iglobetrotter-travel-blog

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Singapore Zoo

Today I am going to take you on a tour to Singapore Zoo, where it was formerly called as Singapore Zoological Gardens or locally called as Mandai Zoo. It occupies 28 hectares/ 69 acres of the central part of Singapore. It is operated by the Wildlife Reserves Singapore who also manages the fun activities including Night Safari, River Safari, and Jurong bird park. There are about 315 species of…

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Sigiriya, The World's Heritage

Sigiriya, The World’s Heritage

Hello there!

I’m here to share my experience in Sigiriya, one of the world’s heritage.  I began my trip with my brothers early morning.  We left Colombo by 6.00am and we were able to reach Sigiriya by 10.00am. We chose to go by a hired van which was very convenient for us to go there sooner. (Travel Tip: Take a car/van. Its the best way to get there. )

Sigiriya is one of the most popular and…

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Singapore Zoo

Today i’m going to take you on a tour to Singapore Zoo, where it was formerly called as Singapore Zoological Gardens or locally called as Mandai Zoo. It occupies 28 hectares/ 69 acres of the central part of Singapore. It is operated by the Wildlife Reserves Singapore who also manage the fun activities including Night Safari, River safari and Jurong bird park. There are about  315 species  of…

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  “The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.”

By John Muir,

Hello there!

Today im going to share my experience at Udawatta kele Forest Reserve, where i got to enjoy the inner beauty in kandy.

Udawatta Kele, a historic forest reserve situated on a hill-ridge of Kandy town, has with time become a favorite spot where people come to walk around and experience nature. During Kandyan kingdom days, this place was known as ‘Uda Wasala Watta’/’the garden above the royal palace’.  If there is a guide or an attendant around at the time of your visit, do not hesitate to ask about the history of the forest as it is quite fascinating.

Here’s a little history of  Udawatte Kele forest Reserves. Kandy is considered as one of the main and historically important cities in Sri Lanka. In 1371 King Wickramabahu established his kingdom and named this city as `Senkadagala’ in remembrance of the Brahmin called Senkanda’ who lived in a rock cave in Udawattekele forest. Thereafter all the kings who ruled took appropriate measures to conserve `Udawatte-kele: forest and regarded it as a part of the Royal Palace. This resulted in declaring the forest as a property of the crown and a restricted zone (Thahansi Kele) for the public. The royal family used this forest as a pleasure garden. During foreign invasions and wars, this forest helped the royals to retreat and hide themselves and also as a’ passage for them to flee to other safer areas. Hope this helps you to know little extra about this amazing place.

Morning time is ideal for the walk. Because during afternoon you will feel a bit of warmth and even in the evening it will be more drizzling and will not have much time to enjoy the entire forest walk. We made sure to accommodate ourselves close to the Kandy town where it took just 15-20 minutes from the Temple of Tooth. It is 257 acres where we took 2-3 hours to walk around and to reach the end point.  There is a parking space for vehicles and a refreshment stall at the entrance of the Reserve. Take enough water as you will feel thirsty during the long walk and some snacks for a munch while walking. (Travel Tip: Avoid exposing to monkeys while eating as they will go wild seeing food.)

Make sure you take your identity card as it is required at the entrance. It just costs 30 LKR for locals/ 300 LKR for non-locals as the entrance fee. (Please note that ticket price effective to the time i traveled).

A detailed map at the entrance will show you where each path leads and even without a guide you can find your way passing through ‘The Lover’s Walk’, ‘Marble Seat’, Iron wood forest and Buddhist monasteries. The sanctuary contains three Buddhist forest monasteries i.e., Forest Hermitage, Senanayakaramaya and Tapovanaya, and three cave dwellings for Buddhist monks, i.e., Cittavisuddhi-lena, Maitri-lena and Senkadandagala-lena.  (Travel tip: Make sure to take a photo of the forest reserves map at the entrance before you start the walk. Follow it. It will help you to come back to the start point without getting lost at the end.)

The reserve contains great variety of flora and fauna. And also reptiles, monkeys, deer ,  wild boars, insects and large number of birds where it is ideal for bird watching. (Make sure to keep your cameras ON as you will come across beautiful birds to the sight.)

You will reach to two view points during the walk where you will be able to enjoy the city view of Kandy. The view is too beatutiful to resist that you will see the back view of the Temple of Tooth along with the Kandy River (‘Nuwera Wewa’), other building surrounding with mountains and trees.

During the walk you will come across many insects and specially leeches and mosquitoes in the wet area. Be aware! Apply some mosquito repellent and take lime/soap to repel from leeches.

The Sri Lanka Forest Department has two offices in the reserve, one of which (at the southeastern entrance) has a nature education center with a display of pictures, posters, stuffed animals, etc. The forest is also popular with foreign tourists, especially bird watchers, Scientific nature researchers, hikers and nature lovers. Ideal place for nature photography.

You will be able to see the historically important ruins and places from the Kandyan Kingdom such as the Lady Horton’s Road, Royal Pond, Lovers’ Walk and Marble Seat. The opportunity to visit the Senkada Cave, where a hermit lived alone in the forest.

The sanctuary is famous for its extensive fauna. The reserve also contains a great variety of plant species, especially lianas, shrubs and small trees. There are several giant lianas. which has been growing for more than 1000 years. Among Commonly identifiable species Mahogani (Sweetinia Macrophylla), native lianas, Wevel (Calamus sps.) and Puss wel are visible. Many of small and medium size mammals that inhabit Sri Lanka can be seen here. Several kinds of snakes and other reptiles might be seen. Commonly birds like Drak fronted Babbler, Grey Hron-bill, Hill Myna, Bats, Owls, Fly Catcher, Wood peckers, King fishers, Eagles, Peacocks  etc. among the large mammals, barking deer, Wild Boar, Monkeys, Deers are commonly seen.

Quick Tips, Note and Remarks :

Start as early as possible as i mentioned before.

Reserve opening hours – 8.00am to 5.00 pm. (But the entering will be not alloowed after 3.00pm)

Don not take bags/polythene inside.

Do not misbehave in unethical way.

Do not remove or damage any plants.

