Another Sri Lankan Ride

[FB666Y]

My route wasnt as ambitious as belgarathc's, howver we managed about 1000km.

The ride started in Negombo, and we rode to Kandy - an easy ride.

The roads are in pretty good condition - if anything they suffer from being somewhat narrow.

That coupled with the buses and trucks can slow you down to a crawl when approaching or leaving towns.

I understand India and China has been throwing a lot of money into the country's infrastructure.

 

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[FB666Y]

We spent a couple of days in Kandy before movinig off to Ella through Nurwaya Elia.

Plenty of tea plantations, and after Nurwaya Elia the road fell into disrepair, but there were road crews, and I think its only a matter of time before that stretch is up to scratch.

We stayed on a hill overlooking Ella's Gap and spent a couple of days riding around - plenty of trails that lea into tea plantations and the XR pretty much ate everything the road threw at it.

 

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[FB666Y]

More pictures from Ella:

 

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[FB666Y]

From Ella we made our way to Galle, the longest section of our trip - two up on an XR over 300odd kilometres can be taxing. After snaking through Ella's Gap (the roads were fantastic - made for sportbikes), the road flatten out till we hit the coast. Just outside of Galle we got stuck in an President Rajapakse election rally. That meant losing an hour as we got snarled in a nasty jam.

 

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[papabread79]

Nice. Keep them coming. Im reading.

[FB666Y]

Galle was picture postcard perfect - the 300 years old high fort walls kept it from the tsunami, and there a certain charm about the place that makes you want to stay longer. We tried the beaches in Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna, but the surf was ridiculously strong. The waves would crash on the beach and sent you helter skelter if you didnt have a porper footing.

 

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[FB666Y]

Nice. Keep them coming. Im reading.

 

Haha - glad you enjoyed them - but you will have to wait till at least tomorrow for the balance.

[belgarathc]

7258, looks like we really got the same bike. I did informed Suranga about the chain. Perhaps he didn't do anything about it.

 

More photos? Anyway, I just finished my ride in North Luzon. Would be home tmr!

[FB666Y]

The final section meant a 150km ride into Colombo on the main highway. Crowded and polluted, you will find remnants of tsunami-destroyed houses off the beaches. Most of the damage has been cleared, but every now and then you'd come across the shell of a house, its roof torn, and its beams broken.

 

Colombo was a bit tense - elections was a day or two away and most of the shops were closed. Galle Face - an open grassy area facing the sea was a beehive of activity come dusk, and the street food was quite exquisite.

 

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That should be it.

 

There's a huge military presence. You see it everywhere, on street corners, junctions, gas stations and so on. Even in rural areas, you stumbled across gun-nests and soldiers with AK-47s. Whether its on account of the civil war or the impending elections I dont know. It can be unnerving but on the plus side it should mean less crime - hopefully anyway.

 

The island can be a sportbike paradise - roads are good and plenty of knee-down bends in the hill-country.

 

Getting around is not an issue. The roads signs are straightforward and unambigous most of the time. The Sri Lankan do speak a smattering of English so its fairly easy to ask directions.

 

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country - its a pity that the north is still somewhat restricted. There's a lot of tourism potential and the Sri Lankans themselves are a model of friendliness and courteousy.

[FB666Y]

7258, looks like we really got the same bike. I did informed Suranga about the chain. Perhaps he didn't do anything about it.

 

More photos? Anyway, I just finished my ride in North Luzon. Would be home tmr!

 

Yes, same bike. Well, when I saw the bike and had a look at the chain I knew pretty much it was still the old chain. He assured me it had been tightened, but the teeths on the rear sprocket were sharp enough to cut meat on!

 

Unlike yours, on mine the chain slipped off and got entangled in the front sprocket. It was a simple affair of pulling off the sprocket cover, distengaling the chian, and fixing it back.

 

Luzon - should be mountains. I think its time you give India a try.

[belgarathc]

Yes, I would like to visit India. I have a rough Tamil Nadu loop planned since a while ago. I am also interested in the northern roads you have taken.

 

I would also like to ride in Nepal, Japan and Taiwan within the next few years.

[FB666Y]

Yes, I would like to visit India. I have a rough Tamil Nadu loop planned since a while ago. I am also interested in the northern roads you have taken.

 

I would also like to ride in Nepal, Japan and Taiwan within the next few years.

 

Go for the Himalayas first. August is a good time to head for Leh from Delhi.

 

Nepal is good during Nov and Dec, and will be quite easy after India (well, everything after northern India will seem easy). Japan is a bit steep, especially the bike rentals.

 

Let me know if you need more info for India.

[gunshead]

i am so shameful

 

i only rode by myself the furtest is to melaka alone

 

ceh

 

i spit on my own face

[belgarathc]

My next trip would probably be in Dec. Looks like Nepal is a good choice but I don't like to pay too much for air travel.

 

gunshead,

I haven't even rode my own bike into Malaysia before.

[gunshead]

belgarathc,

 

dedicate to you