Today we begin our series of stories about the island of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon), we went to investigate immediately after India — which go twice if it is very close.
So, to start several phrases from Wikipedia. The island of Sri Lanka is located in Southern Asia, a little east of the southern tip of the peninsula and the Indian subcontinent by the waters of the Indian Ocean. The island is separated from the Indian subcontinent Manarskoyu Bay and Palk Strait. The so-called bridge Adam — stranded in Polkskiy Strait — once fully connecting Sri Lanka to the mainland, but, according to chronicles, was destroyed by an earthquake back in 1481.
1Sri Lanka — an independent state, which never belonged to India, as some think. On the other hand, the ethnic composition represented mainly by two peoples, who are from India: synhaltsi (immigrants from northern India) and Tamils (people from the southern regions of India). Historically, the main activity was the tea industry Tamils, to the largest are significantly inferior synhaltsyam. Under the supervision of the British Empire Tamils synhaltsyamy coexisted more or less normal. But after in 1948 the then Ceylon gained more independence, tensions began to grow. The first armed conflict occurred 30 years later developed into a real civil war between the government and the guerrilla organization "Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam." "Tiger" operating mainly in the north of the island. And in this southern part actively developed and serviced travelers. It is worth noting that most Sri Lankans (Tamils as well as synhaltsiv) was against the war, but who are interested in the opinion of ordinary people. Officially, the war ended May 18, 2009.
Now fast forward again in modern Sri Lanka, where the aircraft of Air India with us on board landed at the airport in Colombo. Flights from India takes as much time as needed for takeoff and leisurely meal. Theoretically, the aircraft flies to the capital of Sri Lanka — the city of Colombo, but actually to Colombo for about an hour. In India, we decided that zanochuyemo in Negombo — a small tourist town on the coast, so after leaving the terminal, we immediately undertook to address transport issues. If you do not wish to spend money on a taxi, use public transport. To the left of the exit from the airport bus stop that takes you for free to the nearest bus station, from where you can go wherever you like — even in Colombo, although in Negombo.
The first thing that strikingly evident, Sri Lanka widespread cleanliness, the type of which we had pretty wean three weeks spent in India. Of course, if you're coming from more developed countries, it likely will not feel it, but comparing with India the difference is very noticeable. Neat layout and ministers of law and order in the early hours of stay in Sri Lanka almost injured our delicate psyche.
All hotels in Negombo located along the coastline, and to get there, have to take another bus or taxi.
View of the main street, along which are located the hotel:
2Overall Negombo with some degree of truth can be called a clean and comfortable city, apparently designed for the tourists:
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Later it turned out — why. Clean beach cunningly seduces least once rinse feet in the Indian Ocean, but the purity of the water is such that it is difficult to discern even feet. Continuing the walk the beach and keeping away from the ocean, we noticed a groove which all sorts of waste dumped in the ocean.
8This "summer visitors" came from a nearby village to relax and swim in the ocean. Note the almost imperceptible line sunburn:
9In a moment the conversation joined his friends who have decided that we just need to know where they live and where come:
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Finally — a traditional topic "Useful advice in a foreign land." Bargain price for a hotel in Negombo almost no sense — it seems that it employs Mafia, which established uniform prices "for all". On the way we met a group of Chinese tourists in the bidding process reached so far that as a bonus got pretty lyuley. Incidentally, the complete destruction of the myth that all Chinese are masters of kung fu. A police arrived on the scene, was not on the side of tourists. Of course, you can not remove guilt and the citizens of the Middle Kingdom, but in the service should not be so intrusive. By the way, we stole money from the room for a total of 70 euros, 20 of which — in UAH, although stores hryvnia for some reason we did not take. Go to Negombo makes sense if you arrive very late and have no desire to stay in Colombo, look though and dirty ocean — good bait.