LEAGUE GOTHIC VIETNAM TRAVEL

DESTINATION

TRAVELERS GUIDE

BanGkok

HISTORY Indo-Aryan emigration from India in the 5th century B.C. came to form the largest ethnic group on Sri Lanka today, the Sinhalese. Tamils, the second-largest ethnic group on the island, were originally from the Tamil region of India and emigrated between the 3rd century B.C. and A.D. 1200. Until colonial powers controlled Ceylon (the country's name until 1972), Sinhalese and Tamil rulers fought for dominance over the island. The Tamils, primarily Hindus, claimed the northern section of the island and the Sinhalese, who are predominantly Buddhist, controlled the south. In 1505 the Portuguese took possession of Ceylon until the Dutch India Company claimed control (16581796). The British took over in 1796, and Ceylon became an English Crown colony in 1802. The British developed coffee, tea and rubber plantations. On Feb. 4, 1948, after pressure from Ceylonese nationalist leaders (which briefly unified the Tamil and Sinhalese), Ceylon became a self-governing dominion of the Commonwealth of Nations. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike became prime minister in 1956 and championed Sinhalese nationalism making Sinhala the country's only official language and including state support of Buddhism, further marginalizing the Tamil minority. He was assassinated in 1959 by a Buddhist monk. His widow, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, became the world's first female prime minister in 1960. The name Ceylon was changed to Sri Lanka on May 22, 1972.

THE PEOPLESri Lanka is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural society, a reflection of the islands encounter with successive foreign immigrants. It all began with indigenous people, the Veddahs, hunter-gatherers who exist today. The main ethnic groups are the Sinhalese and Tamils, both originally from the Indian subcontinent. Then there are Muslims, who settled in the island from the time it became an ancient trading center. Similarly, Malays and Chinese were also attracted to the island. The Portuguese and British brought with them Kaffirs from Africa, the Dutch an assortment of European traders, the Burghers and the Chetties from South India. Whatever their situation in society, the people of Sri Lanka possess a warm and friendly nature reflected in persistent smiling faces and eagerness to help those unfamiliar with aspects of local life. Youll find that Sri Lankans are very hospitable and take pride in inviting people to their homes, however modest they may be. So dont be surprised if a driver or guide requests the pleasure of your company; Sri Lankan hospitality is taken very seriously and is not to be disrespected.

POPULATION21.2 million

TIMESri Lanka Standard Time is 5-1/2 hours ahead of GMT and allowance should be made for summer time changes in Europe. From North America add +13.5 PST, +12.5 MST, +11.5 CST and +10.5 EST.

VISASEffective January 2012 all tourists and business travelers arriving into Sri Lanka must have Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for entering into the country. A valid passport is required for entry into Sri Lanka and the expiration date must be six months after your return date of your current planned trip. INSURANCEIt is strongly advised that the traveler purchase travel insurance prior to departure to cover any sickness or illness that may arise during their travels.

LANGUAGESri Lanka has two official languages, Sinhala and Tamil with English as a link language used in government offices and spoken fluently by about 10% of the population.

COMMON BAHASA PHRASES STU-DI means "Thank You" EPA means "I don't want." e.g for people selling things on the beach etc. KEEYADA means "how much", eg. if one wants to inquire the price of anything. ENNA means "come" eg if one wants to ask some to come. YANNA means "go" OYAGE NAMA MOKAKKDA? means "what is your name?" HARITH means "OK" or "Fine" eg. when you have had enough of something. CURRENCY The local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) divided into 100 cents. Currency notes are Rs5000,Rs2000, Rs1000, Rs500, Rs100, Rs50, Rs20 and Rs10. Beware of mistaking the Rs500 note for the similar Rs100 note. To check whether notes are genuine when not given at a bank, look for a lion watermark. Make sure you have plenty of lower denomination notes (Rs50, Rs100, Rs500) as change is often hard to come by apart from hotels and large shops.

CREDIT CARDSMost hotels, restaurants and shopping centers accept major credit cards. Some establishments may try to add a surcharge, which is illegal.

TIPPING Service charges of 10% are added to bills in most leading hotels and restaurants. Where it is not included, a tip of 10-15% of the bill would be appropriate. Airport porter/hotel bellboy: $1.00 - $ 2.00 US per bag. Your tour guide: $10.00 - $ 12.00 US per person per day. Driver/assistants: $ 6.00 - $ 7.00 US per person per day.

