Sri Lanka

[prjwebb]

Sounds like a good trip!

I agree at Arugam you've got to assert yourself a bit else you don't get waves. People than push it too far soon get put in their place by the older Aussies though.

[twtw]

hey guys,

was wondering if it was the sort of place you could take a non surfing wife?
We have been looking at A'bay as a holiday spot for a while and was just wondering if there was enough to do for a non surfing partner?
we just got back from our honeymoon in the maldive's. We stayed down in the south male atoll at holiday inn kandooma. It was a great spot had enough for her to do while i was out surfing. Had a great break on the island and the boat transfer's to nearby reefs were reasonbly priced.The surf never got masive(shoulder high max) only used my spit but was super clean, uncrowded, warm and clear water with heaps of sea life. Shared one peak(riptides) with at least 4 manta rays that didn't seem bothered by us.

any info on trips where you and you wife, maybe even kids would be greatly appreciated.

[prjwebb]

Not much to do besides snorkelling/sun bathing in A Bay. You could go wildlife hunting too, plenty of elephants and monkeys etc around. I'm sure there's companies that do safari tours.
There's some pretty fun waves about too if the wife fancied a go on a surfboard. It's not a very developed area though, not sure that there's even any proper hotels. Lots of small apartments and shacks, I think there's some nicer places too but there's nothing luxury so it depends what you're after. It's certainly not the Maldives though. Expect plenty of other surfers in peak season!

[JVSouth]

In Sri Lankau there is Galle in the South West - a well preserved historic town with hotels in Colonial buildings. You could do a day surfing trip from there. Unnawatuna and and Mirissa are pretty bays with hotels nice to laze on the beach and sightseeing attractions around the area. They are in the southern surfing zones. Sweet relief from the tropical heat in the hill country - Nuwara Eliya is up high and cool, known as little England for its colonial buildings/hotels. Very scenic road journey there or look at train trips - no surf in the mountains. Other mountain towns around - Kandy is much larger with more built sights, to do but not as high/cool. I would take my partner there but plan carefully to mix up the places stayining in to accommodate non surfing interests. It is not highly touristed but offers great cultural and scenic interest, more "authentic" than some resort style destinations.