Do not trap or disturb any wildlife

Do not vandalize structures, lades or sign boards.

Do not litter the area.

Quick recap on landmarks you should not miss;

Lady Horton’s Road

Royal pond

Giant Bamboo

Senkada acve

Information Centres

Hermitages and Caves

Kodimale (Flag point)

Puss-Wel (Giant Lianas)

Ironwood Forest

We totally enjoyed the visit to Udawatte Kele Forest Reserve and felt how important to have such a rain forest in nature, where it makes habitat for many animals and plants. Have you visited here before? Share your experience in comments below. If you’re hoping to visit, do contact me for more travel advice and tips.

View point Circle

Senkada Cave

Pose near Puss-Wel creepers (Lianas)

Another View point where you see the Kandy city with mountains surrounding it.

In the middle of the Forest

View point

Breathtaking beauty in Udawatte Kele Forest Reserves "The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness." By John Muir, Hello there!

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Udawattakele Forest Reserve

Hello there!

Today im going to share my walk at Udawatta kele Forest Reserve, where i got to enjoy beauty in kandy.

Udawatta Kele, a historic forest reserve situated on a hill-ridge of Kandy town, has with time become a favourite spot where people come to walk around and experience nature. During Kandyan kingdom days, this place was known as ‘Uda Wasala Watta’/’the garden above the royal palace’.…

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Moments in the Spotlight - Madame Tussauds!

Moments in the Spotlight – Madame Tussauds!

Hello There,

Today I’m going to share our experience in one of the world’s best wax statue museum –  The Madame Tussauds. It was situated in Resorts Sentosa, which was just 30 minutes from our hotel. The walk from Resorts World Sentosa to the museum was a little long. So, try to accommodate yourself somewhere closer to Resorts Sentosa for the sake of convenience if possible.

“So, What’s special…

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“I didn’t feel like it was a totalitarian state. But the country was very, very clean to the point it was almost sterile. I knew not to litter but I don’t litter here anyways because this country was too beautiful and clean. If you’re a respectful person and a respectful traveler, you’re not going to run into an issue.”

Today I’m going to share some important travel etiquette and culture that you should know before travel to Singapore. I made sure that I do research before my visit to Singapore. There were millions of things to know and follow! I know, it is bit hard to adopt to a foreign style – but we, as visitors must adapt so as not to arouse the ire of the locals. So, let’s be on the safe side and enjoy our visit in Singapore!

Singapore is a very diverse country consisting three major ethnic groups: Chinese, Malay and Indian, where Chinese is the largest. The ethnic mix results in very diverse rich customs and etiquette in Singapore.

Singapore is infamous for its extreme punishments even for minor infractions like gum chewing, graffiti, littering etc. and for harsh penalties like canning and mandatory capital punishments for cheating, murder and rape. So be aware of the laws enforced – even failing to abide a silly law can lead you to a serious trouble. You also can be arrested for littering, spitting, jaywalking and even fined for failure to flush-out toilets after use. The state department wants travelers to remember that they are not exempt from foreign law and US passport is not a “get out of jail free” card.

Greetings!

Respect is important to Singaporeans, and this is perhaps why it can be regarded as an egalitarian society. You should be aware that in Singapore, elders should be treated with the utmost respect. It is proper etiquette to always acknowledge the most elderly and senior person present first.

Handshaking is the most common form of greeting in Singapore, although this may depends on the ethnic origin of the person you are greeting. For instance, Muslim (Malay) men will shake hands, but women may not. The traditional greeting of Salaam, placing the right hand over the heart, is more common. Ethnic male and female Chinese and Indians will also shake hands, but Chinese will shake hands with the opposite sex, whereas ethnic Indians will not. It is best to see if a female will offer her hand first. If you are unsure of what to do, a simple bow will suffice.

Communication

Singaporeans place a huge importance on body language over verbal communication. For example, if you place your hands-on hips while talking, it shows as a bad etiquette which they will consider it as an aggressive posture. Similarly, touching a person’s head may cause offence as head considered sacred. (Tip! Be mindful about where you rest your hands while communicating.)

When it comes to verbal communication, Singaporeans are delicate, subtle and considerate. I know it sounds way weird compared to other western world where a direct conversation is common and preferred. But in Singapore, Silence is not considered uncomfortable. Silence displays the degree of consideration to contemplate for what has been said.  (Tip! Don’t answer questions hastily or it will cause offence.)

Drug-free Singapore

In Singapore, the death penalty is enforced for some drug offences.  Just as you enter to the airport, you get a prior form with a notice regarding drug offence. Here officials do not distinguish between drugs consumed before you entering the country or taken in Singapore. The police officials have the authority to force both resident/non-resident to submit a random drug testing if they feel suspicious. (Tip! Be drug-free for the duration of your trip for your safety. )

Safety first in Public transportation System

Saying that the public transportation system has the strictest rules of all is no exaggeration. You are not permitted to eat, drink or breast-feed on the trains. Literally, not even a sip of plain water. According to the SMRT’s website, they have initiated such strict policies to prevent any accidents and ensure that everyone can enjoy a pleasant ride. The SMRT really concerned about passengers’ safety as there are millions of people that commute daily.

No Porn/Sword/Knives/Pirated DVDs’ into the country

Bringing porn in to the country can carry a fine up to $1,000 as well as imprisonment. Also be sure that you leave at home: Chewing gums, lighters shaped guns, counterfeit DVDs, copy-righted materials, swords, endangered species, firecrackers or any other restricted materials. (Tip! Be aware!)

Be aware on behavior

Unwanted touching, both violent or sexual, can brings up to two years in prison, caning or a fine. Homosexuality is technically is illegal in Singapore and carries a sentence of up to two years in prison. Oral or anal sex between heterosexuals was made legal in 2007. Specially avoid public display of affection in general. Do not touch anyone’s head as the head is sacred.

Photography

Photography for some places are not allowed. So, make sure you follow ‘NO PHOTOGRAPHY’ sign boards. Photography for private, non-commercial use as a visitor to the Museum is allowed. The use of a flash and tripod is prohibited. Video filming is only allowed with authorization from the National Museum of Singapore. The rule differs from place to place, thus make sure you inquire the relevant authority before any capture.

