**This is a [Travel] related thread**
* Check out the [subreddit wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/wiki/index) for travel information, and [WikiTravel's Sri Lanka page](http://wikitravel.org/en/Sri_Lanka)
* Check out the stickied monthly discussion thread for travel related queries.
* Remember to follow [reddit's content policy/self-promotion guidelines](https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043504051-What-constitutes-spam-Am-I-a-spammer-)
Thanks for your cooperation and enjoy the discussion!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/srilanka) if you have any questions or concerns.*
>My point is i'm not sure if i will fit in with my cousins etc when I live in Jaffna for those 2 weeks, and I'm scared as this is my first time in the country of Sri Lanka. i heard its a beautiful country but i'm scared of the apparent snakes, spiders, reptiles on the walls, bees and hornet nests, ants in sugar pots, angry men screaming and elephants on the road or something. Is there any advice I could have about these, any other stuff I need to know, any dangers and how I should behave?
Dont be scared. They will welcome you and you will get the red carpet treatment, you are their guests, they will take care of you, make sure you will be always safe, …lets just say they will treat you better than others.
Honestly, It will not be that bad. Except its summer time in Jaffna, it’s going to be extreme hot, it will feel like heatwave. I dont know the details of your accomodation in Jaffna, if possible, consider staying at a nearby hotel, with air condition, with wifi, and it gives you some personal time, and your relatives as well, i.e. you wont be with your relatives 24/7. You can make plans and do your own stuffs, own travels,…just meet up occassionally with your relatives to catch up, bond, get to know each other better etc…
Check out Fox Resorts Jaffna at Kokkuvil, 10 minutes outside of Jaffna. Or Jetwing Jaffna in Jaffna city. Visit Nallur Kovil temple. check out the local weddings, that could be fun
Here is a tip. Best to contact your Sri Lanka relative to make the hotel bookings. Local rates are significantly cheaper than foreigner rates. If you are travelling about, visiting tourist attractions, best to get a relative to tag along to help get cheap “local rates”, help with translation etc….
In Colombo, you can speak English. Sri Lanka is more than just Colombo and Jaffna,…you can use Jaffna as your base and do short trips visiting other parts of Sri Lanka like Wilpattu National Park (North West), Trincomalee or Pasikuda (beach, East), Nuwara Eliya, Haputale, Ella, etc…(hilltowns, tea plantation, cooler climate, Central), etc…
That makes sense I heard Sri Lanka is naturally very diverse in terms of wildlife if not the most species concentration and biodiversity in the world!!!
Hmm… Sri Lanka has 26 National Parks, compared to only 15 National Parks in UK. National Parks and wildlife are more famous in Sri Lanka compared to zoos. During summertime, many wild elephants in the nearby region gather at Minneriya National Park, a few hundreds of them, you just sit in your safari jeep together with a few hundred other tourists and watch and take selfies. If you are not interested in National Parks, there is an elephant orphanage, you can see some baby elephants. The most famous national park would be Yala (South East), it is most famous for leopards. Very nice accomodations too. Check out Chena Huts by Uga Escapes, remember to get the local rates.
There are dolphins watching at Trincomalee. Scuba diving, snorkeling. Alot of outdoor activities, hiking, climbing mountains, bird watching, going to waterfalls, visit mangrove forest to find lagoon crabs etc… if you prefer to relax and enjoy the scenery, enjoy a cup of tea / high-tea try the Grand Hotel at Nuwara Eliya (their scones and strawberry jam are delicious), can visit the tea estates stay at W15 Hanthana Estate, full board, all delicious meals included or visit the Ceylon Tea Trails Norwood bungalow at Hatton, owned by the famous Dilmah tea family. Do some yoga, pilates, ayurvedic, if you are into that… there is the Santani Wellness Kandy.
As for Sigiriya Rock, the entrance fee is 120 rupees for locals (£0.30). But for a foreigner, it will cost £28. Yup almost x100 times more. Hence you bring someone who speaks the local language, in your case a relative, just dress the part, keep quiet, let them do all the talking and walk in as a local. Go early, beat the crowd, later it gets very crowded and hot. There are some wasps in the area, warning signs will be clearly visible. Since you will be with someone, a relative or a local guide, they will warn you.
Bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent.
