Sri Lankan Weekend Doable?

Sama · Aug 30th, 2005, 07:39

got my visa today, leave for Chennai this Friday.....

since I will be yoga-ing 5 days a week and will only have time to travel on weekends, is a mere weekend in Sri Lanka doable....or totally nutty? Or should I not even think of going there because of civil unrest?

If it's doable, any recommendations for a budget place to stay?

machadinha · Aug 30th, 2005, 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by yogagal60510

Or should I not even think of going there because of civil unrest?

I'd been waiting for more knowledgeable people to step in but on the subject of Tamil resistance I don't think you'd have much to fear as long as you avoid certain areas that you'd probably have a hard time getting into at all (mostly the North-East I believe, i.e. LTTE -- Tamil Tiger -- territory. I'm not even sure how restricted travel there is, might just be the border areas between the two that are sensitive.) I guess violence can sometimes spill over but you'd be very unlucky to get caught up in it. As for the advisability of a weekend trip I really don't know. Make it a long one if you can I'd say.

Merchant · Aug 31st, 2005, 00:18

Keep a few things in mind, which may or may not be obvious--

You have to fly from Chennai to Colombo (about $200 each way). Sri Lanka is another country, with all the usual visa procedures and customs formalities--you can't just hop across the strait. The political situation is more volatile now than it has been in a while, so getting stranded is a real possibility.

Sama · Aug 31st, 2005, 00:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merchant

You have to fly from Chennai to Colombo (about $200 each way). Sri Lanka is another country, with all the usual visa procedures and customs formalities--you can't just hop across the strait. The political situation is more volatile now than it has been in a while, so getting stranded is a real possibility.

yes, if course I know SL is another country, and actually did some research last night about visas, etc. Surprisingly enough, SL is not mentioned on the US State Dept's website about a place Americans should stay away from, but I'm thinking a mere weekend is too short a time to be there.

Hey, my visa is good for 6 months, so who knows where I'll end up....

bijapuri · Aug 31st, 2005, 00:40

NOT a drive on I80, prarie person lolol . . . .
what Merch is getting at, methinks, is that you're likely to spend many tiring hours each way, and lots of money, plus many hours more of travel time on the ground. What's left of a weekend after that?

SL isn't going anywhere, it'll be there when you have decent time

machadinha · Aug 31st, 2005, 00:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by yogagal60510

Surprisingly enough, SL is not mentioned on the US State Dept's website about a place Americans should stay away from

Well the resistance there is old and has nothing whatsoever to do with the USA, so apart from the State Dept. being quick to issue travel warnings it's not all that surprising... Not every "terrorist" in the world is out to get a Yank, not that I think we needed to remind you. Have a safe and above all splendid journey Yogagal!

-m2- · Aug 31st, 2005, 01:00

Not to be rude, but why not get to Chennai, settle in, and then see what you want to do with your weekends. I can't imagine how a quick trip to Colombo would be worth the time, money, or hassle when there is so much you haven't seen or done locally.

Sama · Aug 31st, 2005, 01:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

Well the resistance there is old and has nothing whatsoever to do with the USA, so apart from the State Dept. being quick to issue travel warnings it's not all that surprising... Not every "terrorist" in the world is out to get a Yank, not that I think we needed to remind you. Have a safe and above all splendid journey Yogagal!

actually in the sunday paper's travel section, they usually print the "traveler's warnings", even if it has to do with a rock slide somewhere in Finland, for example (really....). Come to think of it, as you say, I suppose it's not that surprising about the State Dept -- locals killing each other is not terrorism, so why be concerned about it; only when an American is killed then it becomes terrorism....

machadinha · Aug 31st, 2005, 01:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by yogagal60510

locals killing each other is not terrorism, so why be concerned about it; only when an American is killed then it becomes terrorism

Well yes or in my words maybe we shouldn't be so quick to label any of this terrorism, but this is gonna lead us where we don't want to go so let's just forget about it shall we. Ummm Mahabalipuram is nice!

Anders · Aug 31st, 2005, 01:28

You do not need a visa to enter Sri Lanka but check that your Indian visa is multiple entry before you leave. Most Indian visas are but you never know.

Nick-H · Aug 31st, 2005, 03:51

Well, if I may presume to offer you yet more advice!

You are in Chennai for a month, but are going to be studying all day, and probably quite tired in the evenings. That makes for 3 or 4 weekends: 6 or 8 days. So you could say that you are going to have less than a week holiday in Chennai! That's not too much time to spend in the city, let alone places within a car or train ride of it.

And car or train rides do not need all the fuss of passing through an Indian airport (international flight, passport control, check-in 3 hours before departure: ughhh!).

You could make a nice day out of Mahabalipuram, or Pondichery, or make a weekend out of both. Or Kanchipuram. Or...

You could even fly to Kochi or Trivandram and see the beauty of Kerala (but are domestic departures any less arduous than international ones?).