Be on time!

Here people are very punctual for everything. Even to travel, to eat, to work etc. This is one of the best qualities that I learnt from this country.

I was supposed be picked up by the tour guide at 10.25 and I got late for just 2 minutes. He had left me and gone leaving a message saying “10.25 doesn’t mean 10.27”. I was shocked. I wished I had known about their punctuality before I visited the country. Anyway, that was a learning point for me too.

So you too make sure you follow their culture and etiquette accordingly to avoid any disappointments.

I hope my experience in Singapore will help you to experience a better journey.

Happy Travels! Cheers! 🙂

If you like my post and if it’s helpful to you, Click ‘Like’, leave a comment below and follow my blog for more! 🙂

Things you should know before travel to Singapore! "I didn't feel like it was a totalitarian state. But the country was very, very clean to the point it was almost sterile.

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Hello There! 🙂

Galle is a must-visit city in Sri Lanka especially for tourists (beware of scammers and pickpockets though!). It is situated in the southern province of the country at the coast line. (Travel Tip: I would recommend you take the train as the mode of transport as you can experience the beauty in coast line until you reach Galle). The beauty of the coastal line is endless as always, with the lovely sea waves hitting the edge of the railways as you travel. The other mode is through southern express-way while quicker, would cause you to miss the coastal beauty.

We started the journey from Colombo along the southern expressway. We just got to see the greenery surrounding the highway although we missed the beautiful in coastal line.

Unawatuna is a beach resort village in Galle, which was once named “The best beach in the world” by Discovery Television. It is a major tourist attraction as it is famous for its eco-tourism-having beautiful beaches and corals and mangroves. Unfortunately, the mangroves were partially destroyed, dredged and filled up to build a chain hotel (which has been delayed forever since).

Mangrove Bushes in the Rumassala Path

When heading to Jungle beach, I didn’t miss visiting the sacred Japanese Peace pagoda. It is a Buddhist stupa which is a monument to nurture peace, designed to provide a focal point for people of all races and creeds to unite in their search for world peace. This is built-in Unawatuna by the Nipponzan Myohoji sect’s monks. This place has a beautiful shrine with golden-colored Buddha statues around it.  This place is ideal to watch the sunset as it is a high ground with the view of the entire Unawatuna beach.

After heading through the mangroves towards the beach in Rumassala, in Unawatuna, you will arrive at a beautiful light blue beach surrounded with rocks and trees known as Jungle beach.  Tourist visit mostly for snorkeling and scuba diving for fish and corals. It is an ideal isolated beach for sun bathing and boat rides. But I recommend you visit it early morning as it gets crowded after around 11.00am. Since we reached this place early, we were able make the maximum of our experience.

Jungle Beach in Unawatuna

There are over sixty species of endemic birds in this area according to researchers including Terns, Egrets, Herons, Sandpiper, and Kingfisher, as well as rare species such as the Lesser whistling duck, the Asian palm swift, the white breasted water-hen, the loten’s sunbird and the black bittern.  Off the coast of Unawatuna, in the Indian ocean you will see many coral reefs, shipwrecks and a place where turtles still visit the sea-shore to lay eggs. The Rumassala coral reef at the East end of the Galle harbor attracts divers but please check online for the correct diving seasons as during the certain months the sand reduces visibility.

If you believe that my travel tips are helpful, Make sure you leave a comment below;

Happy Journey! 🙂

Journey to Unawatuna! Hello There! 🙂 Galle is a must-visit city in Sri Lanka especially for tourists (beware of scammers and pickpockets though!).

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Hello there!

In Sri Lanka, one of the best places to go to for fresh strawberry and strawberry products is Jagro.

Jagro maintains a good quality standard with the delicious deserts and products they serve. Their service was great and the staff very friendly. They were attentive to what we ordered and took time to explain the ingredients in each dish. The place is very cozy with comfy seats.

First, I ordered my favorite dish, a waffle with strawberries and cream which was just LKR 550. Apart from the two main ingredients you can choose between chocolate, vanilla or strawberry sauce (I opted for the chocolate). The waffle was filled with loads of strawberries on top and covered with generous helpings of cream and chocolate topping. The waffle was crispy on the outside and slightly soft on the inside-just the way I like it. The chocolate sauce was smooth, very chocolaty but not overly sweet. The strawberries add a sweetness to each bite with a very slight tang at the end. The whipping cream makes each morsel of the waffle smooth and velvety and adds to the texture of the dessert, although its taste itself is not so pronounced. The waffle was warm as we got it and as we continued to eat it the chocolate and whipping cream soaks into the waffle intensifying the flavor. Great dish overall.

Waffle with Strawberries and Cream

Then we ordered Chocolate Sandwich which was just LKR 600. You get a chocolate cake dipped in strawberry pieces, covered with fresh cream and chocolate topping.  The cake itself was good, not amazing but a good chocolate cake. Again, the whipping cream went well with strawberries giving every bite a smooth texture. While the dishes’ individual ingredients were good, there was something missing in its combination as the cake did not seem the best fit the rest of the ingredients.

Chocolate Sandwich

Next we ordered one of my favorites, the Strawberry cheese cake for LKR 550, which was really delicious. It was milky with a biscuit crust and covered with loads of berries. There was also some strawberry Jam added as a topping. The cheese cakes at Jagro are amazing, some of the best in Colombo. The cake was soft and downy-not heavy by any means. It was not overly sweet and the strawberries added a slight crunch to it. Of course, the added strawberry jam was quite sweet but went well with the rest of the dish (Side note – As the strawberry cheesecake from Jagro is one of my favorite desserts my boyfriend bought a full cake of it to our place for Christmas and it was a hit with my whole family! The full cake is weighed a pound and costed Rs 4000 at the time of purchase).

Strawberry Cheesecake

Next, we ordered a chocolate brownie with strawberries and ice cream on top. The ice cream was of the generic store bough variety (most likely Cargills Supermarket). The brownie was good (although not freshly baked by any means). However just like the cake mentioned above the dishes ingredients lack a cohesion with one another to make it out standing. They seemed kind of forced together for the sake of making another entry on the menu.