ETIQUETTE The Nepalese are very polite people. Handshaking is customary for both men and women upon introduction and smiling is definitely a national tradition. There are a few taboos - The use of the left hand to give and receive as well as crooking your finger to call someone are considered impolite. Improper dressing is probably the most significant and visible faux pas committed by visitors. Modesty applies to men as well as women, but women should be especially careful to cover the upper arms and legs and avoid tight or revealing clothing. When entering homes, shoes are usually left at the door. The same applies to temples and monasteries, especially if the shoes are leather ones. Watch what others do. Children can become veritable pests in their desire to pose for photography, but it's polite to seek permission before photographing an adult: by smile and gesture, if not verbally. Don't sit or stand on statues, chortens, chaityas, prayer walls or any vaguely religious object. Buddhism maters here and pervades every aspect of daily life. When visiting a temple always walk clockwise around Buddhist stupas, chortens or mani walls. Always remove your shoes before entering a Buddhist or Hindu temple or sanctuary. There are many rules, but they are constantly repeated, so you won't make any mistakes. If you do, the Bhutanese will forgive you if they see you are trying to be reverent. It's the custom to give a white scarf of khata to a Buddhist abbot when you are introduced. You may be subjected to a rapid barrage of questions on personal subjects. This is not considered rude, but if you feel it is you can change the subject, or start questioning the questioner. Among Hindu castes, cooked food is a primary vehicle for ritual contamination. Any food or utensil that touches the lips is juto, ritually impure, and should not be given to anyone else. Empty glasses and dishes should be placed on the ground, away from cooked food. Drinking chang or butter tea in a Sherpa home is a ritual in which a quest's glass is refilled (or at least topped up) at least three times in the course of the first few minutes. Pace yourself and allow the server to do his or her duty. Body language can be confusing. Bobbing the head from side to side signals agreement, not 'no' and when a Nepali waves 'come' it looks as if he saying 'go'. Pointing with the finger is impolite; villagers use their chins to point. Physical contact between the sexes, even hand-holding, is frowned upon in public, but it's perfectly all right for members of the same sex. As in most of Asia, time is a malleable concept and promptness is a relative thing. If it does not happen today it may happen tomorrow. This charmingly, relaxed approach can be infuriating if you are waiting for something urgent. It's good to donate a few rupees to genuine beggars, religion mendicants, wandering minstrels or the blind, crippled or ill. Beggars who harass are a different category, as are begging children. Many are quite well off, and play 'one rupee, one pen, on chocolate as a game. Confrontation and aggression are avoided at all costs, and people will go to great lengths to save face and not push an issue or person to the wall. Polite persistence may calmly make it clear you're not interested in the object they're shoving in your face.

HEALTHThe risk of malaria exists throughout the country apart from the districts of Colombo, Kalutara and Nuwara Eliya. Take caution to avoid bowel diseases such as diarrhea and amoebic dysentery, Dengue Fever and a variety of fungal infections. Be aware of unsanitary preparation of food particularly from street vendors and in remote areas. Under cooked fish (especially shellfish) and meat (especially pork and mince) can be hazardous. Salads can be risky if rinsed with un-purified water, avoid peeled fruit and vegetables and be cautious of ice cream and ice cubes. Sometimes there are power outages Sri Lanka, especially away from urban centers, so it pays to be suspicious of all refrigerated foods if you know there has been a recent outage in your area. VACCINATIONSThere are no mandatory inoculations required unless you are coming from a yellow fever or cholera area. However, the following vaccinations are recommended: Typhoid Fever, Polio, Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and children should be protected against Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Mumps, Measles and Rubella. It is best to seek the advice of your physician and follow proper recommendations.

LOCAL HEALTH CAREMinor health problems can always be treated by doctors with practices in the resorts and elsewhere in the country. If you have a more serious problem, Colombo now boasts a selection of modern well-equipped private hospitals offering the latest in conventional medical and surgical therapies.

WHAT TO PACKCotton clothing is useful at any time of the year; however, it is wise to have available a sweater with light jacket for the cooler mountainous areas and a rain jacket or umbrella. Modest dress for women is advisable especially off the beach and when visiting religious sites. Comfortable walking shoes along with beach sandals are optimum. If you are planning to trek and climb go prepared with suitable gear. It is best if water sport enthusiasts bring their own snorkels and diving equipment. The electric current in Sri Lanka is 230-240V, 50 cycles alternating current. Since voltage tends to fluctuate quite often in Sri Lanka, it is safer to bring a stabilizer if you are using sensitive electronic equipment, such as a computer. Two and three pin round plugs are used widely and adapters are readily available at electrical stores.