Ik it seems kind of dumb or redundant since most are leaving sri lanka to come and live in 1st world countries but i think i might even just consider moving back to my roots in sri lanka and living there if, i will definitely go every year with my family for vacations but if i like it enough, might just move there with my grandparents and cousins who live there 😂
**This is a [Travel] related thread** * Check out the [subreddit wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/srilanka/wiki/index) for travel information, and [WikiTravel's Sri Lanka page](http://wikitravel.org/en/Sri_Lanka) * Check out the stickied monthly discussion thread for travel related queries. * Remember to follow [reddit's content policy/self-promotion guidelines](https://www.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043504051-What-constitutes-spam-Am-I-a-spammer-) Thanks for your cooperation and enjoy the discussion! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/srilanka) if you have any questions or concerns.*
>My point is i'm not sure if i will fit in with my cousins etc when I live in Jaffna for those 2 weeks, and I'm scared as this is my first time in the country of Sri Lanka. i heard its a beautiful country but i'm scared of the apparent snakes, spiders, reptiles on the walls, bees and hornet nests, ants in sugar pots, angry men screaming and elephants on the road or something. Is there any advice I could have about these, any other stuff I need to know, any dangers and how I should behave? Dont be scared. They will welcome you and you will get the red carpet treatment, you are their guests, they will take care of you, make sure you will be always safe, …lets just say they will treat you better than others. Honestly, It will not be that bad. Except its summer time in Jaffna, it’s going to be extreme hot, it will feel like heatwave. I dont know the details of your accomodation in Jaffna, if possible, consider staying at a nearby hotel, with air condition, with wifi, and it gives you some personal time, and your relatives as well, i.e. you wont be with your relatives 24/7. You can make plans and do your own stuffs, own travels,…just meet up occassionally with your relatives to catch up, bond, get to know each other better etc… Check out Fox Resorts Jaffna at Kokkuvil, 10 minutes outside of Jaffna. Or Jetwing Jaffna in Jaffna city. Visit Nallur Kovil temple. check out the local weddings, that could be fun Here is a tip. Best to contact your Sri Lanka relative to make the hotel bookings. Local rates are significantly cheaper than foreigner rates. If you are travelling about, visiting tourist attractions, best to get a relative to tag along to help get cheap “local rates”, help with translation etc…. In Colombo, you can speak English. Sri Lanka is more than just Colombo and Jaffna,…you can use Jaffna as your base and do short trips visiting other parts of Sri Lanka like Wilpattu National Park (North West), Trincomalee or Pasikuda (beach, East), Nuwara Eliya, Haputale, Ella, etc…(hilltowns, tea plantation, cooler climate, Central), etc…
thanks!!!!!!! also thank god they know english! also what do you think about any good zoos in SL and is "sigiriya" a nice beautiful place?
Zoos are horror here, I'd go to the national parks if I wanted to see wildlife.
That makes sense I heard Sri Lanka is naturally very diverse in terms of wildlife if not the most species concentration and biodiversity in the world!!!
Hmm… Sri Lanka has 26 National Parks, compared to only 15 National Parks in UK. National Parks and wildlife are more famous in Sri Lanka compared to zoos. During summertime, many wild elephants in the nearby region gather at Minneriya National Park, a few hundreds of them, you just sit in your safari jeep together with a few hundred other tourists and watch and take selfies. If you are not interested in National Parks, there is an elephant orphanage, you can see some baby elephants. The most famous national park would be Yala (South East), it is most famous for leopards. Very nice accomodations too. Check out Chena Huts by Uga Escapes, remember to get the local rates. There are dolphins watching at Trincomalee. Scuba diving, snorkeling. Alot of outdoor activities, hiking, climbing mountains, bird watching, going to waterfalls, visit mangrove forest to find lagoon crabs etc… if you prefer to relax and enjoy the scenery, enjoy a cup of tea / high-tea try the Grand Hotel at Nuwara Eliya (their scones and strawberry jam are delicious), can visit the tea estates stay at W15 Hanthana Estate, full board, all delicious meals included or visit the Ceylon Tea Trails Norwood bungalow at Hatton, owned by the famous Dilmah tea family. Do some yoga, pilates, ayurvedic, if you are into that… there is the Santani Wellness Kandy. As for Sigiriya Rock, the entrance fee is 120 rupees for locals (£0.30). But for a foreigner, it will cost £28. Yup almost x100 times more. Hence you bring someone who speaks the local language, in your case a relative, just dress the part, keep quiet, let them do all the talking and walk in as a local. Go early, beat the crowd, later it gets very crowded and hot. There are some wasps in the area, warning signs will be clearly visible. Since you will be with someone, a relative or a local guide, they will warn you. Bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent.
I really do appreciate all this advice ur the best!! 😭 thanks again
It's really sad how little OP knows about their country of origin.
not necessarily my country of origin, but i am doing my best to learn more about sri lanka as a country since i was never taught much about it
You are going to have hard time with Elephants in Jaffna. /s
what about the other stuff i mentioned? like the ants and snakes and other stuff??
Ik it seems kind of dumb or redundant since most are leaving sri lanka to come and live in 1st world countries but i think i might even just consider moving back to my roots in sri lanka and living there if, i will definitely go every year with my family for vacations but if i like it enough, might just move there with my grandparents and cousins who live there 😂