What Are The Unique Things To Do In Sapporo? Exploring The Capital Of Hokkaido  

BY  Sibashree May 4, 2026

Once you cross the massive bay of Weligama, you will find many hidden beaches and coves on the south-western coast.  There is a stretch that goes through small inlets and has beautiful golden sands. These inlets with coconut palms are called Midigama collectively.  While Midigama will win your heart with its quaint beauty at first glance, it is more popular as a surfing spot for intermediates.  It is no less than a treasure hunt with unexplored reefs and secret waves.  Moreover, the surf spots of the Midigama Beach, such as Lazy Left or Ahangama, are diverse and unique in the experience they offer.  However, a local professional surfer confided that the Coconuts are the best surfing spot if you already have some skills.  Hi, are you planning a trip to Midigama Beach anytime soon? Read this blog to know about the location, surfing sports, and more about this beautiful beach.  Where Is Midigama Beach?  The cluster of beaches, known as the Midigama Beach, is between Weligama and Ahangama, a popular beach town and surfing spot.  Furthermore, the beach spans an area of 6 kilometers, including the clusters of inlets.  The best and most budget-friendly way to reach Midigama. It is a train ride of around 3 hours and 15 minutes, and the ticket cost me around Rs. 240.  I took the train from Colombo Fort at 6:15 PM and reached Midigama at 9:25 PM, and the ticket price was Rs 550 for the second class.  Where To Surf On Midigama Beach? I have already shared that the surfing spots in Midigama are diverse. So, the size, the type of breaks, and the surfing style will be different from one surfing location to another.   So, here are the surfing spots everyone loves.  1. Ahangama Ahangama, on the northwest of Midigama, has been a popular surfing hub for the last few years.  It has many surf camps and bars, and its reef breaks are excellent for beginners and mid-level surfers.  Kabalana Beach is the best place to start your surfing expedition here.  2. Ram’s Right  Ram’s Right is the toughest surf break in the region, and you really need to make a quick surfing start.  Furthermore, the barrel sections make it fascinating. Also, you really need to look out for sea urchins here.  3. The Combination Of Lazy Right And Lazy Left  These two offer secure reef brakes, and Lazy Left is slightly harder to surf than Lazy Right.  So, Lazy Right is more suitable for beginners. Here, a surfer can enjoy cruisy rides where the surf breaks over a deep reef.  4. Plantations  It is very close to Weligama, and it is an ideal surfing spot for intermediates.  The entry point is an opening in the rock by the Plantation Surf Inn.  Furthermore, the reef here is deep, and surfing usually continues in the right direction and a few lefts.  5. Coconuts  Coconuts is the place where you will enjoy the classic Sri Lankan reef surfing experience.  Here, you can surf right and left, and the breaks are on both ends of the beach.  However, the east end of the beach is choppier.  6. Weligama Once you are done surfing at Coconuts, you can take a short tuk-tuk ride to Weligama.  Furthermore, with a sandy bottom, it is an ideal surfing destination for beginners.  What Are The Places To Visit Near Midigama Beach?  If you are done surfing, you can explore the historic Galle Fort and the hedonistic Mirissa Beach.  1. Mirissa Beach Mirissa Beach turns into the most Hedonistic place in Sri Lanka in the evening.  The bars here offer amazing happy hour offers. So, you will find the cheapest chilled beer in Sri Lanka here.  2. Galle Fort Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is just 25 km away from Midigama Beach.  It is one of the best examples of a European fortified city in South and South-East Asia.  Enjoy climbing up the rampart and having a walk from one corner to another, admire the architecture, and enjoy the 360-degree view of Galle.  Watching the sunset from the top of the fort is also a magical experience.  What Is The Best Time For Surfing In Midigama Beach?  Like all other beaches on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, November to April is the best time to visit Midigama Beach.  Regular storms and high rainfall are the main forces hitting the beach in this season.  Furthermore, when you are planning to surf in Midigama beach, pick early morning or late evening as the time as the winds pick up speed later in the day.  Where To Eat In Midigama Beach?  The main beach of Midigama and the place near the Coconuts have many cool eating places.  Contrary to Ahangama, the Midigama Beach exudes a hipster energy.  If you are looking for a local experience where you will also get some cultural insights, you can visit Sandaru Restaurant.  It is a family-run restaurant, and here you can eat kottu, rice, curry, and other local delicacies.  Another excellent place for trying local delicacies here is the Shirani Home Made Rice & Curry near the Coconut Beach.  Here, you will find the best rice-vegetable combos.  Where To Stay For Surfing At Midigama Beach?  You can stay at the really cool hostels near the Lazy Left if you want to surf at Midigama Beach.  However, if you are traveling with family and you are looking for comfort, Naomi Beach Hotel, the best surfing hotel in Sri Lanka, will be your ideal choice.  It has a stunning infinity pool, and the on-site bar is perfect for chilling after a surfing session.  Moreover, it is close to the Coconuts, for me, the best surfing spot in Midigama Beach.  Also, Surfing Wombats is another place to stay in Midigama for surfing. I can stay here simply because of the pizza they serve.  Furthermore, it is a short walk from the Lazy Left and Lazy Right surfing spots.  Also, if you want to be a part of the surfing camps in Midigama Beach, you must take a tuk-tuk to Weligama, and you will find many reputable surfing camps there.

