is hardly in the world is one country where such a small area of land in the middle of the ocean can be seen as unusual ...
CULTURE AND TRADITIONS ISLANDS
significant influence on the culture of the island has its colonization by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British.Many monuments of history allow Sri Lanka tours with a program for children and adults.
Ceylon (namely the so-called Sri Lanka to 1972goda) amazes tourists plenty of traditions and holidays.The most popular of them is festival Esala Perahera, which takes place in August and begins, as a rule, a parade of elephants.Following the mighty animals clothed in expensive bright capes appear fakirs, swallowing fire, national dancers, artists and other interesting multi-day marches audience participants.The culmination of the festival is the removal of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Dalada Maligawa temple in Kandy.Contemplate this material existence of Buddha in ordinary days can only be dedicated.And only at the Esala Perahera tooth is exposed to view all the curious.
Another interesting holiday, rooted in the deep past is Navarathri.It is a festival and marks the victory of Goddess Durga over the Asura (good over evil).After a nine-day prayer, women go to neighboring homes and to bring sweets, spices and other gifts.
locals are hospitable and welcoming.In addition to the holidays (and they number 166! In the year) the hallmark of fine Ceylon are semi-precious mines.There is mined up to 85 kinds of precious stones.No wonder the island fell to the eastern myths and legends as the burial place of the great treasures.According to rumors, deposits of precious stones is to take 90% of the area!However, despite the many trade fairs (for example, in the city of Rapnapura from 9 am to 14 pm), to acquire jewelry is only in specialty stores, requiring a certificate and a check.
as exclusive gifts you can take away from this ivory and wood, as well as all sorts of traditional masks and puppets bring good luck.
special place in any excursion program takes a visit to the so-called "cultural triangle" in central Sri Lanka.Holidays with children, and especially the last remembered that they are happy to pose for the camera lens in the company of long-tailed monkeys living in the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, and has long been accustomed to tourists.
CLOTHING
Sri Lanka quite democratic in terms of clothes, but given the tropical climate, it is recommended to wear clothes made of natural fabrics, better light colors.Visiting the many beaches it is recommended to get a special coral slippers, because the sand is often found fragments of coral, and even entire coral plates.The main religion in the country has long been a Buddhist, so out of respect for the faithful to temples should go without shoes and hats, clothing, covering the back, knees and shoulders.On the beaches it is forbidden for women to sunbathe topless.Also, you can not visit the restaurants in shorts and slippers.
sanitary norms
to vacation in Sri Lanka has not been spoiled by troubles with health, follow these simple rules:
- drink only boiled water or mineral production factory;
- thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables;
- when visiting temples use disposable socks;
- Be wary of the local cuisine, abounding Severing seasonings;
- do not eat in the shady areas;
- be sure to carry your sunscreen and use it regularly;
- use repellents in areas such as Sigiriya, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.
ALCOHOL
Alcoholic drinks can be bought in supermarkets all major cities or in small shops, which are located along all major roads.From local spirits always on sale several kinds of beer, red wine, arrack, gin, vodka, brandy, etc.Prices for the main types of alcoholic beverages can be found on the page "prices in Sri Lanka."Every month, in the days of the full moon - Poya Day, prohibited to drink alcohol in public places, including restaurants and bars, including hotels, working on the system "all inclusive".However, no one will forbid to use these days, any alcohol in your room ...
Rupee SRI LANKA
official currency of Sri Lanka is the rupee, its removal from the country is prohibited.The exchange rate is about 109 rupees per 1 USD (on 15.01.2009).We recommend exchanging money at the airport in Colombo (the best rate).Check, obtained at the official exchange rates, should be maintained until the end of the trip.In this case, the departure from Colombo you have the opportunity to exchange back unspent money in the bank at the rate of airport shopping.You can change money in any bank or hotel (less favorable rate).Banking hours from 09:00 until 15:00 (weekdays only).
1 Lankan rupee = 100 cents.The appeal denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000 rupees, as well as coins in 10, 25, 50 cents and 1, 2, 5, 10 rupees.
shopping
Sri Lanka is known worldwide for its precious stones: sapphires, rubies, alexandrite, amethyst, aquamarine, topaz, tourmalines, etc.Acquire Jewelry suggested in specialized stores, requiring an appropriate check and a certificate.In the city of Ratnapura, from 09:00 to 14:00 Fair is held precious stones, low prices, but also guarantee appropriate.Also it is known around the world Ceylon tea, spices, crafts: masks, batik, leather.In the cities you can buy inexpensive but high-quality textile products, mainly Columbia local production.The best places for shopping: Stores ODEL, HOUSE OF FASHING, MAGESTIC CITY.In markets and in private shops you can bargain on the price.You can reduce the price to 30% relative to the initial.However, this is not permitted in state stores, supermarkets, shopping malls and stores «Duty Free» International Airport.Visiting the market wary of pickpockets and swindlers.Be careful with the people to impose their services ...
time difference
In winter time in Sri Lanka ahead of Moscow for 2.5 hours in the summer to 1.5 hours.
