http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19573
Why? The food.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19573 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18843 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18843 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18669
Out of all the bike renting companies we found Negombo Motorbikes to be the fairest and nicest guy out of the lot.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18669 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18664
Nice garden to relax and read. And being English, the curry I had was like anything I had in Brick Lane. And the best part was I only paid $20USD a night. We stayed another night as the owner showed us where the tea workers lived and got some nice tea for a lot less than the touristy tea factories.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18664 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18190
It has the best of both worlds: it nestles in a little hollow adjoining the Udawatte-Kelle forest sanctuary, but is only ten minutes' walk from the historic city of Kandy - the cultural capital of Sri Lanka.

The Cottage is wired throughout with broad band internet access; and the facilities range from laundry to laser printing. What's more, the pricing is unbelievably low compared to similar places in Sri Lanka.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18190 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17598 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17598 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17024
Bath time in the river is amazing and the setting is simply beautiful. I was in Sri Lanka only 2 months ago and it is a wonderful place. You really have to go - they are such lovely people and the country is so beautiful!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17024 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13828 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13828 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13827
Also the Hilton hotel's karoake bar is lots of fun.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13827 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13104
I spent four weeks doing a volunteering holiday at Kosgoda, working on Tsunami relief projects.

In a nutshell, here are the pros and cons:

Pros: you get to meet local people as a guest rather than a tourist; immerse a little in local life; work on projects which do benefit people; spend time (relatively) safely in an unfamiliar country and not have to worry about finding accommodation companions and activities; you will meet amazing people and, possibly; add to others' lives.

Cons: you do not 'really' benefit local people or projects very much at all; the projects are usually under-resourced and of dubious value to the local community; you will pay an awful lot of money for the convenience factor, of which very little goes to the community you stay with; you need to be aware that you're doing this more for you than for the benefit of the communities you visit; you may come away feeling a little jaded about the 'ethical' aspects of your trip.

Having said that, you can increase your chances of finding a trip which substantially contributes to local projects by doing your homework - ask for written information on the proportion of the holiday fee which goes to the local community, ask for details of the feedback from the local community leaders as to the success of the projects, ask other volunteers what they thought, ask for advice from charities and NGOs.

I want to wrap it up by saying that I had an amazing time in Sri Lanka, the people, food, country and experience were all wonderful.

I do not think that I contributed very much at all to anything worthwhile, but what can you expect from a four-week trip?

If I were doing it again, I would make much more effort to find local organisations to arrange my trip with, and pay them directly. Booking through an intermediary such as i-to-i means you have no control over what goes to the communities you're trying to help.

i-to-i certainly make the process simple, but you do then compromise on the actual value of your volunteering efforts and hard-earned cash.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13104 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11232
From Lily Hardcastle (age 7) and Phoebe Hardcastle (age 4).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11232 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9139
Famous throughout Sri Lanka, Pahiyangala attracts Buddhists from all over Sri Lanka on Poya Day but is over-looked by the most of the guide books so the rest of the time you might well have the place to yourself. In addition to the pre-historic excavations and rather eclectic collection of relics there is a training centre for Buddhist monks and temple complex.

A site of special scientific and archaeological interest, complete with massive statue of a reclining Lord Buddha and surrounded by some of the finest countryside that Sri Lanka has to offer Pahiyangala is the prefect daytrip. There is no fixed entrance fee but a donation is expected, particularly if you are escorted around the site.

There is a flight of rather uneven stairs so take good shoes (which you will need to remove when entering the temple compound at the top).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9139 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9138
The views from the top are magnificent, which means it is quite a climb (but I am fat and 40 and I made it ok) so you will need good shoes and plenty of water and do not go too late in the day, the track is steep, rocky and unlit. For the naturalists amongst you there are birds, bats and even monkeys. There is only one monk in residence, he will be surprised to see you and will no doubt welcome your generous donation.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9138 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9137
Market day is Sunday and the town gets busy but during the week it can be an almost sleepy place, excellent for tout free shopping. Local shops and small cafes have most things you'll want, there is also a pharmacy, clinic, post office and bank (no ATM). The bustling city of Horana, less than an hour away by local bus, has everything else you might need.

