Tangalle

Tangalle - in the very south of Sri Lanka. By train and several buses we are stranded here. We deliberately decided against tourist destinations like Unawatuna or Mirissa, as we just wanted to relax the last week of our Sri Lanka trip. But we did not expect that we would find a remote paradise. While other areas are already full of bloggers and influencers, Tangalle is still an insider tip. Within a few kilometers you will find a variety of deserted beaches and restaurants.

The restaurants may not be insta-friendly or have fancy smoothiebowls or other food trends, but if a Sri Lankan woman just stands behind the stove for you and conjures a variety of different curries, it‘s very authentic. In a foreign country I want to get to know the real variety of flavors and not eat what I get in every country. That‘s why we also did a cooking class with a Sri Lankan man who, together with his mother, introduced us to the secrets of Sri Lankan cuisine. Even today, we cook the dishes regularly and you do not even need exotic spices or ingredients. We enjoyed the time in Tangalle very much and continued travelling with at least 3kg more body weight.

To enter Sri Lanka, you need a passport that has to be valid for at least six months. You must apply for a visa before or during entry. This can be extended by four weeks, which can take some time.

Because Muslims and Buddhists live in Sri Lanka, there are sometimes disputes between the different religions. In addition, one must watch out for violent sexual assault on women and many actions, such as photographing Buddha figures, are prohibited. Here you should inform yourself before your trip to Sri Lanka about the dangers and prohibitions.

If you travel to the Sri Lanka, you must definitely be vaccinated against measles. WHO has declared that omitting the vaccine as a „threat to global health“. However, no vaccinations are required when entering from Germany. The standard vaccinations are definitely always recommended. It is also recommended to vaccinate against hepatitis A and B, rabies and typhoid. Sri Lanka is warning about the Zika virus and dengue fever.

You should wear mostly light colored clothing to protect you from mosquitoes. At night you should sleep under a mosquito net. You should always have sun protection with you. If you need medication, bring it with you from your hometown, as they are usually very expensive abroad. Watch out for water from the faucet. You should also be careful with food. During your trip you should carry a copy of you travel health insurance with you. Inform yourself before your trip about current warnings. The medical care in Sri Lanka is fine, in rural areas travel time can be expected.

Oh, what should I say about food ... I never liked Indian food before and had some respect of the trip to Sri Lanka. But what awaited me there surprised me a lot. Of course, it has features of Indian food, but it can not be compared to it. That‘s something like Indian Light. There are many curries, samose, naan, of course all with rice and lots of fresh vegetables. Of course, meat and fish are also available, but the people in Sri Lanka love to eat vegetarian food.

Not to mention the delicious fresh fruits, lassis and probably the best coconuts I‘ve ever had. In Sri Lanka, a variety of tastes and smells awaits you, which will blow you away. I still dream of the delicious curries at Chanika's restaurant ...

When traveling within the country, railways are preferable to public buses. Buses are often involved in accidents because of their reckless driving style. Traveling in the hinterland to the east is sometimes difficult. Here an increased mine risk can not be excluded. During our trip we drove both by train and by various buses. We never had any problems. Even driving with the tuktuk is fast and usually uncomplicated. Driving in Sri Lanka is still very chaotic, why I can not recommend the rental of vehicles.

In Sri Lanka there is left traffic. Night driving is not advisable for reasons of traffic safety outside the cities. If you want to rent a vehicle, an international driver‘s license is required. This only is valid in conjunction with the national German driver‘s license.

During the rainy season, expect monsoon rains. These can cause short but severe flooding. The rainy season extends northeast from December to March. In the southwest from June to October.

Sri Lanka is located in a seismically active zone, which can lead to earthquakes and tsunamis.

In Sri Lanka the weather is different everywhere.

So if you want to do a round trip, you have to pack clothes for every situation. Generally one can say that at the beginning of the year the weather is usually better. On the beaches the weather is of course better than in the highlands. It always depends on where you want to go. Especially in Tangalle, it is quite beautiful in February and March.

In Sri Lanka you pay with rupee. You can pay with credit cards, but less in rural areas. Here you should beware of credit card fraud. Cash can be changed in exchange offices or picked up at the vending machine. The cash can be changed back before leaving the country.