We arrived in mid November 2004, 1 month before the horrendous earthquake-generated Tsunami, and we stayed for 4 nights. Even though it was the rainy season, we loved it as half the day it would rain and the other half was sunshine. We stayed at the Taj Hotel in Bentota beach which is about a four hour drive South of the capital city of Columbo (the biggest city in Sri Lanka) and the airport. All of the Islands cities and towns are connected via small streets which run through the middle of the jungleand which are scattered with small shops and houses on either side (as some of the pictures show). It was no wonder that when the Tsunami hit, so many people lost their lives. There was no means of escape.

The poverty is evident around every corner in Sri Lanka, but the people are very friendly even though some may try and take advantage of you (which is understandable given economic conditions). Anton found a very nice older man who took us on as his "guests" and showed us around the area for our entire stay. As we stayed such a short time, I can only advise anyone going there to hire such a guide with a car to accompany you. They are very affordable, friendly, help you see what you want to see, know their way around very well, and in the end they will save you money with all the vendors, etc. In any case, if you need a driver, you should go this route and not try to drive on your own-its not worth the hassle or your life unless you are trying to commit suicide!!!! With some main roads/highways no wider than a single normal lane (for both directions), ox carts, 3 wheel taxis, and elephants coming at you, you are much better off hiring someone to drive you. It is a very mad but beautiful picture.