The impression one usually gets of this destination is of a scuba diving paradise; an island surrounded by reefs and corals which afford loads of accessible locations from where you can view the many colourful underwater creatures.  In fact in recent years a clean-up campaign in the water has seen the return of one or two species which had left for cleaner locations.

Sairee Beach, Koh Tao

So you can dive there, but this article is also for those who have no interest in what’s below the surface and would just like to visit this slightly remote island location for a relaxing break.  In fact if you’re not diving pretty much all you can do is relax.  There is one main beach situated on the island’s west side called Sairee Beach and this is where most of the accommodation is located – it’s also where the bars and restaurants and numerous dive shops are sited.

There are other small settlements grouped around the beaches further from the port of which Chalok Baan Kao on the south side is probably the biggest.  It’s all relative though and this is a very quiet beach.

Koh Tao map

The only way to reach Koh Tao is by boat; if you’re coming from Bangkok you can catch a boat from Chumphon direct here.  If you’re coming from the south of Thailand you’ll have to get the boat from Surat Thani on the mainland.  This latter method will drop off and pick up on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan on the way.

Once you arrive, just turn left and it’s a relatively easy walk along the beach front paths to Sairee (or jump in a taxi if you’re hot and tired) and there’s loads of accommodation of various standards to chose from.  Alternatively rent a motorbike (the roads are bad but the bikes have big tyres) and check out the other beaches – it’s not very far and it won’t take long.

Unless you really want to relax or get into diving in a big way, a week is probably more than enough here but it’s well worth the short journey from its bigger neighbours.

Barcelona is always a good destination at any time of the year and it’s certainly a romantic getaway for couples right now.  A couple of hours flight from most U.K. airports will see you appreciating the sights and sounds of this lively city as well as the cafes, restaurants and nightlife when the sun goes down.

Barcelona

How about the laid back Danish capital of Copenhagen.  It’s still one of the quieter and less visited European destinations but contains some fascinating architecture which makes for an interesting stroll around the city.  The many canals and squares just add to the romantic nature of Copenhagen.

Always a romantic favourite is Venice, once the centre of a European empire and now a monument to Italian architecture.  February is a good time to visit this amazing place; the crowds of tourists which swamp the streets and squares have mostly gone home and you can enjoy your surroundings in relative peace.

Venice

Paris is always at near the top of any romantic destinations; this compact city is littered with sights and monuments that seem to have ‘romance’ emanating from them.  The stunning museums and cathedrals are complemented by the profusion of streetside cafes and amazing restaurants.

Lastly, Budapest is a romantic destination which is still not high on everyone’s wish list, despite Hungary being part of the European getaway scene for nearly twenty years.  The Danube River the churches and the architecture all add up to a great weekend away – the thermal baths are the metaphorical cherry on top.

Budapest Thermal Baths

North – The Cultural Triangle
Central – Kandy
Central – Hills & Tea Country
South – Galle & Surrounding Area
South West – Tourists & Beaches

Colombo – The Capital City

We’ll kick off with the obvious starting point of Colombo.  The actual administrative capital is Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte which is not much more than one of Colombo’s suburbs so most regard Colombo as the capital proper.

Colombo is an extremely old city which can date itself back at last 2000 years when it was part of the region’s sea trading routes.  It’s now a fascinating combination of ancient structures, colonial architecture and glass and steel skyscrapers.  It’s on the coast so there’s a beach here, although real beach lovers will want to travel to better locations away from the city.

Jami Ul Alfar Mosque

The Galle Face Green promenade is where many locals and tourists spend their evenings and weekends; it’s a mile long open space which frequently hosts live music and other performers.  For history buffs, the Cargills and Millers shopping area is located within a fort complex which dates from European colonial times.  It’s revered enough to be a protected area.  Lastly in this brief look at Colombo, you should check out the Jami Ul Alfar mosque.  Built in 1909, it’s just over 100 years old and was said to have been a guide to sailors as they approached the port.

