Top ten foods to try in Sri Lanka

Being a big time foodie, I thought it was about time for this post! I have a confession though, although the title says 10 foods to try, I’ve got 12! In my defense, there are so many super tasty things to eat here, it was difficult to shorten the list any more. 

Before we begin, you should know that there are loads of amazing things to try when you visit Sri Lanka. This list of Sri Lankan [ish] foods consists of my personal favourites and they are in no particular order.

1) The obvious – Rice and Curry

There is no way that you would miss out on this staple meal while in Sri Lanka. Rice is a huge part of our history and culture. ‘Rice and Curry’ is a very broad title as there are so many different varieties and variations of dishes, whether they be rice, vegetables, sea food or meat. ‘Parrippu’ which you might know as dhal or lentils, chicken curry and fish ‘ambul thiyal’ are a few of my long list of favourites…

Rice and Curry

2) Hoppers

Hoppers could be either egg or plain, and for me, the crispier the better! It’s most often eaten with curries and ‘seeni sambol’ or ‘katta sambol’ or if you’re someone like my mom, you’d probably have hoppers with butter and treacle or juggery as well!

Egg and plain hoppers

3) String Hoppers

Aside from its name and the fact that you eat it with curries, string hoppers have nothing in common with hoppers! It’s another one of my dinner time favourites.

A plate of string hoppers, parippu and pol sambol

4) Koththu Roti

Koththu is a Sri Lankan modification of ‘Godamba’ Roti, where it’s sliced and diced [to a catchy beat] and mixed with veggies and meat. Tasty, a café-restaurant has some really good [and not too spicy] koththu… or you could try the cheese koththu at Pilawoos. It’s the best after a big boozing night. The best part is that it’s open all night! Approach it with caution though; it’s only for those whose stomachs can handle it!

Chicken Koththu

5) Sri Lankan Chinese food

Yes, there is something like that! It doesn’t taste a thing like the food you will eat in China… But, that doesn’t mean that it’s any less of a mouth-watering culinary experience. Try the Hot Butter Cuttlefish… it’s crispy and delicious and ideal for a drink time snack as well!

Hot Butter Cuttlefish at the Chinese Dragon Cafe

6) Pani Pol Pancakes

Another brilliant modification of food from another culture! Pani pol translates to treacle-coconut. These are delicious thin pancake rolls stuffed with a fried mixture of treacle and grated coconut. It tastes as good as it sounds!

A fresh batch of PPP's!

7) Sea Food

Being an island, Sri Lanka is famous for its seafood, which is not as expensive as it is in other countries. Whether it’s curried, grilled, baked or fried; crab, prawn, cuttlefish or fish; it’s bound to be the meal you will spend the longest time eating! Try The Manhattan Fish Market or The Lagoon for some really good seafood. Or, if you want a place that’s slightly cheaper and not as fancy, Beach Wadiya is a popular amongst travellers. If you’ve got your eye on crab and crab alone, I’d recommend The Ministry of Crab or the The Fat Crab which is slightly cheaper.

My mom's homemade crab curry!

8) Festival Food

These goodies come out during festivals and other important functions and occasions and are usually set on a decorated table alongside other traditional foods such as milk rice. The most common ones are kavum, mung kavum and kokis.

Kokis

9) Chips or ‘crisps’ if you’re British!

And no, not the potato kind… these are far better. You should definitely try Manyokka Chips while in Sri Lanka. It’s made out of Cassava or Maniyok. You could find packs in supermarkets, or buy some from a street vendor; the chances are that it will be tastier if you do so! Another type of chip that is a ‘must try’ are Del Chips which are made from breadfruit. It’s not available all year round… and I don’t actually know where you can buy them [someone should really get on that!]. It’s usually homemade, but if they are in season, I could fry some for you!

Fried and spiced to perfection!

