‘We were at many sites where we were the only tourists’

Steve and Lia Bruce at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo on May 17, 2019 prior to their departure to Australia.

Lia Bruce at the economic zone in Dambulla.

Steve and Lia Bruce with their chauffeur guide Roy Karandeniya pose for a photograph where Prince Phillips’ Aston Martin is exhibited in the Heritage -1864 Galle Face Hotel’s Museum.

BY Sanath Nanayakkare

Steve Bruce and Lia Bruce – a couple from Australia visited Sri Lanka from May 3-May 17, at a time Sri Lanka was under pressure due to many adverse travel advisories. They chose to defy not only the travel advisories but also the odd atmosphere of palpable tension and instability in the country.

There were three reasons for them to do so. One- a Sri Lankan couple they met in Egypt had urged them to put Sri Lanka in their to-visit-list. Two – they believed that Sri Lanka’s security would be at its highest after the attacks. Three – they thought they shouldn’t give in to terrorists and cancel their bookings made in September 2018. The Island Financial Review had the pleasure of speaking to them at the Galle Face Hotel Colombo as they had just finished their holiday and were about to leave for the airport to catch SriLankan Airlines flight UL 604 back home, with ‘treasured memories forever lasting’.

Q. Lia, you and your husband Steve holidayed in Sri Lanka at a time the country was getting adverse publicity in terms of its security norms and standards. What made you ignore the warnings and come visit Sri Lanka?

I started research on Sri Lanka in May last year after travelling on a coach tour in Egypt February 2018 which included a Sri Lankan family from Melbourne. I had not previously considered Sri Lanka as a destination, but the conversations my husband Steve and I had with Imtiaz and Sheroza Mohamed made me consider it as a country for our “Bucket List”.

Also the more travel books and newspaper travel articles I read, the more evident it became that Sri Lanka was “a 2019 country to visit”. We confirmed our booking in September 2018.

Although Steve was hesitant after the attacks in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, for me there was never any question of cancelling our trip. Although Smarttraveller advised to “consider your travel” I felt that security would be at it’s highest and that we shouldn’t give in to terrorists, otherwise you would not go anywhere – today an incident or attack can happen anywhere in the world.

Q. After the two weeks, what positive experiences did you take home?

Steve and I had a full itinerary from the time we arrived till the time we departed. I had made changes to the set itinerary so that we made the most in visiting as many of the UNESCO World Heritage sites as possible while also enjoying  many other unique and traditional experiences along our tour.

* Completing the climb of “Lion Rock”- Sigiriya and receiving a blessing from a Buddhist monk ; * visiting the ancient city and sacred site  of Polonnaruwa, and enjoying a King coconut to support the stall holder as there were no other tourists ; * visiting Anuradhapura – seeing the notable Ruvanveliseya Dagoba and the Sacred Bodhi tree, also the enormous concrete rice bowl at the Mahaviharaya Alms Hall. At 1pm we met up and had photos taken with the only two other tourist couples there; * a late afternoon/ sunset safari drive at Minneriya National Park – seeing lots of birdlife and elephants crossing our path; * experiencing the aromas of an authentic spice garden; * the sights of Kandy – making a monetary offering at the ceremony in the Temple of the Tooth Relic, taking a golf buggy ride around in Peradeniya Botanical Garden with a driver who gave a comprehensive explanation on flora and fauna; * a sunset cruise on the Mahaweli River sighting birdlife and wildlife; * An amazing experience of the tea plantation countryside on the train journey from Kandy to Nanu Oya; having High Tea and meeting Mr. Nimal de Silva a World Champion snooker player at The Grand Hotel; * completing the arduous trek around Horton Plains /”  Mahaeliya Tenna”and admire the view from World’s End and Steve discovering a viper snake that needs to be confirmed by the rangers whether it was the first sighting in the park; * visiting and touring Labukelle Tea factory; * enjoying a meal at the Lion Pub – Nuwaraeliya; * viewing Ravana Falls; * enjoying a delicious seafood meal at Refresh in Tissa; * an afternoon and an early morning jeep safari in Yala National Park – sighting leopards (although not close up), mother and cub Sloth Bears, jackal, deer, and a diverse range of birdlife and other wildlife; * see the unique stilt fishermen; visiting a working rice mill; * taking a walk around Galle Fort and staying overnight at Fortaleza – once a Dutch spice warehouse; * experience holding a 15kg turtle at the Kosgoda Turtle Farm and Hatchery; * watch the workings of a moonstone mine at Mitiyagoda and  purchase a beautiful moonstone ring; * visit and learn about the art of traditional hand-made mask making at the Ariyapala Mask Museum and workshop in Ambalangoda; * cruise the Madu River wetlands through mangroves and visit Cinnamon Island; * staying at the heritage 1864 Galle Face Hotel – enjoying High Tea, seeing 4 weddings taking place, flag raising ceremony, seeing Prince Phillips’ Aston Martin in the Hotel Museum.

