First 2 Days

Soon after I returned from previous bicycle trip I realized, that I can not wait till spring to be able to go again. I knew that I will lost my job anyway, so I decided to go somewhere on a bicycle travell to use my payed vacation. I decided for Sri Lanka because it is warm and also relatevely small. It was possible to cycle whole island in 1 month...I also had a friend who was interested to go with me, so I decided that maybe it is better to go with someone since I go first time in Asia. We purchased plane tickets in beggining of September trough www.expedia.com and payed for return tickets from Vienna to Colombo resonable 630,00 eur and counted the days till start of the trip.

If you want to visit Sri Lanka you need to get turistic visa for 30 days. Slovenians doesnt need any visa up to 30 days visit, so I didnt have to buy it and I dont know how much it costs.

1st DAY:4.12.

My friend Saša was so kind to drive us 250km with my car to Vienna Airport. There we wanted to pack bikes in boxes and we noticed, that I forgott key for taking pedals off. I had to run to nearest gas station and they didnt want to sell their only key. I had to leave 50 eur for guarantee there and they finally gaved me the key I desperately wanted. Gas station was 1 km away so I lost at least 20 minutes for way there and back. We were to late and check in desk was already closed. Somehow we managed to get on the plane anyway and flew in direction Doha and later to Colombo. It was long flight (arround 10 h) and we also had to wait 4 hours for connection in Doha.

2nd Day: 5.12.2009

We landed arround 7 in the morning. Because of the time difference, here is +4,5 hours. I was travelling for more than 20 h and was really tyred but glad, that it is over. We unpacked the bikes and placed things from our personal lagguge to bycicle bags. It is possible to take only 20 kg of luggage and this was almost exactly bicycle, bags and box(if you go over limit, 1kg=50 eur).We thrown boxes and small bags for personal luggage away. I regarded later for box because it was not easy (at all) to get it last day before return to home. We had again problem with key for pedals. I asked airport stuff to borrow us one, but unfurtunately they didnt have it. they gaved us tongs to be able to screw at least a bit to be able to cycle to hotel.
When we camed out we noticed that it is really hot already althou it is only 7 in the morning. In Sri Lanka weather is hot with humidity 70%. They have 12 hour long day whole year. It is day fromsix and get dar at 6 in the evening.
Airport is placed 30km out of Colombo. We didnt want to go to Colombo at all. It is big dirty overcrowded city...We reather cycled only 7,5 km to turistic town Negombo.
Negombo on the west coast is for most travellers or holiday takers first destination. Ussualy they stay day or two and than they go to different destination. It is nothing much to see here. Beches are nothing compared to south. Town compared to the others is good developed and you can find nice shops also.
We stayed in pension Ocean View for 2500 Rs(Sri Lanka Rupie) for double bed room with AC. No ocean was visible from our terace, but the room was nice.