ETIQUETTE The Nepalese are very polite people. Handshaking is customary for both men and women upon introduction and smiling is definitely a national tradition. There are a few taboos - The use of the left hand to give and receive as well as crooking your finger to call someone are considered impolite. Improper dressing is probably the most significant and visible faux pas committed by visitors. Modesty applies to men as well as women, but women should be especially careful to cover the upper arms and legs and avoid tight or revealing clothing. When entering homes, shoes are usually left at the door. The same applies to temples and monasteries, especially if the shoes are leather ones. Watch what others do. Children can become veritable pests in their desire to pose for photography, but it's polite to seek permission before photographing an adult: by smile and gesture, if not verbally. Don't sit or stand on statues, chortens, chaityas, prayer walls or any vaguely religious object. Buddhism maters here and pervades every aspect of daily life. When visiting a temple always walk clockwise around Buddhist stupas, chortens or mani walls. Always remove your shoes before entering a Buddhist or Hindu temple or sanctuary. There are many rules, but they are constantly repeated, so you won't make any mistakes. If you do, the Bhutanese will forgive you if they see you are trying to be reverent. It's the custom to give a white scarf of khata to a Buddhist abbot when you are introduced. You may be subjected to a rapid barrage of questions on personal subjects. This is not considered rude, but if you feel it is you can change the subject, or start questioning the questioner. Among Hindu castes, cooked food is a primary vehicle for ritual contamination. Any food or utensil that touches the lips is juto, ritually impure, and should not be given to anyone else. Empty glasses and dishes should be placed on the ground, away from cooked food. Drinking chang or butter tea in a Sherpa home is a ritual in which a quest's glass is refilled (or at least topped up) at least three times in the course of the first few minutes. Pace yourself and allow the server to do his or her duty. Body language can be confusing. Bobbing the head from side to side signals agreement, not 'no' and when a Nepali waves 'come' it looks as if he saying 'go'. Pointing with the finger is impolite; villagers use their chins to point. Physical contact between the sexes, even hand-holding, is frowned upon in public, but it's perfectly all right for members of the same sex. As in most of Asia, time is a malleable concept and promptness is a relative thing. If it does not happen today it may happen tomorrow. This charmingly, relaxed approach can be infuriating if you are waiting for something urgent. It's good to donate a few rupees to genuine beggars, religion mendicants, wandering minstrels or the blind, crippled or ill. Beggars who harass are a different category, as are begging children. Many are quite well off, and play 'one rupee, one pen, on chocolate as a game. Confrontation and aggression are avoided at all costs, and people will go to great lengths to save face and not push an issue or person to the wall. Polite persistence may calmly make it clear you're not interested in the object they're shoving in your face.

PEOPLEPeople of Sri Lanka can be categorised on two bases: ethnic groups and religion. On ethnic base biggest group are the Sinhalese and then the Tamils. On basis of religion followers of Buddhism form the largest community in Sri Lanka. As for education most rural people recieve traditional education. European government introduced western education in Sri Lanka. People of Sri Lanka are divided into four ethnic groups. These are the Sinhalese, the Tamils, the Muslims, and the Burghers. According to a data collected in 2001 the population percentage in Sri Lanka is: Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10%. Two chief characteristics that mark a person's ethnic heritage are language and religion. Sinhals are the largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka. Historians have concluded that groups from north India who migrated to the island around 500BC were later known as Sinhals. Most Sinhals are the followers of Buddhism. Buddhist monasteries are the centres of cultural life for the Sinhalese. Forefathers of the Tamils migrated to Sri Lanka from southern India particularly Tamil Nadu. Most Tamils in Sri Lanka are Hindus. Lankan Tamils are united by their common religions beliefs, and the Tamil language and culture. As for the Lankan Muslims they have separate places of worship, religious and cultural heroes, ways of society, and even languages.

Lankan Muslim community can be segregated into three main sections--the Sri Lankan Moors, the Indian Moors, and the Malays, each with its own history and rituals.

RELIGIONBuddhist 69%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10%.

PHOTOGRAPHYSri Lanka is a photographer's delight. However, permits are required before you can take photos of Buddhist imagery at certain sites as well as some important restrictions that one must follow. When you visit a temple or other religious site please remember that photography should not be carried out in a manner causing disrespect, as it is strictly forbidden to be photographed in front of or beside any statues and murals. You may purchase a photography permit from the Central Cultural Fund office at Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Kandy. When you wish to photograph one of the locals, it shows respect to ask for their permission first and they will also expect a token of compensation for allowing themselves to be the subject of your photo.