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Since 2006, the country adopted a law on the collection of tobacco.It is about 7 rupees per imported cigarettes.It is also allowed to bring:
- no more than 2 bottles of wine;
- no more 250ml.parfyumerii worth up to $ 200;
- no more than one and a half liters of spirits;
- currency equivalent of not more than $ 10,000;
All jewelry must be declared.The import
:
- drugs;
- firearms;
- ammunition;
- gold;
- pornographic materials.
When leaving the country all the baggage is checked by hand.The export
:
- antiques;
- rough gemstones;
- animals;
- more than 450 plant species;
- tea more than 6 kg per person;
- manuscripts on palm leaves;
- rare books.
Russian citizens arriving in the country less than a month, a visa is required.On customs control you will be asked to present a passport valid for six months after the end of the trip;entry registration card disembarkation card and return air ticket, on which the date of departure.When leaving the country an airport tax of - 1500rupy person (except for children up to 2 years).On scheduled flights, such as, for example, "Ural Airlines", "Emirates", "Qatar Airways" airport tax is already included in the ticket price.
TIP
tip in restaurants - at your discretion. In the accounts of hotels, bars, restaurantsincluded tax GST (12,5%). customary to tip the drivers and porters at the - $ 1-2, depending on the amount of baggage. You are accompanied by a guide - in the range of $ 20 per group for each day of sightseeing. If you have reservedonly meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel - 5-8 dollars per group (all guides Sri Lanka to work mainly for the tip). The theme of the tip disclosed in more detail tourists have visited the island, in the "comments".
INTERNATIONALPHONE
you can call on the international telephone from your hotel, but the call will cost much cheaper, if you use your phone in the mail or by an international public telephone. Phone cards can be bought at post offices, some shops and stores, and petrol stations.The minimum cost of the card - 100 rupees.In addition, upon arrival at the Colombo International Airport, you can buy a SIM card of local mobile operators - Mobitel (National Mobile Provider of Sri Lanka).Card issued your passport.The cost of the card - Rs 1,000, half of which is transferred to your account.Cost per minute conversation with Russia - 11 Rs 8 crore in the country.
INTERNET
All popular resorts of Sri Lanka have Wi Fi Internet.Zone Wi Fi connection for a laptop-beech are usually located in the reception area and cafe - bars.The cost of ~ Rs 200 per hour, with an average speed of 3.6 Mbit / sec.The hotel's business center, you can buy a card for 100, 200, 400 rupees.In addition, there is a convenient connection to the Internet - via USB-modem, which allows to use the Internet almost anywhere in the island.The connection speed of up to 7.2 Mbit / sec.Buy USB-modem, together with the SIM card, you can have the mobile operators - Mobitel and Dialog-GSM (Sri Lanka's National Providers).The cost of USB-modem - Rs 16,000, the cost of traffic - 1500 rupees per month.
ROADS Roads on the island with good coverage, but narrow, with left-hand traffic.On weekdays, from 08:00 to 21:00, in Colombo and the suburbs, traffic jams can be significant.The speed limit for cars and motorcycles 56 km / h - in built-up areas and 72 km / h - on motorways.Traffic rules are not respected.
CAR RENTAL
for separate crossings across the country, you can rent a car ($ 35 per day) or a motorbike (from $ 10 per day).The whereabouts of the nearest car rental agency, you can ask a guide or porter.However, for your safety, it is recommended to use the services of a chauffeur or taxi.The approximate cost of 1 km.- 40 rupees.You can also use the services of rickshaws (tuk-tuk), but we recommend to agree on a price for the ride (an average of 15-20 rupees per kilometer).
photo and video
considered impolite to be photographed against the statue of the Buddha, standing back to her.Not recommended to photograph public institutions, banks, as well as various military facilities.If you want to take pictures of the local people, you must first get their permission (20 - 50 rupees), especially Buddhist monks.
VISA and passport control
Russian tourists coming to the country for less than 30 days, no visa is required.At passport control must submit the following documents: a passport valid for six months after the end of the trip;entry registration card disembarkation card and return air ticket, on which the date of departure.