Negombo Beach Area

If you’re just after a beach holiday, this is probably one of the best places for you.  It’s historic popularity and close proximity to Colombo means there’s a huge range of accommodation for all budgets.  There’s no need to book ahead if you don’t want to, just turn up and see what’s on offer.

Negombo Beach

The beach is stunning and very wide, meaning there’s plenty of room for everyone.  If you do happen to get tired of sunbathing, a walk to the edges of this area will introduce you to the surrounding marshlands which are inhabited by a wide variety of bird and animal life – watch out for the salt-water crocodiles.

Wadduwa and Kalutura

Our next beach stop is a 2 or 3 hour bus ride from Colombo so a little quieter than Nagombo.  It’s beaches are equally fantastic however and a bit quieter due to the distance from the capital.

Accommodation here is slightly more upmarket but it’s all relative; anyone travelling this far for a holiday can afford most of the prices here.

Bentota, Alutgama and Beruwala

Possibly the country’s most popular resort is this one and consequently it features the most expensive hotels.  There’s a beautiful tropical lagoon near the aptly named Golden Mile Beach which attracts a stream of returning visitors.

Beruwala Beach

Welcome back to our ongoing guide to Sri Lanka and this article is dedicated to the south of the country.  Like other areas which we’ve talked about, the south of Sri Lanka is heavily influenced by European culture.  British architecture here is joined by Dutch and Portuguese architecture which preceded the British Empire by some decades.  Check the list below for previous guides:

North – The Cultural Triangle
Central – Kandy
Central – Hills & Tea Country
South – Galle & Surrounding Area
South West – Tourists & Beaches

This district is dominated by the city of Galle whose architecture, as mentioned previously, is a mixture of Dutch, Portuguese and British styles, combined with local influences to make a colourful and interesting city.  The Sri Lankan influences are of course far older than the European influences and there are records which indicate the city was an exporter of cinnamon four hundred years ago, indicating a well-established settlement.  There’s no particular high season for this region so go whenever you want, although January and February tend to be the drier months.

Galle Old Town and Fotifications

The first stop for most visitors to Galle is a wander round the Old Town which gives the tourist a great insight into what life may have been like in earlier times.  The Old Town is actually inside the fortifications which were constructed by the Europeans and part of what makes this interesting is the history which accompanies the fort.

Galle Old Town

It’s worth mentioning that information within the area is limited so try to get hold of some sort of guide before you go which can enhance the trip for the curious.  If you’d just like a stroll around the area to take in the sites, that’s enjoyable too.  Galle Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Another World Heritage Site, Sinharaja Forest Reserve is also a World Biosphere Reserve;  It consists of virtually untouched rainforest in an area which measures about 140 square kilometres.  Because of it’s historic inaccessibility and it’s early designation as a Biosphere Reserve, Sinharaja contains a vast variety of animal and plant life, some of it specific to the reserve.  If your in Galle you can organise a trip here from a travel agent in the city but it’s also possible to arrange travel from the capital, Colombo, which is only around 115 kilometres from Galle.

Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Ambalangoda

This coastal town is famous for two things; devil dancing and mask-making.  Both are an integral part of southern Sri Lankan culture and a trip to Ambalangoda will teach you all you need to know about them.

The mask-making museum is particularly interesting and will tell you how the mask-making process occurs. Made from the local Kadura tree or a similar light wood, the masks are carved following a week of smoke drying following which they are hand painted in bright colours and used as part of the devil dancing ceremonies.

Ambalangoda masks

North – The Cultural Triangle
Central – Kandy
Central – Hills & Tea Country
South – A Giant Nature Reserve
South West – Tourists & Beaches

Nuwara Eliya

The Central Highlands of Sri Lanka have a temperate climate which is almost English in nature and provides hot tourists with a rare breath of cool air if they make the worthwhile trip to this region.  In the middle of this lofty plain is the town of Nuwara Eliya (which means ‘city on the plain’).  It’s altitude is 1868 metres and Sri Lanka’s highest mountain at 2524 metres, Pidurutalagala, is not too far away.

