any signal or taking on rash driving. He wore seat belt through out the tour, locked the doors before moving the vehicle and never got upset when he had to circle back. He kept his eye on us when we walked through the streets of Kandy. He ate very little food as if a person on diet and hence got a nick name from me as Mr Discipline

Photo: From Left: Yasith, Self (Vijay), Sarath

Indian Cricket - 2nd Test at Sydney

What a test match... The twists and turns can match only movie script !!!

BCCI should initiate proceedings formally / professionally to relieve Harbhajan from 3 test ban instead of withdrawing from the tour. That would be the long term solution rather than short term headline making emotional withdrawl.

Happy Birthday

Many more returns of the day Dear A R Rahman...

Movie Lyric which i loved most in recent past

Song of Hope in the recent tamil movie Katrathu Tamizh:

Mudhal Murai Vaazha Pidikuthey
Mudhal Murai velicham pirakkuthey
Mudhal murai murindha kilai ondru pookuthey
Mudhal murai kadavu thirkuthey
Mudhal murai kattru varukuthey
Mudhal murai kanavu palikuthey

Translation to English

First time, i feel like living
First time, i can see light
First time, flower blossoms from broken branch
First time, door has opened
Firs time, i can feel the fresh air
First time, i can feel the dreams are coming true

Market Outlook - Jan 08

I predicted that Dow would top out around 14000 levels in December and it had topped out around 13800 and it is back to 13000 levels yesterday.

I also predicted that DLF, IVRCL for upward rally for Dec 07 which materialised. My other prediction of Reliance and Amararaja have not materialised.

Jan 08 would be a tough month and bulls would find it hard to take it beyond 21k levels. Dec 07 was extremely strong due to strong all round rally in stocks and the buyers were mainly Insurance companies than MF or FII put together.

I feel that some of the stock prices shows irrational exuberance so I predict correction in Sensex from 20500 levels to 19000 to 19300 levels for Jan 08. If at all the bull rally continues, it will have resistance at 20800 levels for Jan 08.