The island off the southern coast of Hindustan used to be called Ceylon, and this is where the famous and delicious black Ceylon tea comes from. Today's life of Sri Lankans, of course, has received many modern signs and flows much faster than many centuries ago. But in the countryside, the good old traditions of Sri Lanka are still preserved, which a person traveling is so eager to get to know.
The beggars and the full moon
The poor inhabitants of the island have long been engaged in begging. Professional beggars is one of the traditions of Sri Lanka, which often causes some inconvenience to tourists. Having some small money in your pockets, you can stop the flow of people who want to receive financial assistance, but coins should be given, already leaving the viewed attraction or from the market.
The Sri Lankan tradition of the full moon has ancient roots. On this day, no one works on the island, so planning your shopping or travel needs to be taken care of in advance. On the day of Poya, when the full moon is shining proudly in the sky, it is customary to meditate and seek the meaning of life in all sorts of easy ways.
Chaos and unknown forces
Traffic on the island is one of the long-standing traditions of Sri Lanka. In the sense that the appearance of traffic lights and traffic controllers did not in any way affect the order on the roads, and renting a bike or a car in Ceylon is still equated with a stunt trick. Horses, people, cars, buses and bicycles are mixed in here, and driving on the opposite lane or the side of the road is generally not considered anything out of the ordinary.
There are only three rules of conduct on Sri Lankan highways:
- The preferential right of passage always has the one whose vehicle is larger. That is why local buses practically do not slow down at intersections.
- If your car is more expensive than the car of your counterpart, feel free to go first!
- For the priority right to cross Ceylon crossroads, it is important to buy a loud horn and not have a sense of shame. Then all other road users will yield, regardless of the signs and markings.
Useful little things
On the island, you should not use your left hand, touching the interlocutor when greeting, or while eating. She, according to the tradition of Sri Lanka, is considered not clean. Do not show your interlocutor your bare feet and always take off your shoes when entering the temple. Do not get naked on the beach beyond measure and do not practice topless sunbathing - at least they will not understand you or, even worse, may complain about such liberties to the local police.
