What the heck are Poyah Days?

Poyah Days in Sri Lanka

Many people planning a tour of Sri Lanka have seen the phrase Poyah day and often ask me what  Poyah days are and will they affect their backpacking or holiday plans. The truth is Poyah days are national holidays so some disruption to your travel plans may occur.

Sri Lanka is mostly a Buddhist country and so many of it's holidays are linked to religious Buddhist celebrations such as Poyah day. Poyah day also known as full moon day is linked to the moon cycle. There is a full moon every month so every month there is a Poyah day which is a national holiday.

Buses, Trains, taxis and Tuk-tuk

There are fewer buses and trains and fewer taxis and tuk-tuks available, so be prepared for delays or get ready to make new travel arrangements if backpacking. If your tuk-tuk driver turns up at all be prepared to find him drunk.

Visiting the Beach on Poyah Day

On Poyah days everyone heads to the beach and you will quite often see Sri Lankans all jammed into the back of a lorry, singing, dancing and eating as they head off to the beach. The privately owned blue and white buses get hired for the day and get packed with party goers. With music pumping out full blast the bus is magically transformed into a disco bus and as it races towards the beach at full speed, horn blaring you can see the locals inside dancing and singing their hearts out.

Places like Negombo beach park become a Mecca for locals on Poyah day, traffic comes to a stand still around the beach side and the beach park area is absolutely packed full of locals partying. Expect to find parties of guys singing and dancing and getting high on extra strong beer and the local arrack. This is fine to start with by the tend to end up fighting as the night falls. If you decide to brave the local party zones be prepared for constant harassment, as every few seconds a local will be asking you, "Where you from?" "What hotel" and the kids will say "Give me money". It's best to ignore all of them and just keep walking.

Eating out on Poyah Day in Sri Lanka

Many restaurants/bars will close on Poyah day and those that stay open cannot sell alcohol and should not sell meat dishes, fish and vegetables are allowed.  Most restaurants will observe the no alcohol rule but many do still sell meat dishes. Wine stores/supermarkets are also prevented from selling alcohol and shops are not allowed to sell fresh meat produce, although they can sell prepared hamburgers etc.

More about Backpacking and travel to Sri Lanka

If you would learn more about Sri Lanka please check out my 5* rated guide book to Sri Lanka HERE

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Sri Lanka Cries Over Cricket Defeat

Backpacking Sri Lanka  & The Cricket T20

Anybody backpacking Sri Lanka at the moment will be having a really interesting experience!  Power cuts, Scorching heat and the T20 Cricket world cup are gripping the nation.

 Exceptionally high temperatures continue to boil us, causing dehydration, headaches and extreme exhaustion and making any kind of travelling down right uncomfortable. Add to that power cuts across the country depriving people of much needed air conditioning, small guest houses/hotels without back up generators are to hot to sleep in and some restaurants are having to close. Those restaurants and bars that remain open are hyped up with cricket fever.

If you were BACKPACKING in Negombo last night would have seen the huge screens set up for the T20 match that was between West Indies and Sri Lanka. Although Sri Lanka are the defending champions, for some strange reason the Sri Lankan team are calling themselves the under dogs and not the defending champions. Why?

Sri Lanka Thrashed by Windies

Whatever, they choose to call themselves the fact is they got absolutely THRASHED by the west Indies who didn't even use their star player Chris Gayle in their batting side. His absence was really missed by the crowds who screamed and shouted for him to come on the pitch unaware he had an injury and wasn't going to play unless needed. Instead Fletcher came on and thumped a few for 6 and 4.

Sri Lankans Cry in their Extra Strong Beer

Sri Lanka were crappy fielding and didn't have luck on their side, as a result they were demolished and the Sri Lankans wept as their dreams of remaining the champions faded. Many Sri Lankans are still crying in their lion lager over the dismissal of Dilshan claiming it was definitely a bad call, sorry guys but I think it was fair, whats more if you are relying on just one man to put you through to the finals  and you can't catch the ball then you really aren't a championship team.

