Sri Lanka: Quality Destination for Surfing Adventure

Teardrop-shaped Sri Lanka, which is located south of India in the Indian Ocean, is a paradise for surfers. Sprawling sandy beaches, stunning reef breaks and consistent swells have made the tropical island a premier surf destination in the world.

Arugambay on the eastern coast and Hikkaduwa on the southern coast are the two top surfing locations which offer world-class waves to leisure surfers to horn their skills and professionals to put on display their stunning aerial manoeuvres. The crescent-shaped Arugambay, home to over 14 high quality surf points, is renowned for good surf breaks at Whiskey Point, Elephant Rock and Peanut Farm. The surfing season at Arugambay is from April to October and the southern coast chips in to welcome the surf enthusiasts from November to March, thus making Sri Lanka the ideal location for surfing any time of the year.

Kabalana beach at Ahangama down south is the latest addition to the best surf spots in Sri Lanka, where waves break both right and left. 

Toddy tapping in Sri Lanka: A tightrope walk for a living

Toddy tapping is a traditional livelihood of many Sri Lankans residing in the coastal areas dotted with coconut trees. The son learns the ropes from his father and the trade in the good old days used to be passed down from generation to generation. A toddy tapper walking along a tightrope tied high above the ground is a common sight in the early morning in southern Sri Lanka from Panadura, Wadduwa, Maggona, Payagala, Beruwala to Aluthgama. He makes his living collecting sap from 75 to 100 coconut trees in a typical day.

The sap is collected into a gourd (labu ketaya) from the coconut flower after it is shaved off each day and gently tapped with a wooden mallet (mal thalanaya) to induce the flow. The sap thus drawn is known as thelijja (sweet toddy) and it is used to make coconut syrup (coconut treacle) and palm candy (coconut juggary). 'Toddy', its semi-fermented form, is dispatched in wooden barrels to distilleries to produce a local alcoholic beverage (arrack).

Toddy tapping, today a fast dying vocation due to the social stigma and low wages, is a risky job, which requires a great deal of dexterity and braveness. Toddy tappers have to maintain their balance while moving from coconut trees, which are connected together by two strands of coir ropes. Although the ropes are replaced twice a year as they often get damaged by rats and bandicoots, who climb on to the trees to drink up the sweet sap.  The toddy tapper starts his daily rounds early in the morning climbing the coconut tree, which is fitted with a make-shift ladder made by tying coconut husks up the tree trunk at regular intervals to step on, and then swiftly moves from one tree to another using the coir rope network to finish the day's sap collection on time.

Whales in Sri Lanka

Nineteen (19) whale species have been recorded in Sri Lankan waters. They include the largest baleen whale, blue whale, and the largest toothed whale, sperm whale.

Location:

• Mirissa off southern coast
• Trincomalee off eastern coast
• Kalpitiya off western coast

Ride over the highest city in Sri Lanka

Visitors to Nuwara Eliya, the highest city in Sri Lanka (1868 metres above sea level), will soon be able to see its scenic beauty, travelling by cable car. They can ride 2 kilometres  to the picturesque Gregory Lake or 4 kilometres to Nanu Oya to catch the much-sought after train ride to Ella. The Single Tree Mountain will serve as the starting point of Sri Lanka's first ever cable car service, which is schedulled to come into operations in two years.

Must-see Attractions

• Rock fortress in Sigiriya
• Temple of the Sacred Tooth in Kandy 
• Cave temple in Dambulla
• Elephant orphanage in Pinnawela

Tour Sri Lanka: The Pearl of the Indian Ocean

• Discover the emerging Wonder of Asia
• Experience its diverse culture
• Delve into the fascinating heritage spanning two millenia
• Relax on the palm-fringed sunny beaches

Tailor-made, budget friendly tours/excursions for

• individuals
• couples
• groups

Just drop me an email, I will send you a tour/excursion proposal, which is amazingly low-priced and excitingly attractive.