FLIGHT
flight to Sri Lanka carried out regular flights airline "Ural Airlines" + "Emirates" (departure from Yekaterinburg with transfer in Dubai), "Emirates" (departure from Moscow with a connection in Dubai), "Qatar Airways"(departure from Moscow with a connection in Doha) and "Air Arabia" (departure from Kiev with a change in Sharjah).The journey takes around 9 hours, not taking into account the connection time.
WEATHER Sri Lanka
climate on the island is tropical, warm and humid.The average annual temperature ranges from + 23-25, in the mountains to + 27-29 in the plain.The difference between the hot season and the most "cold" is not more than 5 degrees, so the change of seasons is not determined by the temperature and by precipitation.Affect the two monsoon.One of them, northeast, prevails from October to March inclusive and brings dry, hot weather.Another, southwest, from June to October brings rain (but mostly at night) and raises such waves in the ocean that attracts surfers from around the world.In the south-west coast of the dry season lasts from October to May, in the north-east - from April to November.But swimming in the ocean at any time!The water temperature is always kept around 27 degrees.
KITCHEN SRI LANKA
Kitchen Sri Lanka in many ways resembles the kitchen of India, perhaps because of the close geographical location (country separates only the narrow Palk Strait).In preparation of dishes use the same products - fish, tropical fruits, lots of greenery, spices.
basis of power of local residents is a plant food.Variety of rice, corn and peas flavored with all sorts of condiments actively, sometimes so acute that the habit becomes ill Europeans.And since the meat Sri Lankans eat very little, the lack of protein in the body, they more than make up for with seafood.Unthinkable combination of ocean gifts of fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices, again sometimes alter the taste of the original ingredients of all recognition.But, of course, the colonization of the Netherlands, Portugal and Britain extended the taste preferences of the islanders.Therefore, along with a truly exotic dishes such as turtle under the coconut sauce on the menu, there are simple omelets with cupcakes.
basis of the usual daily menu here - rice and curry.Curry for Sri Lankans - not one dish, but a group of food - fish, meat and a variety of sea-food, poultry, vegetables, legumes and fruits.They are united by a peculiar combination of spices, pounded into a powder called curry.The mixture gives dishes that are seasoned with it, a distinctive flavor and spicy hot taste.Among the mandatory components of the mixture - black pepper, coriander, chili hot pepper, mustard seeds, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, garlic and curry leaves are evergreen shrubs.Variants of this mixture as much and people who prepare it.In Sri Lanka, the components of the mixture is usually pre-fried in a pan, and this is the main difference between the Sri Lankan curry from India.In addition, Sri Lankan mixture even so less acute.
Kitchen Sri Lanka has also other features.For example, the use of certain components.In a lot Lankan dishes include chips from the pulp of a coconut, coconut juice, coconut oil, palm nectar (treacle).Another characteristic component of the Sri Lankan cuisine became umbalakada (umbalakada) - crushed into powder dry fry, which is called the Maldives and added to curries for flavor.A major role in the preparation of various dishes is given the same fruit.
Besides curry, Sri Lankan cuisine to typical dish made of rice flour, for example, noodles steamed, rolled up - the hopper (string hoppers).In the same flour, coconut milk and yeast is baked pancakes and a bowl with crispy edges and soft center - Appa (hoppers).If the center of the egg is added, it turns pancake-fried eggs (Bittara Arra).These pancakes can be enjoyed in any hotel during breakfast.By the way, if Appa put oil mixed with sweetened coconut, leaves a nice dessert - Hakura Appa (hakuru Arra).
deserves special attention of tourists white rice with coconut milk - Kiribati (kiribath).It is included in the menu of some restaurants and cut diamonds, served during all ceremonies Capability.Kiribati, with its mild taste and good in itself, and tapas, such as a mixture of shredded sharp krasnogopertsa, onion, lemon and spices - kata sambol (Katta sambola).With coconut and palm "honey" Kiribati becomes sweet - (Imbul Kiribath) Another of the Sri Lankan special dishes - Pete (pittu) - a mixture of rice flour, grated coconut and water.It steamed and served with curry or kata sambol.
typical bannock - roti (rotti), in contrast to the Indian, usually made from rice flour and grated coconut, served with curry, tapas and bananas.Tobago kind of sticks called kevum (Kevum).It is made from thin dough made of rice flour and coconut, fried obzharivaya.
peculiarity Lankan cuisine is largely explained by the influence of the culinary traditions of the people who have left their mark in the history of the island.In addition to the related South Indian cuisine.Lankan table complemented Arabic, Portuguese, Dutch, English, Chinese, Malay and Polynesian.Moreover, the cuisine of other nations were included in the cuisine of Sri Lanka, not mechanically.
