This is how I celebrated my new year....

neoranjit · 4th January 2008, 20:00

It all started when me and a couple of friends at work were wondering what do on this New Years Eve. Last year, startng at Plan A , we went upto Plan H and finally ended up at a disc which was the last thing we wanted to do .

This year had to be different. somehow, we came across AirIndia Express' website and found out that a return ticket to Colombo costs approx rs.4700. Yeah, 4700 INR. We booked the tickets not bothering abt stay, local travel, etc.

Browse for somemore time and we book rooms in a hotel in colombo for USD55 for three ppl including breakfast.

We left Chennai on 28th and got back on the 1st . Places that we went around were Colombo , Pinnawalla, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. So.. here are some pics that I shot there...

This is the bike that cops use

devon falls

Enroute to Kandy

SX4

Pinnawalla Elephant Orphanage

nitrous · 4th January 2008, 20:18

NICE! Like the locale.
I see U packed ur SX4 in ur backpack and took it along.

mjothi · 4th January 2008, 20:25

Seems you had a real treat for the Eyes!!!

Steeroid · 4th January 2008, 20:28

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, and more importantly one that is neat, clean and well-kept as well. It is difficult to comprehend how a few kilometers of sea water can lead to such a sea change in the attitude and discipline of the same race of people.

I love Sri Lanka. It is what I would want my home state to be except for the violence and the strife, because the geography is so much like Kerala's.

Surprising how few Indians actually travel there - a wonderful country and people that are just a short flight away!

Nitin · 4th January 2008, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeroid

I love Sri Lanka. It is what I would want my home state to be except for the violence and the strife, because the geography is so much like Kerala's.

Surprising how few Indians actually travel there - a wonderful country and people that are just a short flight away!

Something that I have always wondered about.. Why is it that very few Indians visit SL? Apart from the language,most South Indians would blend in with the locals in all aspects.

If only all the violence would end.. SL would be the perfect getaway.

Steeroid · 4th January 2008, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nitin

If only all the violence would end.. SL would be the perfect getaway.

Where in India can you offer Rs.300 to an autorickshaw driver, take over his vehicle and drive it around the city for the day. I've never been able to drive a Bajaj auto in India - I did it in Colombo!

neoranjit · 4th January 2008, 20:53

I was surprised to see so many indian vehicles there.. right from the 800 to alto to indica. There was even a Ambassador Showroom there

Seems the pulsar 180 sells for approx 1.5 lakhs Srilankan Rupee.

Nitin · 4th January 2008, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Where in India can you offer Rs.300 to an autorickshaw driver, take over his vehicle and drive it around the city for the day. I've never been able to drive a Bajaj auto in India - I did it in Colombo!

Really? Wow..now that must have been fun!

toiingg · 4th January 2008, 21:08

Beautiful pictures.

That road looks so tempting.

Lukeskywalker · 4th January 2008, 21:39

great holiday pics, I've heard SL is a very picturesque country, will try and go there this year.

Mpower · 4th January 2008, 21:46

Nice pics man. Was there for a weekend exactly 4 years ago en-route to Singapore. I was simply amazed by the number of high end imports in Colombo. There is no middle class in Srilanka. Just the super rich class with their 5-series Beemers and then the 100 cc riding commoners.

Srilanka allows import of 2nd hand cars and you see a lot of those too. We had a JDM Corolla as our private taxi.

TrueDreamer · 5th January 2008, 11:48

Nice Pics .I wish our infrastructure was as good as theirs

madan80 · 5th January 2008, 12:07

wow.. .the tea garden with the train looks like it could be anywhere in india- except the quality of the road looked nice.
Srilanka was a beautiful country- loaded with precious stones and mining riches. but the civil was has torn the place out.
But @ neo- looks like you guys had fun.

happy new year!

s0uljah · 5th January 2008, 12:26

Hey lovely pictures boss !!!! The beaches there are great too.

