Tips and tricks for the island paradise of Sri Lanka

For those of us who came straight from Pokhara and Nepal there were several things that surprised us. One of the first things we noticed and were incredibly happy about was being able to see the ocean!

Sri Lanka offers a beautiful coast with lovely beaches all the way. Another thing we quickly noticed was the humidity in the air. In Nepal, it wasn't particularly humid during the spring semester, but it was here in Sri Lanka!

This made the heat more intense, so it was nice to have the ocean so close. The food in Sri Lanka was also different. They have lots of seafood here! We're talking delicious curries with rice, lots of fish and shrimp, and for those who want a more Western-inspired culinary experience, it's very accessible and tasty.

Sri Lanka is more touristy than Nepal, so you can get by with English, and the country is well adapted for tourists. Sri Lanka gave us a delightful feeling of a southern vacation after 10 amazing weeks surrounded by massive mountains and lakes.

From Nepal, we were quite accustomed to using cash, and cash is also widely used in Sri Lanka. Cards can be used in some places, but often one saves money by using cash due to fees on card usage.

There are also fees at ATMs, so we definitely recommend withdrawing a large amount initially rather than taking out smaller amounts multiple times.

It's easy to get around in Sri Lanka, and we had very good experiences with train travel between the cities. When traveling through the coastal towns, we definitely recommend traveling by train, as it is a cheap and safe way to travel.

We easily booked the tickets on 12goAsia. This is a website that includes all travel options between cities and countries in Asia. The train rides offer beautiful sea views along the coast all the way, it's truly an idyllic way to travel.

We traveled first class – it costs a bit more, but then you get comfortable seats, charging options, and, perhaps most importantly, air conditioning! And the price is no more than 60 Norwegian kroner even for first class.

The train stations were easy to navigate, and it is always possible to order a taxi through a taxi app upon arrival at your destination.

Furthermore, it is generally safest and easiest to use the apps PickMe and Uber, as you can easily book a driver within the apps and know the price you will pay in advance.

It can be difficult to negotiate prices with the drivers sometimes, and that's why it's convenient to get a reliable driver through one of the apps.

It may be wise to be aware that there can sometimes be disagreements between local drivers and the apps, but as long as one is aware of this, one quickly understands what applies where.

It's not always easy to get a car through the apps, and in those cases, we've had good experiences with many drivers waiting along the streets, although they admittedly charge a higher price.

Nevertheless, it is absolutely worth it to have a safe and pleasant journey home. We experienced that when darkness fell, there was a slight change in the atmosphere of the city, and it might be more comfortable to take a taxi rather than walk home.

Sri Lanka is a relatively small island, and many of the cities are therefore quite close to each other. This gives you a great opportunity to travel around the island after you have finished your exams, and there are so many beautiful places to visit in Sri Lanka.

There are significant differences between the regions in the country, from the surfing towns in the south to the scenic villages in the middle of the island. It is definitely worth taking some time after writing exams to experience the rest of the island!

The post is written by the students Øyun and Anna in collaboration.