Chocolate Brownies with Strawberry and Ice cream

Jagro owns a strawberry plantation in Nuwera Eliya for their own products (Unfortunately guests aren’t allowed to visit the plantation itself). They sell Strawberry jam and fresh Strawberries packed with three different qualities and sizes – small berries for LKR 500, Medium sized ones for LKR 550 and large berries for LKR 600.

Packeted  Strawberries 

They have few outlets in Colombo. One is in Rajagiriya, Town Hall and Naraheinpita. (Naraheinpita outlet it currently closed for renovation). Do call and check out before you visit the place. (Please note that the above prices are as per the price list effective 03/2018). And you can find about more about Jagro here.

  Are you a strawberry lover? Hello there! In Sri Lanka, one of the best places to go to for fresh strawberry and strawberry products is Jagro.

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Hi there!

This is an account of my experience of weekend date at the only seafood franchise, “The Manhattan Fish Market” in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Unlike Most of the fast food franchises in the island that are limited to a few seafood dishes with more of meat dishes). This doesn’t mean that they don’t have other meat dishes though. They do- but very few!

Just as we entered, we were welcomed by the staff greeting us in unison. They were very friendly, arranged us a table and handed over the menus for dish selection. (Tip! I recommend you reserve a table before you arrive, especially on weekends, as there is a tendency for this place to get very crowded). We first went through the beverages (the most popular being their flavored Ice-tea- a favorite of my boyfriend). On the day we visited, soup was on the house, so I selected my favorite “cream of mushrooms” soup. (If you’re purchasing on other days, a cup of soup cost LKR 290 and a chowder cost LKR 440 as per current price list effective 02/2018. Make sure to check their website for the updated prices before you go). They served it hot as a starter and was delicious. In my opinion for the price, the portion sizes were quite fair too.

Next, we ordered ‘Fried Calamari’ and ‘Volcano mussels’ as starter dishes.

Fried Calamari:

The Calamari was lightly battered and included a few with veggie sticks, fried to a crunchy golden brown and served with a smoky chipolata sauce for an extra kick.

Volcano mussels :

The mussels tasted like a cross between prawns and calamari. It had been cooked in a spicy pineapple sauce blending sweet and sour quite nicely. Unfortunately, the portion size was quite small for the size and included only about 3-4 mussels. It was served with some salad leaves which did give the dish a fresh crunch.

Then we ordered a “Fishy Chicky Bang Bang” (1) and a “Fish and Chips” (2) as our main course. At the time of writing, dish (1) was priced at LKR 1190 and dish (2) at LKR 990.

Fishy Chicky Bang Bang :

It’s a match made in Cheddar cheese heaven with a Dory fish fillet and a tender chicken fillet battered together and fried. Inside the crunchy light batter the fish was soft and succulent and the chicken was very juicy. The dish comes with a sunny side up. nestled on a fried spaghetti bed. We were also served portion of fresh fries and some salad leaves drizzled with a vinegar-based salad dressing. The salad dressing was sweet and tangy adding a bit of zest to the overall taste of the dish and cut through the grease.

Fish and Chips:

This dish was similar to the previous, but minus the chicken and the egg. The fish was smothered with a with delicious garlic herb sauce which made sure the dish wasn’t too greasy. We were also given a dollop of mayonnaise to dip our food in (the mayonnaise was nothing special- it was most likely not home made and was of the super market variety). Tip! Fish and chips is their best selling dish and is discounted quite often so make sure to ask your waiter if it is!

Finally, we had a dish which was not their one of their ‘main’ dishes. It was called “Mesclun salad with Cajun Chicken” and was priced at a VERY reasonable LKR 640 even though the portion size was equivalent to a main course dish. I highly recommend this dish for those on a budget because its both tasty and very filling.

Mesclum Salad with Cajun Chicken:

Here the greens are not seconded and play a vital role in the overall flavor of the dish. The grilled juicy Cajun chicken breast is presented placed on a bed of Mesclun salad for a light but a hearty meal. The salad leaves were fresh and a few fresh onion rings were included give it a nice kick. The mini tomatoes were pockets of flavor and the sweetness from the plums come through to round off the flavor. We were also given a small helping of their tangy vinegar-based salad dressing to add, should we so desire.

I must say that their service is superb and fast compared to most of the other dining restaurants in Colombo. The Soups, starters and beverages were served within 5-10 minutes of ordering and the main courses within 15-20 minutes. We went on a Sunday for lunch and it was quite crowded. The fact that they managed this level of efficiency even during their peak hours deserves a special mention.

The overall ambiance is quite relaxed. The restaurant is dimly lit with old fashioned filament bulbs. They seem to be going for a bit of retro feel judging from their choice of wallpaper and wall hangings. Sometimes the music they play can get too loud and overbearing but they were happy to reduce it when we mentioned it to them. So, if you are craving some great sea food or if your with your weird cousins that don’t eat land based meat, visit Manhattan Fish Market. For latest prices, contact details and address, check here.

If you like my post and thought it was helpful, don’t forget to leave a comment below:

Happy Dinning! 🙂

The Manhattan Fish Market Hi there! This is an account of my experience of weekend date at the only seafood franchise, "The Manhattan Fish Market" in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

[iglobetrotter-travel-blog]

Hi there!

I’m going to share my experience on weekend date in the only seafood franchise, “The Manhattan Fish Market” in Colombo, Sri Lanka. I know most of the fast food food franchises are limited to few seafood dishes and more of meat and other dishes. But the Manhattan Fish Market is ONLY specialized for their seafood dishes. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t have other meat dishes. They do! But a very few!

Just as we entered, we were welcome by the staff. They were very friendly. They arranged us a table and handed over the menus for dish selection. (Tip! I recommend you to reserve a table before you reach, specially on weekends, as this place become very crowded and might make you wait.) We first went through beverages, where they are mostly popular their Flavored Ice-tea.

They had a free give away choice for soups and chowders on that day, where i selected “Creme of mushrooms” which was my favorite. (If you’re purchasing on other days, a cup of soup cost LKR 290 and a chowder cost LKR440 as per current price list effective 02/2018) They served it hot as a starter and it was delicious. The portion was very much fair enough too.

