Author Archives: andy.b67

About andy.b67

BOOK NOW

Linking the Balkans to Sri Lanka

Air Serbia (JU) is the flag carrier and largest airline of Serbia. The airline was formerly known as Jat Airways until it was renamed in 2013.

Air Serbia now offers flights to Colombo Sri Lanka from Bosnia and Herzegovina and of course from Serbia.

Outbound flights operate every Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday

Inbound flights operate every Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Flights depart Banju Luke Airport (BNX) in Bosnia and Herzegovina at 3.15pm and operates via Belgrade.

Flights depart Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) in Belgrade, Serbia at 11.15pm

Both flights connect via Abu Dhabi (AUH) and code share with its partner Etihad Airways using one of its new Airbus A320 aircrafts. You can even use your Etihad air miles points on the Air Serbia sectors.

Flights arrive the next day in Colombo Sri Lanka at 8pm.

Serbian hospitality

Experience true Serbian hospitality with greater comfort and excellent service in both Economy and Business class.

On your way between Belgrade and Abu Dhabi they offer Fly and Play KIDS PACKS to keep children entertained when traveling.

Each kit contains a collection of games and fun items including snap cards, a puzzle book, stickers, a jigsaw, stationery and an aviation-themed soft book, featuring a fun eagle mascot throughout. The packs can be taken home and reused after the flight.

To Book Air Serbia and other major airlines to Sri Lanka and beyond, click HERE and compare prices at 700 travel sites in one simple go.

The Sri Lankan Umbrella Thing

Sri Lankans like using umbrellas, and that’s just a fact.

You’ll see people walking around with umbrellas trying to shield themselves from the strong sun, and you’ll see them trying to hold onto them in the heavy wind and rain.

But the third and most fascinating one is young couples hanging out under umbrellas. With the umbrella over their heads creating privacy and a sense of personal space, young men and women innocently touch each other’s shoulders or hold hands.

You might not get the appeal since it doesn’t really afford much privacy, but it’s actually strangely cute!

Shortage of Elephants For Perahera in Kandy

Elephants are often in the news these days. Afterall “Sri Lanka” and “elephants” go hand in hand. Indeed Sri Lanka has the highest density of population of elephants in Asia.

Fortunately the National Parks offer some protection, and the elephants can be seen in the National Parks of Yala, Lunugamvehera, Wilpattu, Minneriya (near Sigiriya), and Udawalawe. However some elephants can be found outisde these protected areas, which are mainly in the dry zones of the north, east and south east. These are all wild elephants in their natural habitat.

One sure way of seeing elephants is to attend the Perahera in Kandy. This is a festival where elephants are adorned and paraded down the streets along with brightly dressed musicians and dancers. The elephants used here are domesticated elephants.

The shortage of domesticated elephants is now of great concern, as the number of elephants available for this procession has been severely reduced. The government is proposing to confiscate any domesticated elephants through a court order in order to solve the shortage of domesticated elephants available for religious purposes. Of the 132 domesticated elephants available, 52 cannot take part.

The number of elephants available is also hindered by permit issues where 20 are currently under a court order.

This year the Perahera in Kandy takes place from 8th to 18th August. Probably with a reduced number of elephants compared to previous years.

HOLIDAY RENTALS IN KANDY AREA

From $33 Per night

Days Inn, Kandy (0 )

This Days Inn is located in a popular road known as Rajapihilla Mawatha, close to the southern tip of Kandy Lake. It is only 10 minutes drive to Kandy...

Guest House
6 bath
6 bed
1 parking

From $47 Per night

Castelo Hotel, Kandy (10 )

The Castelo Kandy Hotel is located on the southern tip of Kandy Lake, close to the Garden Cafe. It is only a 10 minutes walk to Kandy town and the Tem...

Bed & breakfast
6 bath
6 bed
1 parking

From $35 Per night

Oakwood Inn, Kandy (0 )

The Oakwood Inn of Kandy has 5 rooms, all named after colours. There is the brown room, the green room, the pink room, the black & white room and ...

Bed & breakfast
5 bath
5 bed
1 parking

From $90 Per night

Regent Lodge, Kandy (0 )

This is what the Sunday Leader Review has to say about the Regent Lodge of Kandy. BOOK 3 DIFFERENT ROOM TYPES THROUGH AIRBNB - PRICES FROM $90 PER NI...