Near Bulatsinhala is the impressive rock temple and Buddhist seminary at Pahiyangala. Famous in Sri Lanka, Pahiyangala draws Buddhists by the bus load on Poya Day but is over looked by the guide books so you will have it largely to yourself the rest of the time. There is no fixed entry charge but your donation will be appreciated]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9137 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9136
Galle is stuffed with history, the old gate tells anyone passing through it something about the history of the Fort, on one side is the Lion and the Unicorn of the British Coat of Arms on the other the Lions and Cock of the Dutch East India Company (VOC).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9136 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9134
The rooms at the Field View Inn are clean and comfortable, they have attached shower room, fan and mosquito net (which I didn’t need).
Good food and drink is available in the large bar-restaurant up to 11pm. We had an excellent dinner of fried rice, with several cool lagers served by the friendly but incessantly polite staff. Next morning coffee was brought to our room and we took a walk through the friendly little town of Bulatsinhala before breakfast. The final bill came as a pleasant surprise, I couldn’t really ask for more.

This is not a tourist area, I was the only foreigner staying at the hotel, the other customers in the bar were all Sinhalese. However the decor suggests it might occasionally be busy with local wedding parties so it might be as well to telephone ahead and reserve your room. Tel: 034-2283021]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9134 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5636
The main entrance looks like the entrance to a volonial residence, over a small front garden area. Once through the door the heat seems to naturally subside and the last smells of Colombo drift away, into sweet smelling international fusion food stuffs.

The inner courtyard has a slate floor and a shallow pool, with a few carp drifting in their perfectly heated swimming conditions. The restaurant and bar lie around a beautiful open-air courtyard filled with silver pots of flowers and subdued lighting, you can eat outside or undercover.

The burning sun does not reach most parts, leaving a cool, comfortable dining area, where you can sip iced tea (Lipton's of course) and while away a good few perfect hours. The food is excellent standard and comes in good-sized portions, the staff are relaxed and perceptive enough to serve at a good pace and leave you to enjoy the calm.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5636 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4385
There is only one room so you are guaranteed to have the place to yourselves, you will be the only western guests in the village and the only tourist for miles around. It is just so easy here, a chance to experience real Sri Lankan village life with little or no hassle.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4385 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9142
Don’t enter a temple in beach wear (would you go into a church with your backside hanging out?)
Remove your shoes and hat.
Walk round the central features in a clockwise direction.
Images of the Buddha and monks should be given the respect that would be shown to the Buddha himself, so it is important not to deliberately turn your back on either and you should ask before taking photographs.
If you are approached by, or introduced to a Buddhist monk, you aren’t expected to know the intricate ritual and particular terms of address applied by the Sinhalese, should you address the Monk I find ‘reverend’ usually does the trick. Don’t attempt to shake hands unless one is offered.
If you’re well impressed and/or the monk is particularly distinguished you can bend down and touch his toes before coming up with your hands together.
Off the beaten track you probably won’t be asked for a donation outright but one will be appreciated and will earn you merit so ask if there is somewhere you can make the donation, there’s usually a box, if there isn’t offer your notes to an attendant (in front of the monk) or directly to the monk with both hands to show that it is freely given.
Evangelical organisations are currently attempting to convert the people to Christianity and this doesn’t go down too well in the Buddhist community.
Any respect you pay to Sinhalese culture during your visit will be genuinely appreciated and this is as true in the temple as anywhere.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9142 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9141
You can get hoppers, eggs and bread for breakfast, coffee usually comes black so ask for kiri kopi (milk coffee) and unless you like it impossibly sweet ask for it without sugar.

For lunch and dinner there is of course rice and curry, this often comes with fish or chicken. Throughout the day you can get a variety of rolls and patties called ‘short eats’ you may be given a plate full of these but you only pay for what you eat.

There is a range of soft drinks called Elephant (ask for it cool) the ginger beer is particularly excellent. Local soft drinks appear to be being increasingly replaced by American brands.

Hoppers (appa). Eggs (bithara). Bread (pahn). Coffee (kopi). Milk (Kiri). Sugar (seeni). Cool (cool). Fish (marlu). Chicken (kukul mas).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9141