Then we ordered few dishes from their menu. We ordered ‘Fried Calamari’, ‘Volcano mussels’ as  starter dishes.

Fried Calamari:

It was lightly battered Calamari with veggie sticks, fried to a crunchy golden brown and served with a smoky chipolata sauce for an extra kick.

Volcan mussels

It was an explosion of  flavors  with new volcano sauce for a hit of sweet, sour and spicy sensations.

  Then we ordered “Fishy Chicky Bang Bang” (1)and “Fish and Chips” (2) as our main course, Where we fairly spent LKR  990 for dish 2 and LKR 1190 for dish 1.

Fish and Chips:

  Hand-battered “Dory” fish fillets, drizzeled with delious Garlic herb sauce, complemented with chips and a side salad, which is a clear under-the-sea favorite.

Fishy Chicky Bang Bang :

It’s a match made in Cheddar cheese heaven with “Dory” fillet  on one side and chicken fillet on the other, comes with a sunny side up. nestled on a  fried spagetti bed.

And then we thought of giving a try for a meat dish which was not their main dishes. It was called as Mesclun salad with Cadjun Chicken which was just LKR 640 even though it was a main course.

Manhattan fish Market Hi there! I'm going to share my experience on weekend date in the only seafood franchise, "The Manhattan Fish Market" in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

[iglobetrotter-travel-blog]

Hello Everyone! 🙂

I visited the national museum in Colombo, the largest museum in the country. Here you’d find the relics of ancient Sri Lanka. This place is a must-visit if you want a quick recap of the history of the island.

The building itself is built with an Italian influenced colonial style. There are many statues, artifacts, paintings, weaponry, sculptures, ancient jewels etc. that take you way back through Sri Lanka’s rich history. The main museum contains collections of much importance to Sri Lanka such as the regalia of the country, including the throne and the crown of Kandyan Monarchs, as well as many other exhibits explaining the story of ancient Sri Lanka. The Natural museum located right behind the main museum and contains a brief history of the country’s natural heritage in the form of records of extinct animals, preserved animal bodies, birds and reptiles, fish, insects, amphibians, various kinds of plants, geological rocks, skeletons of a blue whale, elephant, hippo, etc. Among the special specimens displays the leopard which caught at Punani in Batticaloa on 16th Aug 1924 had killed about 13 people at the time of its capture.

Colombo National Museum

Colombo National Museum

Myself during the visit

Located in Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 07, the museum is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm, all week except public holidays (such as full moon Poya days, Sinhala and Tamil New year, Thai Pongal, Ramazan, Christmas, Independence Day etc. (Travel tip! Make sure you refer the Sri Lanka’s calendar before the visit.)

At the time of publishing this article the entry fees were as follows (Please check their Official website for the latest ticket prices before you visit)

Only Main Museum Main museum + natural museum Locals: Adult/Child LKR 60 / LKR 30 LKR 100 / LKR 50 Expats: Adult/Child LKR 1000/ LKR 500 LKR 1200 / LKR 600

The museum was established in 1877 by Sir William Henry Gregory, the British Governor of Sri Lanka at the time. The museum itself is a large white building and surrounded with beautiful manicured lawns. Just as you enter from front gates of the museum, you will see a white a Samadhi Buddha Statue, welcoming you towards the entrance of the museum.

The building consists of two floors; the First/Ground floor sectioned according to historical sequence and Second/Upper floor sectioned on the thematic basis of,

Pre/ Proto Historic period

Anuradhapura Period

Polonnaruwa Period

Transitional Period

Kandyan Period

Stone antiquities gallery

Paintings

Textiles

Pottery and Ceramics

Coins and Currencies

Standards and Banners

Art and Crafts

Arms and armaments

Traditional Agriculture

D.S. Senanayake Memorial Gallery

Traditional Rituals.

Upon entering the Museum’s lobby, you will see the iconic seated Buddha of crystalline limestone which belong to the Toluvila Monastery of ancient Anuradhapura era. It is said to symbolize the wonderful heritage of ancient Sri Lanka. On either side you will see two more bronze Buddha statues; one hollow-casted and the other solid-casted, along with an enormous stone sculpture of Hindu goddess Durga.

Statue of standing Buddha

Statue of god Shiva

On your right and you will walk through the artifacts of the Pre and Proto-historic period of Sri Lanka. You will see the excavated stone implements and evidence of the life style of the early cave man. It is very fascinating to know the gradual evolution of early humans-the gallery provide information on the world’s pre-historic era. The main hall is devoted to the study of Sri Lanka’s Pre and Proto-history with the aid of important artefacts. Skeletons preserved at a cave at Pothana, Sigiriya, dating to 3916-3709 BC displays interesting data on funeral rituals existing at that time.  Actual cists burial and urn burial remains are displayed to demonstrate the funerary customs of the Proto-historic dwellers in Sri Lanka.

Display of skeleton remainings belonging to history

Display of skulls of ancient’s

During my visit

Towards the left side of the lobby you will observe artifacts of the Anuradhapura period; the first historical kingdom in Sri Lanka. This section covers the origin and formative period of the political, religious and cultural heritage of the classical/late classical periods (4th century BC). Anuradhapura city was established by King Pandukabhaya. This kingdom lasted the longest in Sri Lanka. The Sinhalese monarchy at the time even maintained relationships with China and Rome. The gallery consists of a passage way with two major halls:

The first hall arranged according to the theme of agricultural economics, Trade and Coinage, Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, Hinduism and Health sciences

The second hall contains some unique artifacts of the period which includes bronze Buddha statues, Bodhisattva depictions, Avalokitesvara depictions, the world-famous masterpieces, Gold reliquaries, Jewelries, excavations from Jethavanarama temple, Copies of murals from Sigiriya and Hindagala, Relic casket representing the Buddha.

Display of jewels in Anuradhapura Era

Display of jewel worn by ancient kings

Next, you will observe relics of the Polonnaruwa period, the kingdom known as Pulastipura which a camp city under the reign of Indian Chola rule under king Rajaraja was. You will see a multicultural heritage with large number of monuments, great statues. Inscriptions of great rulers like Vijayabahu I,  Parakramabahu I  and Nissankamallawa gives evidence to the rule of the great kingdom. The monuments of Lankathileke, Baddhasima-pasada, Tivanka-patimaghara, and Uttararama were influenced by Hinduism. Images of Siva, Parvathi and Siva Bhaktas is a distinctive character in Polonnaruwa heritage.

Statue of ‘Nataraja’

Display of moonstone

statues of Buddha

Display of guard-stone

Walking straight ahead, you witness the cultural heritage of the transitional period between the 13th and 16th centuries in ancient Sri Lanka; a time when the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa kingdoms were ravaged by the invasion of Kalinga Magha. You will observe several artefacts of historical importance such as the infamous Trilingual inscription, the relic casket of Udhaludeniya, the ivory scale of Sithawaka Rajasinghe, the royal sword believed to belonged to Buwenekabahu, and some Chinese ceramics etc. The distinctive feature of this period was the syncretism of Buddhists and Hindu ideals. Case on point, the Gadaladeniya temple built during this period by a south Indian architect, was dedicated to the worship of both Buddha and Vishnu within the same edifice.

Relic casket of Udhaludeniya

Display of China ceramic wear

Moving a long, you will discover artifacts showcasing the glory of the Kandyan period (Of which we have more concrete information due to the huge number of artifacts that have been preserved). Kandy, which was known as Senkadagala then, was the last capital of the Sinhalese monarchy. King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe was the last ruling monarch before the country came under the British rule. Distinctive monuments here include the Sittara mural paintings, ivory carvings, jewelry, pottery making, brass work, lapidary, weaving etc. The most important section of this gallery is the area showcasing the supposed regalia of a few kings of yore e.g. the throne and sword of King Sri wickrama Rajasinghe, the crown, watch and scepter of King Wimaladharmasuriya II, and an unidentified royal walking staff to name a few.

The throne and sword of king Sri wickrama Rajasinghe and the crown

The throne and sword of king Sri wickrama Rajasinghe and the crown

Next you will enter to a place full of sculptures and shrines of Buddhism and Hinduism. It also contains Sinhala, Tamil, Arabic, Portuguese, Dutch and English stone inscription which were collected since the establishment of the museum. There are also images of Buddha’s foot print, of Buddha’s  journeys, of Bodhisathva, of God Siva’s vehicle Nandi (a cow), of Linga stones and of Godess Parvathi. A true haven for those passionate about archaeology.

Take a few more steps and you will arrive at a mellow and calming scene. The paintings in this hall are indescribably beautiful and needs to be experienced firsthand. No pictures truly do them justice.  The first hall contains contemporary artistic depictions of the 5th century Sigiri cave paintings of Apsaras and 7th century murals of Hindagala.  The next major hall consists of painted copies of murals dating from 12th century to 18th century. This gallery is famous for the many of the copies of murals which were destroyed at the original sites.

Paintings of Sigiriya frescoes

Subsequently you will witness a melting pot Sinhalese and British culture; the paintings of Andrew Nichoell. The watercolor collection of the British Artist was first displayed in national museum of Colombo with the collaboration of the British museum to commemorate independence in Sri Lanka under the patronage of Prince Charles in 1949.

Passing these you will walk through a section showcasing galleries of textiles and ceramics. The display consists the apparel of Sri Lankans of the recent past; including those worn by the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay and Dutch burgher communities. It also contains traditional dresses of early occupations such as Mudali, Nilame, Vidane, Mohottala etc. The enormous Pathikada cloth painting, depicting the Mandala of Buddha, happens to be one of the largest paintings in the entire country.

The textile gallery leads to a ceramic gallery where I was welcomed by the sight of a lot of China. There are two divisions in this gallery: one showcasing ceramic ware of local origin and the other of foreign origin. The Punava with cobras entangled with peeping cobra hoods constitutes a ritual object to be immersed in river water during devil dancing ceremonies to bring solace and prosperity to the villages.  The Bummediya pot is a drum like instrument popularly used in South Indian music. The Chinese ware and European ware have been very much influenced by imperial Chinese designs prevalent at the time. The types of China range from food containers, plates, bowls, water pots, teapots, cups, saucers, jars, to infant bath tubs etc. The trade of porcelain is indicative of the trading relationships between Sri Lanka and other countries in the past. Glassware from the 19th to 20th centuries too are displayed in the same section of the gallery.

Display of glassware

Display of Bone-China wear

Next is the numismatics section. The earliest of these coins are the Indian punch. Along with those you will see the currencies used by ancient Kings starting from King Vijayabahu I to King Parakramabahu VI. The passage after contains a collection of district banners and flags in ancient Sri Lanka.

Display of flags

Display of coin age

Now we will reach the long upper floor facing the main entrance where they display a larger number of artefacts of ivory, jewelry, wooden and metallic products. Among the ivory carvings which take a special place in the floor are the combs designed with awesome motifs of female dancers, wrestlers, flora, fauna etc. Along with those you will be able to see various types of Kandyan jewelries such as necklaces, bangles, brooches, rings, etc.

Display of Arts and Crafts

Display of a Arts and crafts

The final section of the Art and Archaeology section is an arms and armaments exhibit.  These include traditional weapons such as bows and arrows, spears and shield, swords, boomerangs etc. and modern weaponry like artillery, daggers, guns, pistols, gun powder cases, etc.. The weapons are of both local and foreign origin.

Display of a sword

Display of arms and armaments

Display of swords

Display of arms and armaments

Display of guns

Display of arms and armaments

Now we will head towards the section where they display traditional rituals in Sri Lanka.

The tour concludes with a gallery dealing with the agricultural practices of rural Sri Lanka depicted via models. Agriculture here is mainly two-fold; Chena and field. Chena cultivation is clearing jungles, planting crops and safeguarding them from wild. Field agriculture is where they practice preparation of fields by ploughing,  sawing paddy, management of water supply, thrashing of matured paddy, separating paddy from hay, separation of dirt from paddy, storing paddy in a special made large storage barns ( bissa).