Bed & breakfast
7 bath
7 bed
1 parking

From $51 Per night

Kandy Panorama Resort, Kandy (0 )

Set atop a mountain, Kandy Panorama Resort features all-round views of the scenic Dumbara Valley. It features an open-air restaurant overlooking the K...

Bed & breakfast
10 bath
10 bed
1 parking

From $36 Per night

Rovenma Hill Residence, Kandy (0 )

The Rovenma Hill Residence of Kandy offers double AC and non Ac rooms, twin non AC rooms and triple AC rooms. The rooms come with comfortable beds and...

Bed & breakfast
7 bath
7 bed
parking

From $45 Per night

Mutton Button, Kandy (0 )

The Mutton Button is located on a windy road known as Rajapihilla Mawatha, 3 kms from Kandy Town. It takes 15 minutes to get to town by car, and also ...

Bed & breakfast
8 bath
8 bed
1 parking

From $50 Per night

Victory Hotel, Kandy (0 )

The Victory Hotel of Kandy consists of 10 rooms, of which 9 are doubles and 1 is a twin. All the rooms are located on the second floor. BOOK 2 DIFFER...

Bed & breakfast
10 bath
10 bed
parking

From $36 Per night

Madugalles Homestay, Kandy (0 )

Madugalle is the friendly host of a homestay in Kandy Town, located only 10 minutes walk from the famous Temple of the Tooth Relic. BOOK 2 DIFFERENT ...

Bed & breakfast
5 bath
5 bed
parking

From $77 Per night

Polwaththa Eco Lodges & Cabanas, Half Board (0 )

The Polwaththa Eco Lodges are in Digana on the outskirts of Kandy. Various Lodges with lake views or mountain views. All Lodges are sold on a HALF BOA...

Eco Lodge
9 bath
9 bed
1 parking

From $44 Per night

Polwaththa Eco Lodges - Wood Cabin & Mud House, Half Board (0 )

The Polwaththa Eco Lodges are in Digana on the outskirts of Kandy. We have The Wood Cabin on offer which is situated closest to the restaurant (app...

Log Cabin
9 bath
9 bed
1 parking

Enjoy the Seafood Stalls Along the Galle Face Colombo

One of the areas where people escape the hectic life of Colombo city in Sri Lanka is the Galle Face. It is a promenade along the sea front with many food stalls. These food stalls offer delicacies with prawns and crabs.

The Galle Face promenade

Noticeably absent are the trinket stalls that you would find in a normal touristic area. A few exist but they are easily outnumbered by the food stalls present.

The Galle Face promenade is flanked by the Raj Hotel on one side and the Galle Face Hotel on the other.

It is not safe to bathe in this area, or swim in the sea. There are various sign posts around warning you of the dangers. It is however an area where people like to stroll hand in hand, and you will aso come across the occasional jogger or walker seeking exercise.

There is also a “green area” – a lawn between the parking area and the promenade itself.

One jetty enables you to get closer to the sea as it juts out from the Galle Face promenade and extends into the sea area. Popular with photographers and those seeking a sea experience.

Closeby are the World Trade Centre and the Dutch Hospital with its restaurants and shops.

Escape the city and check it out for yourself. Especially pleasant in early evening when the sun has gone down and you are feeling peckish for some seafood.

EU Export Ban of Fish from Sri Lanka Now Lifted

As a result of Sri Lanka’s inability to control unregulated fishing practices, the European Union (EU) first gave a yellow card, and then a red one to the Sri Lankan Fishing Industry. The ban extended to fish caught by fishing vessels that carry the Sri Lankan flag.

After an 18 month assessment.

Sri Lanka have now got the all clear to be able to resume exporting fish to the EU after long diplomatic negotiations and a willingness to adapt to the rules and regulations imposed by the EU.

According to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, the Fisheries Sector accounts for 1.8% of Sri Lanka’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with fish production amounting to 535 metric tonnes in 2014. There are over 270,000 fishermen who depend on fishing for a livelihood.

This welcome reprieve should hopefully be a big boost to the fishing industry, now enabling Sri Lankan exporters to reach the valuable EU market.

In a bid to increase productivity by modernising their equipment and fishing facilities, help is being sought from Norway. With a long tradition in fishing, it is hoped that Norwegian expertise will help Sri Lanka back on its feet again to be a worldwide provider of fish to the EU.