10) Short eats

I actually had to google and check if ‘short eats’ was the word that was used globally to describe this type of food… and it wasn’t! Shorts eats are a variety of tea time like snacks which are usually pastries and rolls etc. Check out Jehanr’s harlem shake video with Sri Lankan short eats!

11) Devilled Chicken… or fish… or anything, really!

It’s a popular and kind of spicy bite that’s often had during ‘drinking sessions’.

Devilled Pork

12) Lamprais or lumprice!

This is something amaziag that was left behind by the Dutch from when they had Sri Lanka as a colony. It’s a wonderful meal, wrapped in a banana leaf. In my opinion, you can find the best Lamprais at The Dutch Burgher Union, The Dutch Grocer, Fab and Green Cabin.

A Lumprais pack

The inside of a Lumprais pack

Don’t limit yourself to just this list though, because I had to cut it down. Try everything that comes your way!

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home” – James Michener

Top 10 reasons why you should visit Sri Lanka

There are hundreds of reasons for you to visit Sri Lanka… But here’s my list of the top 10 reasons that would make you want to book your flight right now!

1) Heritage

 

The Vatadage in Polonnaruwa

Did you know that Sri Lanka has more UNESCO World Heritage sites than Egypt? That’s pretty impressive for such a tiny Island… Our rich history left us with an incredible collection of ancient ruins that date back to the 1800s. Most of which are adorned with some of the most intricate stone carvings you will ever see. Just that is enough reason for anyone to book a holiday to Sri Lanka.

2) Wildlife

Sri Lanka boasts of its ‘Big Five’ which include the Blue Whale, the Sperm Whale, the Asian Elephant, the Leopard and the Sloth bear. But it’s not just that, we’ve got a lot more to see here. Our jungles and forests are home to a varied collection of animals and bird life as well as insects and reptiles. You don’t have to be a wildlife enthusiast or a naturalist to be awed by what you see on a game drive at one of our many national parks and forests.

The Wildlife at Yala National Park

  

3) Beaches

Wadduwa Beach

Now this I’m sure you already know about. When someone mentions Sri Lanka, most people would immediately think of its beaches. Why wouldn’t they? We are an island after all and our beautiful country is surrounded by miles and miles of unspoiled beaches. And it’s not just that, you won’t be disappointed when snorkelling and diving off our coastlines because we are home to many beautiful coral reefs and some interesting ship wrecks.

4) Religions

The four main religions in Sri Lanka are Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. Each of them hold a big place in Sri Lanka’s history and there are many beautiful establishments that you will love to see no matter which religion you follow. Kataragama, a religious town in the Southern part of the country has a few Hindu Kovils, a Buddhist Temple, a Mosque and a Church all of which are a short distance from each other. The Sita Amman Kovil in Nuwara Eliya is a place that plays a huge role in the famous story of Rama and Sita.

The art on the pillars of the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy

   

5) Tropical Climate

One of the things I personally love about Sri Lanka is its climate. Being a tropical country, most of our days are sunny and bright. Most travellers love to show off their holiday tan once they go back home. Sri Lanka is the best place for that. If it’s rainy while you’re here…  that’s still pretty great because if you’re anything like me, I love a nice walk in the rain! It isn’t cold like the winter rainfall that I had to deal with when I was in England!

6) Arts and Crafts

Sri Lanka’s got a lot of art and handicrafts that been around for generations. Whether it is colourful mask [ves-muhuna] that is used to ward off the evil eye or a shopping bag woven out of straw… We’ve got some useful and decorative souvenirs for you to take back to decorate your home with. You’re definitely going to want something to remember the amazing time you had in Sri Lanka!

A Ves-Muhuna

A local form of crochet called Biralu

Purses made out of coloured straw woven together

 

7) Food

I’m a big time ‘foodie’… So you can trust me when I say, Sri Lanka has so many different and delicious dishes that everyone must try at least once in their lives. There are so many amazing curries, vegetables, fruits and ‘short eats’ that you could spend your entire holiday eating, but you still would not be able to taste all of it! It’s not just Sri Lankan food that you should try either. We’ve put our own spin on food from other countries as well. The Chinese food here might not taste anything like it does in China, but it is so good that you tend to over eat and open the top button of your trousers to give your tummy more space!

