Did you see a lot of abject poverty/have to deal with beggars throughout your trip? Just asking because the country looks amazing but after visiting so many places extreme poverty is kind of a vacation deal breaker for me.
There is lots of poverty, it is a very poor country. But everyone is extremely happy and content, and wasn't interested in our money. They have a big sense of pride We didn't come across a single beggar, it just made everything significantly cheaper.
Besides for those eggs that they ripped you off on..
Incorrect. It was just expensive boutique eggs.
LOL and thanks for the info. You're right that it's really the harassment and constant begging I can't handle and if that isn't there that's amazing. I could see my older kids being so interested in the mining and tea plantations. Would you feel comfortable bringing older kids as well? It seems like a conservative country that would actually be ok for a family. I wouldn't bring my kids to Thailand, for example, which I think is an amazing country but the sex trade is so open it just isn't for me to bring my pre-teen kids.
I didn't feel poverty there either.Even when walking around the villages, ppl were inviting us in, and no kids came up to us to beg which I've had before.
If you want to go to Asia and Thailand is out then def go to Sri Lanka. Its all the good and none of the bad.
Thanks so much guys. I use to live in Asia and have been trying to figure out how to expose my frum kids to some of the beautiful places and people but not the beggars, prostitution, etc. Your amazing pictures of the terraced highlands reminded me of similarly breathtaking rice terraces in the Phillipines that I also don't have the koach or desire to ever bring my family to. Thanks again for writing this TR. We're doing a family trip to Israel for simcha and I was thinking to tack on the Maldives as I know my kids would love the snorkeling, fishing, etc. but this also seems about the same amount of travel from Israel. Maldives would be way more high end and the experiences more controlled for the kids but Sri Lanka would be way cheaper and we could spend Shabbat since there is Chabad so now I'm going to look into it.
Maybe I'll actually finish the TR. Sri Lanka also has stunning beaches and snorkeling in the North (and every other direction.)
Please do! I don't think it's really on the DDF radar and it seems like it should be...
Wow that would be a first
Yup. I plan to head back.
Hey any chance of finishing the trip??
Pretty good chance now that you reminded me.
Bump
Aha.
com'on man just finish the damn thing already
I'll give it a serious effort. Remind me next week.