For more exciting information on Sri Lanka and insiders tips buy my travel guide book Backpacking Sri Lanka.

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Sunsets in Sri Lanka

Beautiful Sunsets In Sri Lanka

I have to say that I have been very lucky to enjoy some really spectacular sunsets in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is a small tropical island just off the southern tip of India. It's hot all year round with day time temperatures ranging between 23-32degrees. There are no seasons like spring or winter, it's either hot and dry or hot and raining. The only real difference is the ferocity of the rain as the tropical storms are loud and crazy. Unstoppable lighting strikes often bring down power lines plunging cities into darkness and without electricity for days. The wild monsoon rains lead to flooding and landslides and cause havoc with transport, but it's not everyday and quite often the rains bring a welcome relief to the constant heat.

Get a Torch!

Unlike Europe sunrise and sunset takes place at much the same time everyday. By 6.30pm the sun has vanished behind the sea and by 7pm everything is black, if your out in the villages or more secluded beaches you really do need a torch!

Romantic Sunsets

Watching the sunset on the beach is a really beautiful experience, golden sands, warm sea and a cooling breeze. There's no need for a jumper or wrap as the air is still warm, it's glorious. To sit on a quiet beach with just the noise of nature around you watching the sun sink is really joyous. If you are lucky you might get to see the odd turtle popping it's head above the waves and no doubt there will be a stray dog loitering nearby begging for some friendly company. And if you are really really lucky you might even see the fabled green flash the shoots across the horizon just as the sun waves it's last goodbye.

Even if you are not a romantic and sunsets aren't a real big deal for you, that doesn't matter sunset is still a great time to enjoy the beach. Find a nice bar get yourself a beer and just relax.
To discover more about Sri Lanka click HERE

 
P.S. I would be really happy if you would leave a review :)
Gail Leach Smashwords Author of Backpacking Sri Lanka
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I love my Sri Lankan Boyfriend. Seriously?

Worst Gift Ever?

I was checking through Amazon when I came across this.

I love my Sri Lankan boyfriend. Really?

As I looked at this dreadful mug I wondered who the hell would buy such a product and more importantly why?
I am lost for words.
I mean, is it a gift a woman or gay man gives to their boyfriend? Or is it a gift someone buys for themselves just to remind themselves they have a Sri Lankan boyfriend?
Who knows.
Seriously who would spend $14.99 plus $3.99 postage on this? My book is a much better buy! it gives you useful information, honest reviews and makes you laugh in places. So much better than a mug or a Sri Lankan boyfriend!

Caring is Sharing, so please share this article;)
Gail Leach Smashwords Author of Backpacking Sri Lanka 
VIEW THE BOOK HERE
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Sri Lankan Coffee, it's Disgusting!

If You love Coffee Read this!

Are you a coffee connoisseur?
Do you love your filter or ground coffee?
Are you planning a tour of Sri Lanka?
If you answered yes to the above 3 questions then prepare to be really disappointed by the coffee in Sri Lanka.
Although Sri Lanka is a coffee growing country, the sad fact is the coffee is just disgusting. In fact I really think it has been mis labeled because there is no way it even tastes like coffee.

Amazingly, Sri Lanka has been growing and serving "coffee" since the 1800's.
It was during the time of Colonial British rule that  tea and coffee plantations were introduced to Sri Lanka. Coffee was so popular in the 1800's it was served everywhere. Today, it no longer resembles coffee but it is still served everywhere!

100's of years growing coffee and it's still tastes disgusting!

Whilst Sri Lanka was able to continue cultivating fine teas, it has failed completely to produce a coffee bean that tastes anything like coffee, despite having had 100's of years to practice growing a decent coffee bean.
If you are planning a tour of Sri Lanka be prepared to encounter this dreadful coffee, it is normally served very milky with sugar. When you first taste it you are likely to ask "WHAT IS THIS?"