HotChillyPepper · 5th January 2008, 12:53

the ability to explore new things and Research & adventure is something make TeamBhps distingushed from others. Ours is not just a Forum but a culture like IIT, IIM etc. You prooved it once more Neo. Well done. Nice snaps and narration. Happy new year for you and your folks out there.
-HCP

4th January 2008, 20:00	#1
neoranjit BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 588 Thanked: 195 Times View My Garage	This is how I celebrated my new year.... It all started when me and a couple of friends at work were wondering what do on this New Years Eve. Last year, startng at Plan A , we went upto Plan H and finally ended up at a disc which was the last thing we wanted to do . This year had to be different. somehow, we came across AirIndia Express' website and found out that a return ticket to Colombo costs approx rs.4700. Yeah, 4700 INR. We booked the tickets not bothering abt stay, local travel, etc. Browse for somemore time and we book rooms in a hotel in colombo for USD55 for three ppl including breakfast. We left Chennai on 28th and got back on the 1st . Places that we went around were Colombo , Pinnawalla, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. So.. here are some pics that I shot there... This is the bike that cops use devon falls Enroute to Kandy SX4 Pinnawalla Elephant Orphanage Pinnawalla Elephant Orphanage
	() Thanks

4th January 2008, 20:18	#2
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	NICE! Like the locale. I see U packed ur SX4 in ur backpack and took it along.
	() Thanks

4th January 2008, 20:25	#3
mjothi Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,287 Thanked: 231 Times View My Garage	Seems you had a real treat for the Eyes!!!
	() Thanks

4th January 2008, 20:28	#4
Steeroid Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: N.A Posts: 7,046 Thanked: 2,751 Times	Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, and more importantly one that is neat, clean and well-kept as well. It is difficult to comprehend how a few kilometers of sea water can lead to such a sea change in the attitude and discipline of the same race of people. I love Sri Lanka. It is what I would want my home state to be except for the violence and the strife, because the geography is so much like Kerala's. Surprising how few Indians actually travel there - a wonderful country and people that are just a short flight away! Last edited by Steeroid : 4th January 2008 at 20:31.
	() Thanks

4th January 2008, 20:53	#7
neoranjit BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 588 Thanked: 195 Times View My Garage	I was surprised to see so many indian vehicles there.. right from the 800 to alto to indica. There was even a Ambassador Showroom there Seems the pulsar 180 sells for approx 1.5 lakhs Srilankan Rupee.
	() Thanks

4th January 2008, 21:08	#9
toiingg BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Calcutta Posts: 639 Thanked: 266 Times	Beautiful pictures. That road looks so tempting.
	() Thanks

4th January 2008, 21:39	#10
Lukeskywalker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,397 Thanked: 1,243 Times View My Garage	great holiday pics, I've heard SL is a very picturesque country, will try and go there this year.
	() Thanks

4th January 2008, 21:46	#11
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	Nice pics man. Was there for a weekend exactly 4 years ago en-route to Singapore. I was simply amazed by the number of high end imports in Colombo. There is no middle class in Srilanka. Just the super rich class with their 5-series Beemers and then the 100 cc riding commoners. Srilanka allows import of 2nd hand cars and you see a lot of those too. We had a JDM Corolla as our private taxi.
	() Thanks

5th January 2008, 11:48	#12
TrueDreamer BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 276 Thanked: 16 Times	Nice Pics .I wish our infrastructure was as good as theirs
	() Thanks

5th January 2008, 12:07	#13
madan80 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,360 Thanked: 80 Times View My Garage	wow.. .the tea garden with the train looks like it could be anywhere in india- except the quality of the road looked nice. Srilanka was a beautiful country- loaded with precious stones and mining riches. but the civil was has torn the place out. But @ neo- looks like you guys had fun. happy new year!
	() Thanks

5th January 2008, 12:26	#14
s0uljah Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: BLR Posts: 2,222 Thanked: 26 Times View My Garage	Hey lovely pictures boss !!!! The beaches there are great too.
	() Thanks

5th January 2008, 12:53	#15
HotChillyPepper BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bang_a_lore Posts: 628 Thanked: 289 Times View My Garage	the ability to explore new things and Research & adventure is something make TeamBhps distingushed from others. Ours is not just a Forum but a culture like IIT, IIM etc. You prooved it once more Neo. Well done. Nice snaps and narration. Happy new year for you and your folks out there. -HCP
	() Thanks