My Mom's delicious crab curry

 

8) People

I know that I’m biased when I say this, but Sri Lankans are very friendly and they most often go out of their way to be hospitable. They would always greet you with a warm Sri Lankan smile. If you’re planning on meeting some friendly people and making friends while on holiday, head down to Sri Lanka and you won’t be disappointed!

The warm Sri Lankan smile!

9) Cheap

One of Sri Lanka’s lesser advertised selling points is how cheap it is to travel here. The food, transport and shopping are far cheaper than most other countries and it is absolutely worth it. It’s only your flight expense that will weigh down your budget. Once you get here though, you’d be pleasantly surprised by how affordable things are.

10) Compact

Reading about all of these reasons to make Sri Lanka your next holiday destination, you might be thinking that it can’t all be done in one holiday. If that is the case, you’re wrong! Unlike India, where everything is so spread out, Sri Lanka is a tiny island. This allows you to see and experience almost all of the things I mentioned. You could be relaxing on a beach and in a few short hours be in the middle of a thick jungle or in the chilly hill country…

Sri Lanka is an amazing country with so much to offer. Come and experience it!

Fort Food

An honest review of the food and the places to eat in the Galle Fort by someone who loves to eat!

Ask any Sri Lankan and they’d tell you that a Galle Bath Curry [rice and curry from Galle] is the best you could find in the country. Rice, a fish curry and jaadi [pickled fish] or karawala [dried maldive fish] are the essentials of a typical meal in the South Coast.

This post however isn’t about rice and curry, instead it is about the delicious food that I have stumbled upon while wandering around the Galle Fort. Let me first start with the smaller vendors…

You will always find raw mangoes available with a mouth-watering mixture of chillie powder, salt and pepper sprinkled on it to give that bitter-sweet spicy flavour that Sri Lankan’s love. Getting the perfect ratio of chilli powder, salt and pepper has come down to an art form mastered only by these vendors. The same mixture is sprinkled onto pineapple by the pineapple vendors at the Fort. There are also kadala karayas [vendors who sell boiled chickpeas mixed with pieces of coconut and dried chilli] and men that sell Bombai Muttai, which is something similar to candy floss.

Moving on to the bigger cafes and restaurants, Pedlar’s Inn Café is one of my favourites. It has a very historic  vibe inside with lots of wooden carvings and other old ornaments as well as art on the walls that are seen only with a black light… A refreshing twist to their vintage setting. Try their coffee milk shake which is absolutely energising, especially on a hot day.

The vintage interior

The historic look inside Pedlar's Inn

There’s also Indian hut, which is famous for its tandoori chicken and [surprisingly] its Chinese food (!), Wok on the Wild Side which ironically serves rice and curry instead of Chinese(!), Anura’s where everyone goes for the best pizza in Galle and the Nescafe shop, which is famed for its Roti!! Clearly, when it comes to the food at the Galle Fort, you can expect the unexpected!

Indian Hut: Serves Indian as well as Chinese!

Good Advice!

 

My absolute must-eat-before-I-leave-the-fort food is some homemade Ice Cream. There’s a tiny pink and blue shop on Church Street that sells various interesting flavours of Ice Cream such as Magic Mango and Banana, as well as juices, milkshakes and coffees. Dairy King is a small but delightful place with the friendliest owner named Tariq, who’s sure to recommend something great depending on what you like.

The Facade of Dairy King

Tariq - The friendliest owner...!

Spending a day soaking in the sights, sounds and flavours of the fort is enough to leave anyone stuffed to the brim with food and culture. If you are planning to explore the Fort, you should definitely try as many of the places I’ve mentioned above as you can while you are there, and if you aren’t able to, then at least taste Tariq’s Ice Cream!

