Tika Traveller

Discover Sri Lanka & Maldives From Those Who Know It Best

Blogs from Tikalanka are designed to enhance your knowledge of Sri Lanka and Maldives and keep you up to date with recent developments. We intend to post regular features on travel, news, lifestyle and accommodation as well as guest articles from current and past customers, which will give you first-hand experience of Tikalanka, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Category: Travel tips

TikaWeeks #43/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 26th October 2023

As a follow on from last week’s blog about travel and nature, this update focuses on the progress made by Responsible Travel since its inception in 2001. In its recently published impact report, Tipping the Scales, the trailblazing sustainable travel portal emphasises the three key elements to its fundamental ethos: carbon, nature and people. Ultimately it is a comprehensive overview of how it is working with global partners to minimise tourism’s harmful impact, and maximise the good.

Sir David Attenborough with gorillas in Rwanda (courtesy of the BBC)

TikaWeeks #42/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 20th October 2023

Nature, carbon and humanity are inextricably entwined with 50% of man-made CO2 sequestered by nature – but the story doesn’t end there: 75% of food crops are dependent on insect pollination, 80% of registered medicines come from plants and 85% of the world's largest companies have a high dependency on nature across direct operations. Nature is at the heart of everything and considering the planet’s lifeblood while travelling is vital.

Papare - a lively genre of Sri Lankan music - goes hand in hand with cricket (courtesy of Hafsa Adil/Al Jazeera)

TikaWeeks #40/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 3rd October 2023

Despite Sri Lanka’s crushing defeat at the hands of arch rivals India in front of a capacity home crowd in last month’s Asia Cup final, there were still plenty of smiling faces, dancing in the aisles and party music resounding around Colombo’s R. Premadasa cricket stadium. Even at the height of the island’s civil war and during the recent political and economic chaos, cricket has been a unifying force, a soothing balm at the time of crisis.

Lighthouse and mosque within the Dutch colonial era fort, Galle, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #39/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 27th September 2023

Sri Lanka is definitely making a comeback. With confidence building, 2024 should be a very positive year. Where better to start than the revitalised Galle Literary Festival, which runs from 25 to 28 January 2024. This now fabled event last ran in 2020 and has been attracting authors and visitors from across the world since the inaugural festival in 2015, which takes place in the vicinity of Galle's historic 17th century Dutch colonial era fort.

A rare super blue moon lighting up last night's sky (courtesy of Steve Brown/DC Thomson)

TikaWeeks #35/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 31st August 2023

“Blue moon, you saw me standing alone…” is the classic refrain sung by Old Blues Eyes himself but overnight we had the confluence of a blue moon and a super moon for our second full moon of the month. In Sri Lanka, full moon or Poya day is particularly significant to the Sinhalese Buddhist majority as the Buddha was born, found enlightenment and reached nirvana on the same full moon day. Every Poya day is celebrated throughout the year and each one has a different significance to Buddhists on the island.

Leopard prowling in Yala National Park, Sri Lanka (courtesy of Laurence Pordes)

TikaWeeks #33/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 14th August 2023

With the sighting of a melanistic (black) leopard cub in Yala National Park in March this year, interest in Sri Lanka’s apex predator has surged once more. Also in March, the inaugural Global Leopard Conference was hosted in South Africa. Leopards may be the most adaptable of the big cats, however the leopard’s global population and distribution are in decline. Many of the threats to leopard survival occur commonly across the world where leopards are found, and those protecting them are seeking better conservation solutions.

TikaWeeks #28/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 14th July 2023

Sustainability has rightly taken centre stage as we strive to combat climate change, but what does it really mean? By today’s common definition, to be sustainable we must balance how we meet human needs with our ability to continue to do so for the foreseeable future without degrading the natural environment. This update outlines the core principles of sustainability with regard to travel and Tikalanka.

Local school children on a well-earned drinks break, AMBA Estate, Ella, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #25/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 21st June 2023

For a “hands-on village experience” in Sri Lanka there is no better place than AMBA Estate, which is a community-run social enterprise in the stunning Uva Highlands outside of Ella in the southern Hill Country. Based around an organic farm, you will be interacting with villagers in a practical way during every activity at AMBA Estate, whether it is a tea plantation tour, a hike around the valley or artisanal product-making. Come and enjoy the fun!

TikaWeeks #24/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 15th June 2023

Resplendent Ceylon is the sole member of Relais & Chateaux in Sri Lanka, the global fellowship of family owned and operated luxury hotels and restaurants. We have enjoyed Ceylon Tea Trails, Cape Weligama and Wild Coast Tented Lodge for many years. Now their sister Reverie Collection – Kayaam House and Ahu Bay – opened in February to critical acclaim. Sharing Resplendent’s core values, Reverie encourages guests to slow down, be mindful, and embrace a simpler version of life, surrounded by nature and harmony.

TikaWeeks #23/2023: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 6th June 2023

As another sign of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery, the central bank cut interest rates for the first time in three years last week, while in May, India extended the US$1bn credit line by a year, further easing the financial burden on the country. Inflation is coming down, government revenues are looking up and pressure on the island's balance of payments is diminishing. "This can possibly be seen as an end to the crisis.”

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