ETIQUETTE The Nepalese are very polite people. Handshaking is customary for both men and women upon introduction and smiling is definitely a national tradition. There are a few taboos - The use of the left hand to give and receive as well as crooking your finger to call someone are considered impolite. Improper dressing is probably the most significant and visible faux pas committed by visitors. Modesty applies to men as well as women, but women should be especially careful to cover the upper arms and legs and avoid tight or revealing clothing. When entering homes, shoes are usually left at the door. The same applies to temples and monasteries, especially if the shoes are leather ones. Watch what others do. Children can become veritable pests in their desire to pose for photography, but it's polite to seek permission before photographing an adult: by smile and gesture, if not verbally. Don't sit or stand on statues, chortens, chaityas, prayer walls or any vaguely religious object. Buddhism maters here and pervades every aspect of daily life. When visiting a temple always walk clockwise around Buddhist stupas, chortens or mani walls. Always remove your shoes before entering a Buddhist or Hindu temple or sanctuary. There are many rules, but they are constantly repeated, so you won't make any mistakes. If you do, the Bhutanese will forgive you if they see you are trying to be reverent. It's the custom to give a white scarf of khata to a Buddhist abbot when you are introduced. You may be subjected to a rapid barrage of questions on personal subjects. This is not considered rude, but if you feel it is you can change the subject, or start questioning the questioner. Among Hindu castes, cooked food is a primary vehicle for ritual contamination. Any food or utensil that touches the lips is juto, ritually impure, and should not be given to anyone else. Empty glasses and dishes should be placed on the ground, away from cooked food. Drinking chang or butter tea in a Sherpa home is a ritual in which a quest's glass is refilled (or at least topped up) at least three times in the course of the first few minutes. Pace yourself and allow the server to do his or her duty. Body language can be confusing. Bobbing the head from side to side signals agreement, not 'no' and when a Nepali waves 'come' it looks as if he saying 'go'. Pointing with the finger is impolite; villagers use their chins to point. Physical contact between the sexes, even hand-holding, is frowned upon in public, but it's perfectly all right for members of the same sex. As in most of Asia, time is a malleable concept and promptness is a relative thing. If it does not happen today it may happen tomorrow. This charmingly, relaxed approach can be infuriating if you are waiting for something urgent. It's good to donate a few rupees to genuine beggars, religion mendicants, wandering minstrels or the blind, crippled or ill. Beggars who harass are a different category, as are begging children. Many are quite well off, and play 'one rupee, one pen, on chocolate as a game. Confrontation and aggression are avoided at all costs, and people will go to great lengths to save face and not push an issue or person to the wall. Polite persistence may calmly make it clear you're not interested in the object they're shoving in your face.

CLIMATESri Lanka is tropical, with distinct dry and wet seasons. The seasons are slightly complicated by having two monsoons. From May to August the Yala monsoon brings rain to the islands southwestern half, while the dry season here lasts from December to March. The southwest has the highest rainfall up to 4000mm a year. The Maha monsoon blows from October to January, bringing rain to the North and East, while the dry season is from May to September. The North and East are comparatively dry, with around 1000mm of rain annually. There is also an inter-monsoonal period in October and November when rain can occur in many parts of the island. Colombo and the low-lying coastal regions have an average temperature of 80F. At Kandy (altitude 500m/1640ft), the average temperature is 68F, while Nuwara Eliya (at 1889m/6197ft) has a temperate 16C average. The sea stays at around 80F all year.

THE LANDSri Lanka is an island nation located off the southern coast of India in South Asia. Sri Lanka is bordered by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar in the Laccadive Sea and the Palk Strait which separates Sri Lanka from India. Sri Lanka is situated to the southwest of the Bay of Bengal. As an island nation, Sri Lanka does not share land borders but does have maritime borders with India. Sri Lanka has a total area of about 25,332 square miles and a population of over 21 million. The terrain in Sri Lanka is mostly coastal plains with some mountains in the south and has nine provinces that serve as governing bodies of the country. The capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, which is sometimes simply called Kotte. Kotte is a suburb of the largest city in Sri Lanka which is Colombo. Other major cities in Sri Lanka include Dehiwala, Moratuwa, and Negombo.

COLOMBO Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecRainfall(inches) 2.3 2.9 5.0 9.7 15.5 7.3 4.8 4.7 9.7 14.4 16.3 6.9Min Temp (F) 72 72 74 76 78 78 81 81 81 80 80 79Max Temp (F) 87 88 89 89 88 86 86 86 86 86 86 86

KANDY Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecRainfall(inches) 11 9 13 16 19 23 21 20 21 22 20 19Min Temp (F) 64 64 66 69 69 69 69 69 68 68 68 66Max Temp (F) 82 86 87 87 86 82 82 82 82 82 82 82