10 things you should know before coming to Sri Lanka

While searching for tips that are available to travellers planning to come to Sri Lanka, I found that there was not much good advice offered. Which is why, this month, my post features 10 things that travellers should know before coming to Sri Lanka.

1) You need to get a Visa

Since January 2012 all tourists are required to obtain a Visa to enter Sri Lanka. You can apply online through the Sri Lankan Electronic Travel Authorization website - http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/ .  A tourist Visa for double entry valid for 30 days costs US$ 30.00 for adults and is free for children under 12. You could get the Visa on arrival at the airport, but I recommend that you get it before you arrive because it saves time and is more convenient.

2) Packing Essentials

It’s important that you pack light for your holiday, especially if you are going on a tour with your family. Spending half an hour trying to stuff five cases into a car every time you travel from one destination to another is a huge waste of time and effort. If you are exploring Sri Lanka, you are likely to visit many religious places, so it is important to pack a modest outfit like jeans, light coloured pants or a knee length skirt with a light coloured top, tshirt or shirt with sleeves. Other things that you should pack are flip flops, a hat or cap, sun glasses and a light jacket if you are staying in the hill country which can get chilly in the evenings.

3) Medicine: Talk to your physician

Although I believe it isn’t necessary, most doctors recommend taking Malaria tablets if you are travelling to the North of the country. You should meet with your physician and get advice on what medicine is best for you in the event of allergies etc.

4) Insect Repellent

Sri Lanka is a tropical country and we are home to lots of insects such as mosquitoes. Consider bringing a good brand of insect repellent to avoid getting annoyed by them.

5) Chargers

The plug points in Sri Lanka are most often three round pins or three square pins and electricity is at 230 volts at 50 Hertz. If your devices need charging and it doesn't support this power voltage, you should bring an adapter along with you to protect it.

6) It’s hotter than you think!

Everyone knows that Sri Lanka is a warm country all year round. However, most of the time, it’s hotter than you think. It’s important to not only bring the sunblock, but to actually use it and remember to stay hydrated. Whether you are going to climb Sigiriya Rock or for a short walk down the street, you should always carry a bottle of water with you. It is also very humid in Sri Lanka, so consider packing a good hair conditioner to avoid having frizzy hair throughout your holiday!

7) Don’t get ripped off…

Some shop owners, vendors and tuk-tuk drivers look to make some quick money and tourists are an easy target for them. Don’t give in if they charge you extortionate prices and don’t let them guilt you into giving them a bigger tip than they deserve. Find out how much a ride is to your destination before you get into the tuk tuk, or better yet, get a metered one so you know you won’t be paying extra and always bargain with vendors who don’t have a fixed price list…!

8) Road Rules

Try not to get freaked out by the traffic and the chaotic way people drive here. You will get used to after a few days on the road. Many people have asked me about driving a rental around Sri Lanka on their holiday. I always advise them against it unless they are used to the way Sri Lankan’s drive because it isn’t the safest thing to take on.

9) Food

I believe that to fully experience a country, you need to fully experience its food. You should try as many types of dishes possible and experience the wide range of fruits and vegetables that Sri Lankan has to offer without thinking about the calories. A few must try food items are string hoppers, hoppers, koththu roti, Ceylon tea, tin-kiri te [tea made with condensed milk] and [obviously] rice and curry.

10) Experience

There is so much more to Sri Lanka than just the pristine beaches, ruins and tea estates. You must witness the Sri Lankan culture and experience everything from the wildlife that we are so proud of to the rivers that flow from the hill country. Sri Lanka has so much undiscovered potential and I believe you should stray off the beaten track and discover it first-hand.

I hope you found this post useful. I will leave you with Andrew Zimmerman words; “Please be a traveller, not a tourist. Try new things. Meet new people, and look beyond what’s right in front of you. Those are the keys to understanding the amazing world we live in”.