To make matters worse the only other coffee widely available is Nescafe - nuff said!

Take your own Coffee on your tour of Sri Lanka!

Include Colombo in your tour of Sri Lanka to ensure you visit a decent coffee house (they have a few!) and some of the better hotels also serve imported coffee.

To be on the safe side I suggest you pack a super strong, shake your bones and wake you up coffee like this one, to make sure you get a good coffee fix on your Lanka Travels.

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Gail Leach Smashwords Author of Backpacking Sri Lanka 
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https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/617107
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The Life of Tea in Sri Lanka

Europe addicted to Tea

Have you ever wondered who introduced tea into Europe and when?

To be honest I never really thought about it until I saw it in a trivia question, being a Britisher (as they say in Sri Lanka) I just assumed it was the British East India Company or such like who got us Brits addicted to tea. Turns out I was wrong.
The correct answer is:
Tea was imported into Europe for the first time by Dutch traders around 1610, and was sold commercially for the first time in Britain around 1660. Did you know that? Be honest ;)

Tea Trails in Sri Lanka

I have to say that living in Sri Lanka has really kindled my passion for tea. Just in case you don't know Sri Lanka produces some of the finest tea in the world. It's grown in the hill country around Nuwara Eliya, here you will find endless tea plantations set on the mountain sides, it's a very picturesque setting, green and tranquil. The great thing is there are lots of working tea factories to visit in the Hill Country of Sri Lanka.

Some of the factories in the hill country haven't changed at all since the British first started them, it's like stepping back in time to the Colonial days when the British ruled Sri Lanka. The Brits loved their tea and still do! They found the cooler climate of the Central Highlands were perfect for growing tea and what's more it was really great tea, not this tasteless wishey washy tea you get sold in supermarkets these days. Oh NO definitely not that!

Delicious Sri Lankan Tea

The tea grown is smooth to drink beautiful in colour and tastes divine. It comes in many exotic flavours like, Silver tip or Orange Pekoe and varies in colour from a shimmering tan, to a deep redish brown or a deep earthy black, nothing at all like the tea sold to us in supermarkets. As for health benefits well it really is fantastic and has great antioxidant properties all in all definitely worth drinking.
Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the coffee, somewhere something went wrong with that. In fact it should really be re-labelled mud as it bears no resemblance to coffee at all:)

Want to know more about Sri Lanka or plan a trip to Sri Lanka? Then check out my 5* rated book
SEE THE BOOK HERE

 
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Gail Leach Smashwords Author of Backpacking Sri Lanka 
Connect with me on Twitter Gailceylon
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Life Is a Chinese Take Away

Sri Lankan Sayings

Whilst living and traveling in Sri Lanka I found there was one question that all Sri Lankans loved to ask when faced with problems and challenges, "What is the Life?"
Okay so it's not grammatically correct but everyone can understand the meaning of the question. I have often debated this topic with my fellow expat Professor Jo and until today I had no real clarity on the subject.

Today, I finally have the answer to the question asked by so many Sri Lankans and the answer is.......

The Purpose of Life

Life is a Chinese Take Away! It's sweet and sour, sometimes it's amazing, tangy, sweet delicious and when you crunch into it and really fully enjoy it, you feel warm and fuzzy inside and glad to be alive. Sometimes it's crap and you realise you've ordered from a really bad food store and as a result you suffer for days with terrible vomiting and diarrhoea. Until all the bad food has been removed and purged from your system, there's no way you can face another take away.  It takes a while before you are ready to try more sweet and sour and even then there are no guarantees it will always be good.

Get To Know Sri Lanka

If you would like to learn more about Sri Lanka then follow me. Better still treat yourself and buy my guide book -it's full of interesting titbits about Sri Lanka as well as being a damn good travel guide :)

Gail Leach Smashwords Author of Backpacking Sri Lanka 
SEE THE BOOK HERE
Twitter Gailceylon
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Ceylon2day