Travel Blog | About TravelBlog | World Facts | Travel Wallpaper | Travel Forum | Travel Insurance | Services | Cameras

DANGER ZONES

 Asia » Sri Lanka
Topic Type: Other
PAKISTAN AND SRI LANKA - are they safe for female caucasian traveller
Felix Cemmell
bohemianwonderwoman
Felix Cemmell
Post Count: 34
I'm planning a trip to some dive sites on the East coast of Sri Lanka next month. I'll have to travel by train or car from Colombo to the East coast. Does anyone know if there's any likelyhood of targetting tourists on route?

I'm also planning to do some voluntary work in Karachi later in the year for 1 month. Is there a likelikood of targetting westerners in the city or on route from India by train?

Would love to hear anyone's experiences on either...
Nishantha
nishantha076
Nishantha
Post Count: 5
Hi,

Even though there were problems for last 25 years or more but tourists have never been a target for them.

Nishantha
Mell
Mell
Mell
Post Count: 13894
I am not sure Pakistan is safe for anybody at the moment. The situation there seems to be unpredictable.



Pakistan at war? Is it still safe to travel there?


But, you have probably been there by now Felix? If so, how was it? Did you feel safe?

Mel
[Edited: 07:25 - Mell ]
vaibhav malhotra
vaibhav 81
vaibhav malhotra
Post Count: 22
Hi ,

I do not intend to sound anti-pakistan...but current situation in NORTH WESTERN AREAS bordering AFghanistan are highly unstable......Pakistan has many islamist groups who do not see favourably to women folks ...But I have heard the punjabi dominated areas like Islamabad ..Lahore are better than rest of the country.

regards,
Vaibhav

Sooriyajeevan
Sooriyajeevan
Post Count: 2

Sri Lanka is not safe



Despite the end of civil war, military checkpoints are all over the place. You risk being get caught in cross fire. Besides, the government now has evidence to believe banned journalists and foreign government agents pretend as tourists to enter the country. Therefore, there is a high level of suspicion on foreigners. Journalists, human rights activists and foreign government agents are particularly interested in the East Cost regions and Northern region of Sri Lanka. Unless you are interested in a government sponsored tour or event you may want to avoid Sri Lanka at this time.


Sooriyajeevan

Ish
Ishanth
Post Count: 3
[Edited: 08:01 - Ish ]
Felix Cemmell
bohemianwonderwoman
Felix Cemmell
Post Count: 34
I certainly won't be going over in the near future...even if there looks to be peace it's not going to be overnight...
Felix Cemmell
bohemianwonderwoman
Felix Cemmell
Post Count: 34
I haven't got to Pakistan yet...I was going to go last january, but with all the commotion with the Mumbai attacks being linked to Pakistani militants etc...I decided not to risk it...I'm thinking to give it another go this coming January if it's all calmed down...we'll see. I'm back in the UK at the moment saving my pennies til then...what are your plans Mell?
Mell
Mell
Mell
Post Count: 13894
I am off to Brazil and Uruguay in November, Felix. I have a list of 'want to go tos' for next year, but I have to wait until after Christmas before I buy the flight tickets. I wish I could just buy the tickets now, because more and more keeps going on the list and deciding is getting harder and harder. And everytime I think I have decided, somebody here on TravelBlog will start talking about a great destination and that gets added to my list too.

I just read a blog by somebody who just travelled through Pakistan with Oz bus. They had a lot of armed guards with them all the time. She was also in Iran during the riots. From the blog she wrote it seems like it was a scary experience.
Here is a link to her profile page. Turkishdelight

samaranayake
K Samaranayake
Post Count: 1

Sri Lanka - strictly danger zone


1. Check US travel warnning, June 2009
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3011.html
http://srilanka.usembassy.gov/warden_information.html

2. 170 people died for deadly Dengu Fever in a month (July, 2009 - including travellers)
3. SL is worst place for election violances in the world. Elections months are comming up in SL. Better be aware of them.
4. There is no saftey law's in Sri Lanka for tourist. Even a valid insurance would give you nothing as per Sri Lankan law.
[Edited: 16:03 - samaranayake - update]

daveMr
david moore
Post Count: 1
I have travelled to Sri Lanka recently (including India/Maldives/Indonesia). Once I landed in Sri Lanka, I really felt why Sri Lanka was a tourist place...

It was one of the worst places I have seen as a tourist. Allmost all the hotels and tour operators are lieng as much as possible. Everybody want to make some money out of it. For me, it is not a relaxing place. Most of the time I spent to safeguard me instead of enjoying tourism.

Never Again in my Life Time !!!

Oceanboy
Sunny King
Post Count: 7
Returned from Sri Lanka three weeks ago. Had a restful time. Avoided the North and East - even though the guns have been silenced in that part (after 30 years), I thought it best to stay away on this trip. Had a great time on the beaches. Mount Lavinia beach (West) has great restuarants. Must confess that I spent a bit to make sure I got the best - avoid the cheap deals - its well worth it. Plan on going back in a few months to have another go at the lobster and perhaps take a trip to Trincomalee (East) - things shouda died down even further by then and the seas would be calmer (avoid the Monsoon season?). Good luck!
[Edited: 18:18 - Oceanboy - forgot to add Monsoon season info]
Number of Users: 9
Number of Posts: 12
To Reply - Join - Just Fill in this Form!
Your Nickname: (No punctuation)
Your Full Name:
Your Email:
Confirm Your Email: