Malaria?

Hi

Have just booked a fortnight in Induruwa from April 1st. Can anyone advise on Malaria tablets, or not needed?

Thanks in advance

Malaria?

Hi there...

You do not nee Malaria Pills if staying in and around Induruwa, but should maybe take them if planning to travel up to the Cultural Triangle AND staying overnight, for example Dambulla and surrounding areas.

Regards

Dave

Will be a few minutes from Induruwa on April 1st !

Malaria?

Hi Dave

Thanks for that - didn%26#39;t really want to take as daughter had hallucinations and her hair fell out in clumps when she took them to go to Bali.

Where will you be on April 1st?

We will be staying at Emerald Bay Hotel [yes, I%26#39;ve heard the feedback!]

Can you suggest any must see places?

Thanks again

Hi again...

I will be around 10 minutes away at Ahungalla on April 1st, well there till May 9th too !

Ok, places to go and see?, well a 2 day one night trip to Kandy and the Elephant Orphange is always a very popular trip to do, so to is a day trip down to Galle, about an hour from where you will be, also Hikkaduwa, glass bottom boats over the corals there, mayeb a river safari at Balapitya too, always nice to do, that is around 15 minutes from you.

Also close by is Kosgoda, and the turtle hatchery there, go at sun down to release the babies back into the ocean, best time there.

Regards

Dave

Dont take any pills they make you ill!! And were you are you dont need them. You will meet our friends at Emerald Bay Hotel. It is a small but nice hotel with nice beach in a quiete area. You will enjoy. Sunile is one of the bar men and we speak every week with him. You are on the main road so use the local transport. ie air con buses or tuk tuk. we prefer the a/c buses. Go to Galle and Atuwana beach also as dave mentioned hickawadu beach is not to far. Also go inland by foot and you will see all typrs of creatures, Monkeys Snakes etc. Cinamon factory too. Do go to Kandy and try to see some of the waterfalls and elephant orphanage.

Hi

Thanks to Dave and Bladesboy for your replies. I will no doubt be contacting you again with questions as yet not thought of!

Regards

Carol

Address of British Embassy in Sri Lanka

Dear Forum

The foreign/commonwealth office website advises froeign travellers to carry about with them the phone no of above and its address for case of emergency.

Please does anyone have this information

Also please does anyone have phone no of local police in Sri Lanka (for same purpose)

Yours with thanks in advance

Ian

Address of British Embassy in Sri Lanka

Hi again,

http://ukinsrilanka.fco.gov.uk/en

At your service,

%26lt;Erik%26gt; %26amp; [Sandya]

Address of British Embassy in Sri Lanka

Hi Ian,

It is at, British High Commission

389 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07. TP : +94 (0)11 2689624, Fax : +94 (0)11 2689664, Web, http://ukinsrilanka.fco.gov.uk/en/

Frank.

Dear Erik, Frank

Thank you so much for this information especially the web link it is most appreciated

Ian

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Public transport-Gampala

Dear Forum

Please does anyone know if there is public transport from Gampala to Colombo and if so how long it takes to getto Colombo from G.

also how far is it from Gampala to Kandy and how long it take to get there

Also please how far from Gampala to Kithulgala is transport available how long would it take to get there please

Your kind help in these matters would be appreciated

Ian

Public transport-Gampala

Hi,

There are direct buses that go from Gampola to Colombo. You can also get the train. Colombo - Gampola is about 125Kms and would take about 4 hours by express bus. Gampola - Kitulgala you have to go via Ginigathhena. There are no direct buses. So you have to get a bus from Gampola to Ginigath-hena 45Kms and then another from GH to Kitulagala 16Kms. This should take between 3-4 hours depending on the time you have to wait for the connecting bus.

Regards,

Frank.

Public transport-Gampala

It%26#39;s much easier to go to Kandy and then take the intercity train to colombo (2.5 hours) or an express bus (2 hours), to colombo.

Hi,

Isn%26#39;t it easier to catch a direct train or bus from Gampola to Colombo than first going to Kandy and waiting for a connecting train or bus. How much time would you be wasting doing that.

Frank.

Another slight update. No one drives to Colombo from Kandy in 2 hours. Not even in the middle of the night when there is no traffic on the road.

Dear All

Thank you for the information this is most gratefully received

Ian

Hi Ian,

Depending on where you are staying in Yakkala, it might be easier to

a) take a bus on Colombo-Kandy road. Distance to Colombo is about 30 km and will take 1-1陆 hours depending on the time of the day. Distance to Kandy is about 85 km and will take 2-3 hours.

b) take the train from Gampaha station. To Colombo Fort the ride is about 45 minutes. To Kandy about 2-2陆 hours.

Transport to Kitulgala is a bit complicated as you will have to cross fro A1 to A4 on minor roads. I guess there is a bus from Gampaha to Avissawella or Hanwella. If there is only a bus to Hanwella you have to take a bus from there to Avissawella and then take a bus from there to Kitulgala. The distance is about 60 km so it will take about 2 hours + connection times.

Hans

Hi Hans

Thank again

It seems from your information that the best way would be by train if I was going to Colombo from Yakkala

I believe the film ';Bridge on the river Kwai'; was filmed at Kitulgala but I also understand it is a good birdwatching place and that there is a ferry across the river.

It looks like it wouldnt be to hard to get there from the area we are staying at

Kind regards

Ian

Where in Sri Lanka would one obtain VISA for india

Dear Forum

If , during my trip to SRI lanka, I wish to make a trip over to India, please does anyone know the address of the location to obtain the visa from.