‘Cheena’ Cultivation

‘Bissa’ (paddy storage) used in cultivation

Sri Lanka’s Agriculture

Paddy Cultivation

I hope my experience in this place will help you to decide where to visit in Sri Lanka. View the gallery for more images.  Contact me in social media if you need a tour guide during your visit. I happy to guide you through all the histories and mysteries in ancient Sri Lanka.

Happy  Travels! Cheers! 🙂

If you like my post and if it’s helpful to you, Click ‘Like’, leave a comment  below and follow my blog for more! 🙂

  A place where everyone shelves their pride! Hello Everyone! 🙂 I visited the national museum in Colombo, the largest museum in the country. Here you’d find the relics of ancient Sri Lanka.

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Have you ever thought of Cultural values and Etiquette of a country? Why you need to know them? 😀

Today I’m going to share Cultural and etiquette values that you should know to follow in prior traveling to Sri Lanka. For any traveler, the chance of shrug off your inhibitions and dive head first into another culture is the thrill of the journey. As for many of us, obeying for customs,culture, traditions are easy to do, but not agreeable for those who are non-native.

Sri Lanka is a country where traditions and customs are held in high regard.  Sri Lankans are known for their hospitality and patience with visitors. They are not too strict and comparatively much better than other countries in Asia. But, as a developing country, with the modernization, widespread tourism and use of English language extensively, foreigners tend to disregard local culture. Don’t be offended! Culture differs from place to place. Every country has a unique one to themselves. So simply respect them and follow.

I’m going to guide you with what to follow and obey when you visit Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankans have a greatly emphasize manners and are very polite to each other. Be more polite when talking. ‘what’s your name?, Which country are you from?’ are the basic question that anyone would tend to ask when you are a foreigner. So be polite and answer them. When they question you in such a manner you tend to think that they are being rude towards you. It is not so. They question you out of curiosity and excitement That is how they express how glad and happy they are at your visit. Therefore please be polite when responding. (Tip! Raising your voice in a dispute is usually counter-productive and makes you look ill-bred.)

No nudity in public!

Public nudity is illegal in Sri Lanka. If you prefer being nude/topless or to take a skinny-dip, stick to a hotel/resort with a private beach which allow it. Openly physical display of affection are also frowned upon.(kissing/hugging/smooching). But allowed and acceptable in functions/venues for adults like casinos, nightclubs, beach parties. That’s why even Sri Lankan couples have to hide up themselves in a corner of a park under an umbrella which is also not encouraged. (Tip! A peck or a hug will  not frowned upon in public.)

Eat/shake hands with right hand!

You should eat and shake hands with people using right hand. Sri Lankans eat with their right hand finger tips. Not much use of cutlery. But if you prefer using cutlery, you could do as you wish at hotels and restaurants. (Tip! Try eating rice with your finger tips. The taste always will be better than eating with cutlery.) It’s more polite to use your right hand when handing over money/objects etc. Of course, use of both hands will be admired and accepted with much respect rather than when presenting with one hand.

No caps/hats/shoes inside religious premises! Dress up with  floor length attires!

Remove your hats/caps when visiting a religious place. Shoulders should be covered and long, trousers below knee or floor length skirts must be worn. Shorts are not allowed. (FYI! Even if you wear a short and go, they will cover you with a sarong before you enter in to the premises.) So dress-up in an ethical way when attending religious places. Shoes are taken off at the entrance of a Buddhist or Tamil temple (Kovil). But walking around temple barefoot during daylight is quite impossible at times as the ground gets heated. So no one will mind if you keep your socks on.

Do not pose near religious statues turning your back towards it when taking photographs. It is considered to be quite disrespectful towards local religion. (FYI! But yes, you can pose being “next” to the statue when taking photos. Still, some religious places don’t allow that either.) No photography in sensitive places like, inside shopping malls and tea factories (Tips! outside, Okay!) If local soldiers are standing guard, it probably should not be photographed.

Make sure you don’t travel with tattoos or artwork that offend any religion. Specially with Buddha face, Christ face or Hindu/Islamic symbols. Having such a tattoo will be an insult/disrespect to that particular religion and would be arrested or even deported from Sri Lanka. (Travel tip! If you got such a tattoo already, make sure that place on your body fully covered/ apply some foundation to make it invisible and never exposed to public)

No gay diversity in public!

Same-sex relationships are illegal. If you are a gay traveler, just be wary of local laws. (travel tip! If you’re already gay, during the visit to Sri Lanka, pretend that you are not, for your safe side.)

 Take your Identification proof wherever you go!

Security checkpoints are common. You must carry a form of official photographic identification/passports with you at all times.

 I hope my post would provide guidance and help you to follow Sri Lankan cultural norms and etiquette. However, to ensure a smooth and harmonious experience in Sri Lanka, you should respect the country’s culture and etiquette. My advice is to watch what others do and learn from locals and avoid offending them and getting into trouble.

If you like my post and if it’s helpful to you, Click ‘Like’, leave a comment  below and follow my blog for more! 🙂

Happy journey in Sri Lanka! 🙂

Cultural values and Etiquette in Sri Lanka Have you ever thought of Cultural values and Etiquette of a country? Why you need to know them?

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Hello to everyone once again! 🙂

‘Today i’ m going to share my experiences in wonderful city, Hikkaduwa, which is situated in the southern province of Sri Lanka, which is a sea-side sun resort.’

So, I started my journey with my partner-in-crime ( boyfriend 😉 ) whose  thumbs-up  to wander with me anywhere, and my beloved brother and his friend. We took a ride in Southern express highway starting from kahathuduwa entrance at Moratuwa to Kurundugahahetekma exit at Hikkaduwa. we got to see the beautiful nature around highway. We took just one hour and thirty minutes to reach Hikkaduwa. (Travel Tip! But I recommend you to take train to enjoy the beautiful coastal line through out the journey, even though it’s slower than highway drive.)

Now let me show you what’s special in city, Hikkaduwa.!

Image of the beauty of  ‘Hikkaduwa’ Beach

Hikkaduwa is a tourist and local attraction too. This location is mainly famous for coral diving, which is a coral sanctuary and a shelter to marine turtle and fish and sea board surfing. It’s must-visit place in the country.