You could do worse than go to your hotel's travel desk (or an agent recommended by them) and ask for a car and a nice weekend tour and see what they come up with.

But Sri Lanka? Do it next time, and fly Air Lanka, changing at Columbo, so it slips nicely into the itinery.

...Just my 2-penny worth.

Give my love to Chennai!

Sama · Aug 31st, 2005, 07:07

I agree with you, Nick, that's why I asked whether it was doable or nutty

. I'm a gal who likes to explore all of her options..... and yes, I do plan on spending a weekend in Pondy.

now excuse me while I go figure out what the hell I'm going to stuff into those 2 SMALL suitcases that Lufthansa is only allowing me to have.... but that's another thread......

paan wallah · Aug 31st, 2005, 07:11

don t worry I ll be in sri lanka on the 20th of september

Nick-H · Aug 31st, 2005, 14:11

Is that a recommendation that she should come, Paan Wallah ---- or a warning that she should stay away

bijapuri · Aug 31st, 2005, 14:48

from chennai:
Mahabs (a day trip really)
tirupati
tiruvanmalai
Thanjavur/Tiruchi
Mysore
Yercaud
Rameswaram
Chidambaram
Madurai

each an easy weekend outing-all superb!

Aug 30th, 2005, 07:39	#1
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,545	Sri Lankan Weekend Doable? got my visa today, leave for Chennai this Friday..... since I will be yoga-ing 5 days a week and will only have time to travel on weekends, is a mere weekend in Sri Lanka doable....or totally nutty? Or should I not even think of going there because of civil unrest? If it's doable, any recommendations for a budget place to stay? __________________ *My India, 2005-2008* sama: Pali/Sanskrit: that state of consciousness which reflects neither attachment nor aversion

Aug 31st, 2005, 00:40	#5
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,602	NOT a drive on I80, prarie person lolol . . . . what Merch is getting at, methinks, is that you're likely to spend many tiring hours each way, and lots of money, plus many hours more of travel time on the ground. What's left of a weekend after that? SL isn't going anywhere, it'll be there when you have decent time __________________ Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. Barack Obama lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Aug 31st, 2005, 03:51	#11
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,411	Well, if I may presume to offer you yet more advice! You are in Chennai for a month, but are going to be studying all day, and probably quite tired in the evenings. That makes for 3 or 4 weekends: 6 or 8 days. So you could say that you are going to have less than a week holiday in Chennai! That's not too much time to spend in the city, let alone places within a car or train ride of it. And car or train rides do not need all the fuss of passing through an Indian airport (international flight, passport control, check-in 3 hours before departure: ughhh!). You could make a nice day out of Mahabalipuram, or Pondichery, or make a weekend out of both. Or Kanchipuram. Or... You could even fly to Kochi or Trivandram and see the beauty of Kerala (but are domestic departures any less arduous than international ones?). You could do worse than go to your hotel's travel desk (or an agent recommended by them) and ask for a car and a nice weekend tour and see what they come up with. But Sri Lanka? Do it next time, and fly Air Lanka, changing at Columbo, so it slips nicely into the itinery. ...Just my 2-penny worth. Give my love to Chennai! __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Aug 31st, 2005, 00:18	#3
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,101	Keep a few things in mind, which may or may not be obvious-- You have to fly from Chennai to Colombo (about $200 each way). Sri Lanka is another country, with all the usual visa procedures and customs formalities--you can't just hop across the strait. The political situation is more volatile now than it has been in a while, so getting stranded is a real possibility.

Aug 31st, 2005, 01:00	#7
-m2- . Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,577	Not to be rude, but why not get to Chennai, settle in, and then see what you want to do with your weekends. I can't imagine how a quick trip to Colombo would be worth the time, money, or hassle when there is so much you haven't seen or done locally.

Aug 31st, 2005, 01:28	#10
Anders Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: England Posts: 630	You do not need a visa to enter Sri Lanka but check that your Indian visa is multiple entry before you leave. Most Indian visas are but you never know.

Aug 31st, 2005, 07:07	#12
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,545	I agree with you, Nick, that's why I asked whether it was doable or nutty . I'm a gal who likes to explore all of her options..... and yes, I do plan on spending a weekend in Pondy. now excuse me while I go figure out what the hell I'm going to stuff into those 2 SMALL suitcases that Lufthansa is only allowing me to have.... but that's another thread......

Aug 31st, 2005, 07:11	#13
paan wallah kitchen guru Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: universe Posts: 344	don t worry I ll be in sri lanka on the 20th of september

Aug 31st, 2005, 14:11	#14
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,411	Is that a recommendation that she should come, Paan Wallah ---- or a warning that she should stay away

Aug 31st, 2005, 14:48	#15
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,602	from chennai: Mahabs (a day trip really) tirupati tiruvanmalai Thanjavur/Tiruchi Mysore Yercaud Rameswaram Chidambaram Madurai each an easy weekend outing-all superb!

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