Nuwara Eliya - Little England

This, you may have already guessed, is tea country and anyone who has visited, for example, the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia will know what to expect.  Originally founded by the British sometime in the 19th century, it was an obvious region for the production of tea.  The British influence is also still noticeable in the architecture, new and old, and for a long time it was known as ‘Little England’.

What To See

Hakgala Botanical Gardens

The Hakgala Botanical Gardens are well worth a visit; established by the British Nock family in 1860 it contains many species which are well over a century old including the English Oak, the Monetary Cypress and Japanese Cedars.

Hakgala Botanical Gardens

One of Hakgala Botanical Gardens’s claims is that it’s the highest such place in the world, between 1500m and 1800m.  It’s similarity to the Himalayas means local legends have sprung up regarding the land’s origin.

Waterfalls & Trekking

Because of it’s altitude and landscape the city is surrounded by numerous spectacular

Ramboda Ella Falls

waterfalls.  Some are within easy walking distance of Nuwara Eliya but others involve transport and perhaps an overnight camping trip if that’s your thing.  The waterfalls are also a good reason to undertake some of the trekking opportunities in that area and more information is available about hiking locally.

Lovers Leap falls are notable for the legend surrounding the suicide of the King’s son and his fiancee but other falls such as Glen falls and Laksapana falls are just as spectacular.

The Tea Industry

So the countryside and the flora and fauna is fantastic but the main reason to come here for most tourists is to visit some aspects of the tea industry.  Sri Lanka is the world’s fourth biggest tea producer and employs more than two hundred thousand people.  More of the British influence can be spotted here – the first producer was James Taylor who began planting here in 1852.  Earlier planting for non-commercial purposes was undertaken by British colonists in the preceding thirty years or so.

Tea plantations which are set up for visits are well worth a look and you can find more information about these locations in Nuwara Eliya.  The town itself of course has an abundance of cheap, good quality teashops.

• North – The Cultural Triangle
• Central – Kandy
• Central – Hills & Tea Country
• South – A Giant Nature Reserve
• South West – Tourists & Beaches

The city of Kandy lies on the Central Sri Lankan plateau and was once the Sri Lankan capital in the era of the ancient kings and empire.  It was the last region to hold out against colonial invaders until the British prevailed in the early 19th century.  It is also the capital city of the Central Province, meaning it is that regions religious focus.

Temple of the Tooth

The Temple of the Tooth is a good place to start;  it’s within the royal palace complex within Kandy and is purported to contain one of the Buddha’s teeth which was grabbed from his funeral pyre in 4th century BC India by Arahat Khema.  The tooth was passed from ruler to ruler until it found it’s way to Sri Lanka where it now resides.  You can read the complex story more fully when you get there.  It’s kept within a tooth sanctuary within the temple itself.

Temple of the Tooth

Kandy Lake

If you’re looking for a picturesque stroll around the water’s edge, look no further than Kandy Lake.  It’s an artificial creation, built in 1807 on the site of paddy fields and using forced labour, by the last Sinhalese king of the region.  It was regarded as a monumental waste of money at the time, especially as the British were increasing their pressure and presence on the island, but King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe was not interested in criticism and many of those naysayers executed.

It’s smaller now than the original design but that means a walk around the two mile perimeter is comfortable in the relatively humid climate.  In the centre of the lake is a small island containing a royal bathhouse which is also believed to have been a harem.

Kandy Lake

Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens

Just outside the city of Kandy sits the Peradeniya Royal Botanic Gardens, the most notable feature of which is it’s huge variety of orchis species (over 300).   It was actually designed by the British in 1821 but the site is on the remains of a temple built by King Wimala Dharma hundreds of years before.

