Full religious freedom in strictly conservative Sri Lanka (video)
If you want extreme feelings, real images of jungles seen in cartoons and movies, experience like waking up from the voice of monkeys, feeding chipmunks on your knees, seeing huge lizards, riding an elephant or caressing crocodiles, Asian exotic island, Sri Lanka, is waiting for you.
Just from the very first moments of leaving the airport, the smell of humidity, wet green and jungles penetrates into your lungs and takes all your body, remaining with you until the end of the travel.
From the very first kilometers you understand that you have appeared in the real jungles, and adventures await you.
This Asian island for years has attracted tourists from around the world. Indescribable nature, exotics and, of course, affordable prices attract those, who choose the rest in Sri Lanka.
Late autumn, winter and beginning of spring are considered to be favorable seasons for tourism. In the island, which is famous of its abundant precipitations, it doesn’t rain from October to April, Indian Ocean is still in that period. But even if you go to Sri Lanka when the sea is disturbed and it rains every day, you don’t need to worry, everything is wonderful, fresh air and disturbed ocean ensure unforgettable feelings after rain.
A big part of tourists here is above 60 (they say that the picture changes during the peak season of tourism); Germans prevail. By the way, according to the words of locals, many German women marry Sinhalese men and settle in Sri Lanka. An elderly man from Belgium has also settled here; we got acquainted with him in a café. He said that he had chosen Sri Lanka, as the prices are affordable here. He has rented a cheap house, eats, drinks and has fun. The elderly man, by the way, is homosexual, but the conservative society here tolerates him out of politeness and hospitability. The people of this island are very hospitable and polite.
Do not forget to buy tea; you cannot find tea with such smell and taste anywhere else.
70 percent of the population in Sri Lanka is Sinhalese, and the official language is Sinhalese. But the population here, especially the people working with tourists, know English, Russian, German. Thanks to Armenian tourists, some locals speak Armenian as well.
Living is very simple here; most of the population live in huts and earn their daily living by farming. Sri Lanka is an agricultural country; the main branch is tea planting. They also cultivate coconut palm, rice, corn, batate, cassava, spices, pineapple, banana.
In faraway villages, which don’t have household conveniences, the old methods of washing in dirty rivers have been maintained.
In spite of customs and conservative outlooks, here is real religious freedom; people choose their religion at mature age, it is possible that members of the family belong to different religions. There are different sanctuaries on each step, even in the hotels there are prayer places for the representatives of different religions.
The difference between men and women is apparent in Sri Lanka. Men are mainly very properly dressed, clean and in good physical shape. Unlike them, women are less attractive; many women even do not follow basic rules of hygiene.
Food in Sri Lanka is rather cheap. Food in nearby cafes has affordable prices and you can try various dishes, especially seafood. The selection is so big that every day you can try a new dish. Do not forget to taste shark meat; it has very unique taste. Those, who are fond of Indian cuisine, will feel well in Sri Lanka. Here also Indian curry is an inseparable part of the cuisine. You should also try Dhal, which is one of the most widespread dishes around the world and is the national dish of several Asian countries. Rice, especially with coconut milk is also a must. You will remember its delicate taste for a long time.
Sinhalese people are good salespeople; it is easy to bargain with them. Don’t agree with the price immediately; after long negotiations you can buy the same product two or three times cheaper.
Don’t forget about massage while having a rest in this exotic island. It will grant you a feeling of freshness and youth for a long time.
To be continued
Marianna Galstyan
Sri Lanka-Armenia
