The Sri Lankan Diaries: Luxury Holidays Asia—a Perfect Blend of Hospitality, Quality Food and Exotic Ambience

By Rajesh Sharma

We had read and heard so much about Sri Lanka over the years but had not been able to visit this Island in spite of all our travels for the last two decades. We were pleasantly surprised by the welcome we got and the people we met during this brief tour to this beautiful country. Luxury Holidays Asia worked closely with us in planning our itinerary to suit our interest and the duration of our stay.

The hospitality of Sri Lankans surpassed all the experiences we had during this visit. Every face was adorned by a smile… everyone we met was quick to extend a kind word and was helpful in their own way in welcoming us with open arms wherever we went. We were genuinely surprised by the way in which we were treated and hosted during the entirety of our visit.

When we were planning our trip, we were surprised to be discouraged from making this visit due to the issues that were taking place in Sri Lanka. We were warned of the protests against the ongoing government and of the negative impact of the ongoing Economic crisis that was making it difficult for the locals to survive.

The economic crisis is a Global phenomenon and I would be surprised if Sri Lanka wasn’t affected by it. What was amazing about it was that it hasn’t affected the way they welcome visitors from overseas. I expected to see more desperation, agitation and even anger in the people we met but we came across nothing of the sort. In fact, one evening we opted to walk along ‘galle face’ where the peaceful protests were held a year ago. There are no protests anymore and life has gone back to normal. Not a single person bothered us in any way during that walk and when we refused a tuk ride from the few that stopped to offer us, they simply smiled and moved on.

In spite of all the warning we had, our driver had no issues obtaining fuel for the duration of our tour. This is a guarantee the country gives all tourists so that they are not inconvenienced in any way. Public transport and even tuk tuks was available in plenty wherever we went. We didn’t notice any vehicles queued up in fuel stations to obtain their ‘fuel quota’ for the week. They seem to have adjusted well to the situation and we were told that they were expecting the quotas to be removed in a few weeks about which the locals are very hopeful.

By the time we got to Sri Lanka, they were not having any scheduled power cuts/disruptions anymore. The locals have been affected by the rise in tariffs for electricity, but we agreed that it’s a global issue and is not exclusive to them. Tourists were not affected as much by this issue latterly but you can see the relief in the locals to know that their daily tasks are no longer disrupted by power cuts anymore.

Apart from the experiences I’ve had, the highlights of Sri Lanka include the fact that it is a country that is not limited to seasonal travel, it is safe and clean and that the people there treat you like family no matter where you go. It is important to dress modestly when visiting some places – like temples – but in general, you’re free to be who you are during your holiday.

Sometimes I had to remind myself that Sri Lanka is going through a difficult time because the people there make it seems as if life is as normal as it always used to be. This is why their inherent kindness and hospitality needs to be appreciated and patronized now more than ever before. Don’t let anyone discourage you from visiting this beautiful country and meeting the kindhearted people there.

There is so much to see and so much to do in Sri Lanka. The kind people at Luxury Holidays Asia can assist you in all your ground arrangements from planning your itinerary to arranging your transport, accommodation, your activities and experiences to best suit your needs to suit the duration of your visit. They will transform your idea of a perfect holiday and make it the best ‘Luxury holiday’ you’ve always wanted.

Join us as we share more details of the places we visited, what we did, what we ate and how we experienced Sri Lanka so that you can plan yours with Luxury Holidays Asia when you plan your visit there too. For details visit:

www.luxuryholidaysasia.com