By 1843 the Gardens had been established with the help of samples bought over from Kew Gardens in London and the British influence is well-established here.  Many visitors come to see the Cannonball Tree, planted by George V in 1901.  Another popular attraction here is the Avenue of Palms.

Cannonball Tree, Peradeniya

Kandy Market

We can’t fit in all Kandy’s sights in one article but we’ll give a final mention to the Municipal Market, a visit to which is always an enlightening experience for a foreign traveller.

Kandy Market

• North – The Cultural Triangle
• Central – Kandy
• Central – Hills & Tea Country
• South – A Giant Nature Reserve
• South West – Tourists & Beaches

North – The Cultural Triangle

If you like temples, monasteries, royal palaces and ruins, the north of Sri Lanka could well be the destination for you.  There are plenty of top class hotels as well as budget accommodation and several of the must see locations are described below:

The Former Capital of Polonnaruwa

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and deservedly so, Polonnaruwa was named

Polonnaruwa Reclining Buddha

the capital of the reunited Sri Lanka by King Vijayabahu I in 1070 AD.  It remained the capital until 1300 AD.

It’s a superbly preserved location and most striking are the statues of Buddha in various poses but the whole area is a fascinating step back into history.  There are handy hotels nearby and a sort of new town a few kilometres away which services the tourist industry.

The Former Capital of Anuradhapura

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site and another former capital of the region.

Sri Mahabodhi Tree

Anuradhapura is one of the ‘Lost Cities of the East’ which dominated the ancient world 2000 years ago.  These ruins take up a huge area and it is the 4 gigantic stupas which punctuate the skyline, one of which – the Jethawanaramaya Stupa – was one of the tallest structures in the ancient world.

However, the main reason people visit Anuradhapura is to visit the Sri Mahabodhi Tree, the oldest documented tree in the world and, so the story goes, a sapling of the tree under which the Buddha attained Nirvana.

The Golden Cave at Dambulla

Yet another World Heritage Site, the Golden Cave at Dambulla consists of 5 caves reaching into the Dambulla Rock which sprouts from the surrounding plain.  These are not just any caves though, they are filed with Buddhist paintings and images; the largest cave, the Temple of the Great Kings, contains more than 150 statues and 1500 paintings.

Dambulla Rock Cave

Follow the long route up via the steps of arrange transportation from the bottom of the Dambulla rock.

The Rock Fortress of Sigiriya

Sri Lankans may tell you that the Rock Fortress of Sigiriya is the eighth wonder of the world and UNESCO appears to agree.  It rises spectacularly out of the surrounding countryside and commands views of the countryside for miles around.  Be aware that the climb to the top is not for the faint-hearted or the unfit.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Sigiriya is more than just a giant rock fortress however, it was also developed as a palace complex by King Kashyapa during his reign from 477 AD to 495 AD.  It has all the accoutrements of a luxury 5th century dwelling such as gardens, lakes and other features.  It has not been continuously inhabited by any means over the centuries but is a must see for all visitors to this region now.

Sri Lanka map

long been a tourist destination for those on package holidays and others who enjoy more independent travelling.  It’s often been thought of as a more relaxing version of India and has come to be known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, separated from it’s big brother by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait.

The modern history of Sri Lanka an be dated back to 1833 when, under British rule, the authorities instituted the rule of law and founded the Executive and Legislative Councils to run the island responsibly.  Sri Lanka gained its independence shortly after India did likewise and on the 4th February 1948 and D. S. Senanayake was inaugurated as the first Prime Minister.

Unfortunately this was the period in which divisions between the Sinhalese and Tamil cultures began to rise to the fore.  Sri Lanka became the first South Asian country to liberalise its economy beginning in 1977, but from the early 1980s a low level civil war began that rumbled on until 2009, when government forces finally defeated the Tamil Tigers who resided in the North part of the island.

