Some tips and tricks:
1) You have no choice but
to get a porter at the airport on the way in, so just accept it but tip only £1 or 50 Rupees (let the bloke holler)
and just get on the coach. You are then safe. Have the money ready and don't let him see any other money.
2) The guide is your best friend and once you meet him on the bus (the guy in the airport
who meets you is not your guide), he will look after you. Don't ask him to negotiate on your behalf or defend you in business
negotiations, as he has more to loose by taking on the locals than you. A look in his face will tell you how to respond to
beggars and touts.
3) The locals see tourists and westerners as manna and expect charity. Not much but something. They
are prepared to offer a service and £1 or 50 Rupees (per person) is always gratefully accepted (except at the airport where
the touts a greedy and prey on new arrivals naivety). The head waiter at the first hotel is also quite happy to take advantage
of new arrivals naivety. The guide and the driver will also expect a tip at the end of the tour (300 Rupees each per person
- it's nothing). At Sigiria, you will be besieged by touts. The best thing to do is to pick the tout you like best and let
him do his stuff (show you the sights). The other touts will then leave you alone...
4) BUYING CLOTHES from local tailors can be very disappointing. They have cheap labour and
they buy best quality materials but they have no idea of current western styles. If you want a suit, dress, trousers, take
a sample (they can copy anything but they are not designers). Do check the fabric you want and make sure it is what they say
it is. Cut a section off and set fire to it if necessary. DO inspect when you collect the goods as they take short cuts.
Are the trousers hemmed properly, do the cuffs have buttons with button holes, are the button holes properly stitched without
felt showing through. They will fix them (not possible in Kandy) if you raise the issue. Getting these things fixed
in UK will cost as much as you paid for
the garment.
5) No doubt about it Luckgrove
Spice Garden is great, but what
they sell is really expensive. Red Oil Massage Balm £50 (never used it), Oil of Ulay (3 basic raw ingredients) £50 (never
used it), 3 months Lipid low lime oil extract and wild Honey mix £50 (The only thing really worth buying). The banana chocolate
500 Rupees and Herb wine 3000 rupees are cheaper however.
6) Imported booze costs money (wine, scotch), but the local beer is excellent and is available
to you, the minute you walk into any of your hotels. The local speciality cocktail is called a CT (which simply means Cocktail)
and is made with pineapple juice and coconut milk with a dash of local brandy. After a while you do get a little tired of
them however.
7)
Sadly the excellent Ayurveda facilities at Beruwala
(in the hotel) were not so fully used, as we had already been fleeced of all the money. If I had know they were going to be
so good before we arrived, I would have saved £100 from the money I wasted at Luckgrove Spice Garden and spent it there instead. If you do have a massage £6/hour, make
sure you wear a pair of underwear you can afford to throw away as the oil goes every where.
8) No real need for Malaria
tablets, but we were there before the rainy season. DO BE VERY WARY of swimming pools with cloudy water. It's not chlorine,
it's out of control bacteria in the water. Infections from this water can cause you to have nasty problems which take
months to get rid of.
9) I had no idea before we went, but for a very small extra payment (£200) you can extend your holiday by two weeks.
This is a great way to see the location after the hustle bustle, at your own pace.
. Tim