Q. You had an undesirable experience while in Galle. Tell us about it.

The disappointing experience was in relation to our accommodation in Galle which we found to be totally unsuitable and definitely not in line with the accommodation we had been staying in. Steve and I chose at our own expense to stay inside the Galle Fort at Fortaleza.

Q. How many countries have you and Steve visited and where would you position Sri Lanka on the global holiday destination map?

Steve and I have been very  fortunate in our travels to visit and experience the culture, history and people of many countries. USA, Canada, Alaska, Egypt, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Thailand, Indonesia, Fiji and South Pacific Islands, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Hawaii, Singapore and Greece. Having now visited Sri Lanka it would be a must- do for any tourist. To experience the many, an impressive eight UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites, be enthralled by the remarkable diverse natural beauty in its wildlife, birdlife, and lush tea plantations, the people and their culture are treasures that will carry life long memories.

Q. What did you think of your tour guide’s attitude to his job and his knowledge about what Sri Lanka has to offer for foreign visitors like yourself?

Steve and I were extremely fortunate to have the services of Mr Roy Karandeniya as our Chauffeur Guide for our travels in Sri Lanka. He is an accredited member of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority with 35 years experience. We would like to commend him on his professionalism and extensive knowledge of his country and always taking into account our comfort and safety. We also appreciated the promptness in which he dealt with certain arising issues and accommodating my many, many, photo stops. A true gentleman.

Q. Did the two of you eat any authentic Sri Lankan food, and if you did, how did you find it?

We did try an authentic Sri Lankan meal with a number of side dishes, however, our stomach isn’t quite used to so much curry and spices. I’m quite partial to Nasi Goreng and Steve his seafood.

We did enjoy our visit to the Women’s Agriculture Programme – “True Sri Lankan Taste” – where the women cooked with fresh produce from the agri garden. We could watch them cook Sri Lankan specialties and try such as – Red rice flour string hoppers, Roti, Ulundu Wadai, Cowpea Wadai, and a drink of fresh mango juice.

Q. Tell us about the Sri Lankan family you met in Egypt and what they told you about Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan family on our Egypt tour was Mr Imtiaz and Mrs Sheroza Mohamed and their daughter Saara.  They told us that it is a beautiful, full of culture country  to visit. I had emailed Imtiaz with our itinerary beforehand and that it covered many of main sites to visit.

Q. You own a business in Australia and you met one of your Sri Lankan customers whilst in Sri Lanka – a striking coincidence. How did that come about?

I own a toy store in Lakes Entrance, Victoria. I met and spoke to a young man who came from Melbourne and was a groomsman in a wedding being held at The Galle Face Hotel where we stayed. He had visited Lakes Entrance where we live.

Q. Were you satisfied with the security apparatus in place where you visited?

Throughout our travels we encountered many security measures – road blocks, military personnel on the roads and at accommodation places, our vehicle being checked, identification of guide and ourselves being checked, boom gates in place, body screenings (in tent), baggage checks, under the vehicle screenings. I thought the security was excellent.

Q. Would you recommend Sri Lanka Australians who haven’t visited here yet?

Yes, definitely. We would highly recommend a visit to discover the beauty Sri Lanka has to offer.

Q. Where do you think Sri Lanka tourism need to up its game?

I believe that the Tourism Authority and the Government need to work together to promote tourism to Sri Lanka. That terrorism doesn’t define a country or its people. The message should be world wide – be it on TV or in newspaper articles. The  attacks  shouldn’t be allowed to decimate the tourism Sri Lanka is reliant on. We were at many sites where we were the only tourists, and many hotels with only a few tourists. It is critical to promote Sri Lanka and the safety measures being put in place.

Q. Was Sri Lanka competitive price-wise with other destinations you have travelled?

Yes, we found Sri Lanka very price-wise with the purchases we made.  Especially happy with the Noritake crockery and Moonstone ring. The many road-side stalls we purchased fruit and items from were incredibly inexpensive.

Q. Tell us about your flights to and from Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka airport services.

We flew from Melbourne on Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL 605 and returned on flight UL 604 from Colombo. The flight was comfortable and staff attentive. We experienced extra security measures at the airport which was appreciated.

Q. Where do you plan to explore next and why?

Steve and I will be travelling and exploring Turkey for two weeks from the 27th August 2019. Another country to tick off the “Bucket List”. A country full of history, culture and amazing scenery. Looking forward to the balloon ride in Cappadocia over the fairy chimney rock formations and the Gallipoli Anzac Memorial in respect to the fallen.

Our incredible adventure in Sri Lanka has given us a greater understanding of your people, history and culture. It has given us so much more than we expected for which we are very grateful and treasured memories forever lasting. We sincerely say THANK YOU.

liabruce1957@gmail.com

Source: http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=205060