Also please does anyone know what the price would be for the visa

Your kind help graciously appreciated

Ian

Where in Sri Lanka would one obtain VISA for india

Hi Ian,

The Indian embassy (high consulate) is more or less opposite the Cinnamon Grand hotel, towards Galle Face. The price of the visa depends on your nationality, not on the fact that you apply in Lanka - so it%26#39;s same as for the Indian embassy back home. And mind you, facilities and queues at the Colombo office are Lankan standard and far worse than what you%26#39;d expect in UK - I%26#39;ve regularly seen queues stretching for hours on the pavement there, in the scorching heat...

All the best,

%26lt;Erik%26gt; %26amp; [Sandya]

Where in Sri Lanka would one obtain VISA for india

Hi Ian,

You can apply for visa to India from Indian High Commission in Colombo. Address: 36-38, Galle Rd

(close to Galle Face Hotel or Assistant Indian High Commission in Kandy. Address: 31, Rajapihilla Mawatha.

Indian HC in Colombo is not at all service minded. When I applied a couple of years ago, the time for issuing a visa was 10-14 days, which in my case was too late for my flights, so I cancelled my visit to India. HC will surely ask you why didn%26#39;t get your visa issued in your home country.

Fee for visa is depending on your nationality, not where the visa is issued.

Hans

Ian

Probably better to obtain visa for India before you leave UK, visas can now be applied for via mail or online as well as queing at High Commission or thier visa agents throughout UK now.

Regards

Dave

Dear everyone

Thank you for being so kind. I feel this forum is great. Please does anyone know what website is for applying on line for India VISA from UK

Best wishes

Ian

Hi Ian,

Try http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/

Hans

Hi Hans

Thanks for this helpful link ! ive now downloaded all the pages I need

Best wishes

Ian

Hi Hans

Thanks for this helpful link ! ive now downloaded all the pages I need

Best wishes

Ian

Hi Hans

Thanks for this helpful link ! ive now downloaded all the pages I need

Best wishes

Ian

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Club Palm Bay e-mail address

Does anybody have on e-mail address for the Club Palm Bay as I would like to request a lagoon room.

Many thanks

Club Palm Bay e-mail address

Hi there,

The SL Tourist Board guide gives

palmbay@lankacom.net

for hotel and

yorkhtl@lankacom.net

for the Colombo reservations office...

Hope it helpz,

%26lt;Erik%26gt; %26amp; [Sandya]

Club Palm Bay e-mail address

Thank you for your help

Browns Beach - August

Hi

Is anyone going to Brown Beach in August? Myself and teenage daughter will be there 12th August for 2 week - cant wait.

It would be nice to meet up with anyone else who may be there at the same time. Also, if anyone wanted to share trips - we would be interested in tagging along. I would be slightly wary of jumping into a strangers taxi being 2 lone females.

Karen

Browns Beach - August

Hi Karen..

Not staying at Browns when you are, but would like to reassure you that your safety as 2 lone females will be no problem as long as you follow guidelines that you would usually do anywhere, even at home !

If in doubt about taxis ect, always book through the hotel, and you will be just fine.

Regards

Dave

Browns Beach - August

Hi Karen,

Yes, it is advisable to book tours through the hotel or through a reputed travel company. Will be in Sri Lanka you are welcome to contact for any advices if you wish.

Nishantha

Hi Bedford,went to Browns Beach August 2007.

Saman is the pool life guard realy nice guy,will you pass our regards on to him from Liz %26amp; Paul.

If you wish to take any trips ask reception to comtact Anthony-really good guide.Try to upgrade to beach front rooms really nice.Have a great time.

hi Karen

Every hotel in Negombo has a ';Tourist Hotels Taxi Association'; and in that there are ';Tourist Facilitators'; You can arreange any tour with them with out any problem.

Shehan

hi i will be here in august , but not the same hotel.as the others have said take a hotel taxi any taxi outside the main hotels you will be fine, any qestions ask away.

request for information travel from Gampala to Airport

Dear Forum

This is just to enquire :

I am going to be staying in a place called Yakkala which is near Gampala

In the event I would need to get a taxi from this area to the airport please does anyone know if one is readuily available, how long the journey is, and how much it would cost appromimately.

Also, please do anyone know what the telephone no of a local taxi firm would be in this area

Your kind help in this would be most appreciated

Ian

request for information travel from Gampala to Airport

Hi Ian,

Gampala? Do you mean Gampaha? Or do you mean Gampola?

The only Yakkala that I remember is on Colombo-Kandy road - about 30 km from Colombo and 5 km from Gampaha.

Hans

request for information travel from Gampala to Airport

Dear Hans

Thank you for your help. The postings I made said Gampola but it seems I must mean Gampaha not Gampola

In this regard please would you read all the queries about Gampala to be Gamapaha

Yours with thanks

Ian

Hi again Ian,

Taxis are easily available everywhere in Lanka. Just ask the hotel/guesthouse where you stay or the nearest tuk tuk driver.

Distance from Yakkala to the airport is about 25 km, so a car/van will cost LKR 1600-1700, a tuk tuk about LKR 1000.

I have only seen taxi companies in Colombo advertising phone nos on the internet.

Hans

Hi Again Hans

Thank you for this information it is most helpful.

Please may I enquire - would you happen to know if there is any street map online of this area (Yakkala) or if not some road map online.

Yours with thanks

Ian

Hi Ian,

I never found any decent downloadable maps of Sri Lanka. You can buy road maps (1:500,000) with city plans of most important cities in Sri Lanka.

Hans

Hi Ian,

There are good historical sites are to be visited in this area but unfortunately most of the people are not aware of them. If you are interested may be in the next reply i could tell you some places.

Nishantha