Famous Hikkaduwa Beach festival (also known as Hikka Fest), which is usually a five-day event held between July /August. This festival is ideal for anyone who’s looking for an unforgettable experience. The sun-kissed beach of Hikkaduwa will be vibrant with DJs’ , dancers, and musicians. There will be something for everyone, starting from sand castle building, movie night to jazz festival. Catch a Hikka fest to have lot more fun! 😉 Hikka fest sure has better party scene, cheers, rock meet reggae.

Image of vibrant ‘Hikkaduwa’ Beach Festival

Hikkaduwa Sea Turtle Hatchery

My first stop was at the turtle hatchery, the place where they conserve the turtles and make a home to baby turtles. There are numerous varieties of turtle species and all information about their life styles of survival. This place is managed by a family living in Hikkaduwa. This hatchery is a family-run conservation hatchery where they carry out maintenance through international foundations, fund raisers done through different projects, donations and entrance fee charged from visitors. For locals: LKR 100/= pp and for foreigners: LKR.500/= pp. You can even give donations for them voluntarily. This place is full of access to the lives of turtle species.

Image of the turtle Hatchery

Well, human colonization of the prestige shoreline, destruction of turtle habitats, and other treats of human like they sought turtles for meat, skin, eggs and shells are the major threat to these creatures by human. Collision of boats, fishing nets,and propellers are threat to theses creatures as well which cause their death. Due to these threat to these endangered species, initiation of conservation centers begun.

Image of the sandy area allocated for turtle hatching.

Just as you enter this place you will see a sandy area where they have buried turtle eggs to hatch, tagged with the breed. In here, eggs of turtles are collected or bought from local villagers and buried under sand hatchery. If there is a good direct sunlight, they hatch after 48 days. If no sunlight and during rainy seasons it might take up to 60 days.

Image of baby turtles in conservative tanks

Now you will see the most adorable bunch of baby turtles there. These turtles are conserved in different tanks separating them in to different kinds. Once these turtles become young , they are released to sea for their own survival.

Five species out of seven visits Sri Lanka’s coastal line to lay eggs. Most of the female turtles visit the shore. The male turtles in sanctuary are the ones saved from threats in the ocean. The five types of turtles available in the sanctuary are:

1. Loggerhead turtle 2. Hawksbill turtle 3. Green turtle 4. Leatherback turtle 5. Olive Ridley turtle

Image of a Logger-head Turtle holding the edge of the tank and learning to swim on his own.

This place is full of information about turtles. They allow you to pet baby turtles too. (Be cautious! when petting big turtles as they might harm you.)

Tsunami ‘Honganji Viharaya’ at ‘Paraliya’

Situated right opposite to the hikkaduwa turtle conservation center,  the Tsunami ‘Honganji’ Viharaya is a beautiful scenary. It’s is built in 26th December 2016, as a memorial to over 35,0000 people who got killed from Tsunami wave which came on 26th December 2014.

Image of the satute of Tsunami ‘Honganji Viharaya’ at ‘Paraliya’

This statue is a exact replica of the 5th Century of 175 feet height, ‘Barmiyan’ Buddha Statue destroyed by the Muslim Fundamentalists in Afghanistan. This replica was built using the earliest art of the statue. A pulp like material has been used to obtain the color and the texture of the statue. Ideal place for sight seeing.

Community Tsunami museum

Then we stopped and took ourselves through an emotional journey through the history of the 2004 tsunami at Community Tsunami Museum. This museum educates communities about the dangers of tsunamis, while commemorating the 2004 disaster that claimed so many lives.

Image of the Community Tsunami Museum

Entrace ticket fee is LKR 250. You will see photographs of the area after the tsunami, giving you a sense of how the disaster affected Sri Lanka, and how people banded together to repair the damage across the island. Read the stories of people who survived and get a sense of the true horrors of this tragedy.

National Coral Park

Here we come to the best experience in the city. Situated in the Hikkaduwa coastal line, National coral park is famous for coral diving and snorkeling as this place bears a huge coral reef. (Make sure not to step on coral reef as it damages and harm living creatures.) There are places where you can get snorkel kits and diving kits for hire. (Travel Tip! Easiest and cheapest way to enjoy coral watching is snorkeling. 😉 )

Image of the beauty of ‘Hikkaduwa’ under water, Corals and Fish!

You can even go on boat rides, where you can accommodate 6-8 people, for a reasonable price like LKR 3000/= for coral and fish watching.

These boats contain with a glass bottom for tourist to watch corals. (Travel Tip! Remember to wear safety jackets while on the boat ride.) During Southwest monsoon, from May to October, the visibility of corals is low. So I recommend you to visit this place during November to April, to see colorful corals when snorkeling. Because during May to October, entire coral reef gets covered with sand due to high tides and sand storms.

Hikkaduwa beach

Finally we visited public beach area in Hikkaduwa for sea and sun bathing. We were in “Citrus Hikkaduwa” hotel near coastal area where we were able to enjoy seashore while at our stay. (Travel tip! Grab a stay at Citrus Hikkaduwa hotel or Hikka Tranz hotel )

So, Are you ready to explore Hikkaduwa?

Highlights of Hikkaduwa!

Enjoy a train ride from Colombo to Hikkaduwa to explore the beauty in coastal line.

Navigate around the Hikkaduwa city in a tuk tuk.

Enjoy a stay at Hikka Tranz or Citrus Hikkaduwa Hotel.

Make a definite visit to the above mentioned places – Hikkaduwa Turtle Hatchery, Tsunami ‘Honganji Viharaya at Paraliya‘, Community Tsunami Museum, Hikkaduwa Public Beach.

Experience the culture, traditions and lifestyle of Southern natives in Sri Lanka.

Hope my experience in Hikkaduwa helps you to improve travels.  Contact me in social media if you need a tour guide during your visit. I would be more glad to take you through  all the histories and mysteries in the awesome city, Hikkaduwa.

Happy Travels! Cheers! 🙂

If you like my post and if it’s helpful to you, Click ‘Like’, leave a comment on below and follow my blog for more! 🙂

A Travel to Hikkaduwa Hello to everyone once again! 🙂 'Today i' m going to share my experiences in wonderful city, 

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