Prior to the beginning of the recent surge of fighting in 2006, the limits of Tamil territory had been an important factor in Sri Lankan tourism and for the economy in general.  The South of the island was considered a safe holiday destination and had been for many years while the North was largely inaccessible for tourists.

What has always attracted visitors here are the numerous palm fringed beaches and

Sri Lankan palm trees

coastal settlements, not to mention the stunning flora further inland which occupies the land leading up the hills in the centre of the South of the island.

The weather is extremely amenable.  At the highest points, it can be a little chilly but by the beach the annual average ranges between 28° – 31°, so watch out for the Sizzling Hot Online sun.  It’s relatively humid and it’s location means rain is not infrequent in most areas but this of course keeps the island green.

Next: What to see in Sri Lanka

Anyway, this post is about the beer, and the history of the world’s foremost celebration of this Bavarian product.  Around 5 million people descend on Munich every year to sample the beer which is limited to that produced within Munich’s borders.  Being Germany of course, sausages and sauerkraut is the food of choice.

The Oktoberfest began as a celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig to Prince

Oktoberfest beer mug

Therese in October 1810.  The celebration was held just outside Munich’s city gates, right where the drinking continues to this day.  For six decades or so, the event was more of a celebration of horse racing – the festival was always ended with a horse race –  and it wasn’t until the breweries got involved as types of early sponsors that the focus switched to beer.  In 1892 gigantic beer tents were erected and the famous Oktoberfest style beer mugs were used for the first time.  Records indicate that by the centenary festival of 1910, 120,000 litres of beer had been consumed.

Visitors from outside Germany should be aware that the beer brewed for the Oktoberfest is stronger than the global average at between 5.8% and 6.3%.  In fact it’s also stronger than the German average which is usually 5.2%.  If it’s your first time, start slowly.

Oktoberfest circa 1910

The allure of this festival has ensured that various destinations around the world also have their own Oktoberfests.  Regions containing German ancestry have always tried to keep hold of their traditions and the Oktoberfest is no exception.  The United States, Argentine and Brazil all host sizeable beerfests but the biggest one outside Germany is the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest in Ontario, Canada, which attracts up to one million North Americans each year.  Check here for more German beer facts.

Slavonia location

this article is no exception.  Croatia has long been a popular destination for sun seekers but it’s the Mediterranean coastline which normally attracts the holiday maker.  Croatia does have other attractions though and the Eastern province of Slavonia is, at the moment, an undiscovered gem.  Its not by the sea but it’s still sunny and warm at this time of the year due to is Southern European location.

So why do like Slavonia?  And why do we recommend going there before the rest of the world tunes in to it’s charms?  It’s a very laid back area, largely rural and the immediate impression is that life there hasn’t changed for hundreds of years.  One could liken it to visiting rapidly disappearing areas of rural France, mile after mile of farmland and vineyards.

It is this agriculture and viniculture which make Slavonia a haven for foodies and wine

Slavonia landscape

connoisseurs.  This is the region of the Baranja and Erdut vineyards, establishments which have been producing wine for hundreds of years.  Food in the area traditionally consists of pasta and spicy sausage (kulen) or spicy minced pork (saoma) and the lepinjica – spicy dough parcels – are particularly good.  Slavonia is situated on an area of land with Hungary to the North, Serbia to the East and Bosnia & Herzegovina to the South, providing the food with a range of multi-cultural influences.

Currently Slavonia’s main town of interest is Ilok, Croatia’s most Easternmost town and a destination for locals who appreciate it’s views over the Danube, it’s Franciscan monastery and it’s fantastic museum on local history.  This region has something of a violent history, most recently in the Yugoslavian conflict of the early 1990s from which it escaped undamaged.  Ilok’s population is tiny, reflecting the sparsity of the population in the whole of Slavonia.  Get here soon though, Croatia will be joining the European Union in 2013 and Slavonia may never be the same again.

Ilok monastery