FOODThe cultivation of many types of rice, spices, vegetables and fruit, coupled with past foreign influences, ensures that Sri Lanka enjoys a varied and select cuisine. As a staple, rice is consumed with an assortment of colorful curries (eggplant, potato, green banana, chicken, and fish) that range in potency from delicately spiced to near dynamite. Other Sri Lankan staples include hoppers (a pancake-like snack), string hoppers (steamed rice noodles) and pittu (a mixture of flour and coconut). Lamprais, rice and accompaniments baked in plantain leaves which is a legacy of the Dutch. Seafood lovers will rejoice at the fresh fish, prawns, crab, squid and crayfish available. Desserts include buffalo curd eaten with palm-honey and the Malay derived caramel-like wattalapam. Sri Lanka has a wonderful array of snacks, known as short eats, named cutlets, patties, malu pang (fish bun), and kimbula bunis (crocodile-shaped bun) that are excellent for trips. Delectable fruit includes the popular mango, pineapple, banana and papaya but also many lesser-known but distinctive examples such as sapodilla, mangosteen, rambuttan, woodapple, custard apple and beli.

WATER SAFETYTap water is not safe to drink! Boiling and filtering is sometimes done too hastily in some hotels and restaurants, so the best solution is to drink bottled water. Be certain that the bottle carries an SLS certification and that the seal is broken only in your presence. Beware of ice unless you are certain that it has not been made from tap water and avoid using tap water while brushing your teeth. It is best to always use bottled water.

ARTArts of Sri Lanka have achieved great heights during the course of history. All the Sri Lankan art forms like dance, music, sculpture, paintings and architecture have enjoyed development. Influence of Buddhism on the arts of Sri Lanka is obvious as is the impact of India. Originated religious beliefs of the people are the base of Sri Lanka arts. Every phase in the history of Sri Lanka has added some characteristic elements to Sri Lankan arts.

HANDICRAFTSSri Lanka takes pride in its extensive variety of handicrafts. Tradition of making handicrafts is very old. Requirements of the people and their artistic tastes combined themselves to make these articles. These handicrafts serve as wonderful souvenirs and can be found in shops and stores in all parts of the country. Mask: Sri Lankans exclusively use masks, facial decorative wear. Since ancient times, the masks are being used in rituals, dramas, and curing sickness. Traditional Sri Lankans think that masks have curative power for various physical and physiological illnesses. Most masks are made of light wood called kaduru. Pottery: Pottery is one of the oldest crafts in Sri Lanka. Pottery is still used by thousands of people as a daily utensil. More intricate products likes terracotta figures, carved vases, etc are taken back by the visitors as souvenirs. Batiks: Batik is basically an Indonesian art, but has evolveded in Sri Lanka into its unique style. Tourists can find hundreds of variety of batiks sold throughout the island. More popular among these are the batik pictures made in Kandy and Fresco Batiks on the Peradeniya road in the outskirts of Kandy. Jewelry: Sri Lanka is excellent producer of jewelry. It benefits its own economy to great extent. There are two conventions of jewelry making: Galle tradition and Kandyan tradition. The Galle tradition is known for its precious stones while the Kandyan tradition is carried by its intricate metal work.

SHOPPINGShopping in Sri Lanka can take many forms, such as haggling with a handicraft seller while sunbathing on the beach, choosing fruit from the traditional village store or checking out the bargain-priced international fashions (Sri Lanka is a major garment exporter) while enjoying the ambience of a luxurious shopping centre in Colombo. Visit a handicraft shop and familiarize yourself with traditional designs such as makara, a mythical animal, lion, swan, elephant and lotus which are most evident in brass work boxes, trays, lanterns or vases as well as silver ornately carved and filigree jewelry and tea-sets that make excellent souvenirs. In addition ritual masks, lacquer ware, batik and handloom textiles, lace and wood carvings are popular. Last but certainly not least, Sri Lanka has the widest variety of precious stones among the worlds gem producing countries such as blue sapphires, star sapphires, rubies, cats eye, garnets, moonstones, aquamarines and topazes being just a dazzling handful. Whats more Sri Lanka naturally has a tradition in jewelry making so you can bring your gems to life.

CUSTOMSUpon leaving the country you are allowed to export up to 10kg of tea duty free. Antiques, which is defined as anything more than 50 years old, rare books, palm-leaf manuscripts and anthropological material cannot be exported without permission from the Director of National Archives www.archives.gov.lk and the Director of Archaeology www.archaeology.gov.lk. Located in the capital city of Colombo. Purchasing and/or exporting without a license, of any wild animal, plants, flora, or parts of, either dead or alive is strictly prohibited. The export of coral, shells or other protected marine products is also strictly prohibited. Applications for licensing may be obtained from the Director of the Department of Wildlife Conservation or the Forest Department