BY  Sibashree May 5, 2026

I forgot to mention one thing when I shared my experience of a train ride in the Demodara railway loop. This is a lesser-known loop, and I got to know about it from the National Railway Museum, Kadugannawa.  This museum is at a distance of just 15.1 km from Kandy. Today, it has many old machines, carriages, equipment, and locomotives.  Though everyone will have a visit to the National Railway Museum, Kadugannawa, in their itinerary of the things to do in Sri Lanka, I enjoyed my day there.  So, in this blog, I will talk about my experience at the National Railway Museum, Kadugannawan, its entry fee, timings, exhibits, and how it was opened at an opportune moment.  National Railway Museum, Kadugannawa: Quick Facts Opening Date27th December, 2014 Opening Hours 9 AM to 4 PM (Only closed on Poya Day)Ticket Price - For Sri Lankan Adults: Rs. 50- Foreign Adults: Rs. 500- Children: Rs. 20- Children in School Uniform: Rs. 10  Why Was The National Railway Museum, Kadugannawa, Opened?  The National Railway Museum, Kadugannawa, was opened on 27th December, 2014, on the occasion of the 150th year of railway operations in Sri Lanka.  The first train of the Ceylon Railway ran from Colombo Terminus station to Ambepussa. The Duke of Brabant of Belgium was a passenger on this train.  On the occasion of the museum inauguration, a Memorial Stamp was also released. Furthermore, as souvenirs, there were a memorial DVD and a coffee table book.  Moreover, a Replica Steam Train ran from Colombo Fort to Kadugannawa, and it had special invitees as passengers.  It was a thoughtful move to commemorate the first train operation 150 years ago.  How To Reach The National Railway Museum, Kadugannawa? You can reach the National Railway Museum, Kadugannawa, with a short train ride from Kandy.  However, if you miss the train, you can also take a bus. However, I don’t recommend a bus ride from Kandy to Kadugannawa because the bus ride through the Royal Botanic Gardens takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour.  Also, the bus is very crowded, and you will find every type of food vendor there.  Nevertheless, if you still want a bus ride, the ticket price will be 120 LKR (Around 36 Rs.) for a person.  Kandy To Kadugannawa Train Ride  I love train rides, and even if the queue for the third-class ticket was long, I enjoyed the entire experience.  Nevertheless, I took the Kandy to Polgahawela train that departed from the Kandy Station at 2:15 PM and reached the Kadugannawa Station at 2:55 PM.  The train halts at the Kadugannawa station for 1 minute. So, stand near the gate and be a little fast when alighting from the train.  I got a 3rd class ticket, and the ticket price was Rs. 40. What Are The Things To See At The National Railway Museum, Kadugannawa?  The Kadugannawa Railway Museum is very close to the Kadugannawa Railway Station. It is a small space, and it includes a platform and 2 outside areas.  Furthermore, it is spread over a train shed.  I sat in a vintage train carriage at the museum, and it cost me around Rs. 296. The carriage also had an attendant who showed me the museum. The Exhibits And Demonstrations I Loved  I especially loved the demonstration of the efficient token system that ensures that trains do not run into each other on the single-track mountain railway lines of Sri Lanka.  Furthermore, I found a massive model railway inside the museum. It shows the entire Sri Lankan railway network.  It was fascinating, and it highlighted the Nine Arch Bridge and how the train covers the spiral Demodara loop.  I also had a lot of fun getting in and out of the steam locomotives, carriages, and old engines at the museum.  Moreover, I saw a 10-minute-long video describing the railway network of Sri Lanka.  Overall, I spent around an hour at the museum and ended my time there with a cup of coffee at the in-house coffee shop. The coffee shop itself is inside a carriage.  The best things about the National Railway Museum, Kadugannawa, were that very few visitors were there.  So, as a curious soul and someone very fascinated by trains (my home is very close to a railway track), I had a gala time.  What Are The Other Places To Visit In Kadugannawa?  Kadugannawa, a short distance away from Kandy, is a serene place with many historical and cultural attractions.  So, once you have completed exploring the top attractions in Kandy and the National Railway Museum, Kadugannawa, you can visit these places.  1. Balana Fort  Balana Fort is located between Kadugannawa and Kandy.  Also, close to the Alagalla Mountain Range, its strategic position helped to protect the kingdom of Kandy from external attacks.  2. Captain Dawson Tower  The Captain Dawson Tower is at Kadugannawa Pass, and it is very close to the first modern expressway of Sri Lanka, the Colombo Kandy Road.  The construction of this expressway began under the supervision of Captain William Francis Dawson in 1820. So, this tower remembers and respects the contribution of Captain William Francis Dawson. Moreover, it was built in 1832.  3. Lion’s Mouth Rock, Kadugannawa It is an overhanging rock that you can find between the Balana and Kadugannawa railway stations.  The natural formation of the rock resembles a lion’s mouth.  Furthermore, when the train passes through the bend, there is a steep descent. So, the feeling of a drop makes the experience all the more thrilling.  4. Kadugannawa Rock View  If you are traveling from Colombo to Kandy or exploring the best attractions in Kadugannawa, the Kadugannawa Rock View is a place to relax.  The place is serene, and it offers amazing views of the lush surroundings. Furthermore, there are a few small shops on the way.  You can buy some souvenirs from these shops, and you will spot a lot of monkeys here.  Moreover, it was sunset time when I reached this viewpoint, and the experience was surreal.

BY  Sibashree Jun 18, 2026

As the names of the World’s 50 best beaches get declared, three beaches in Thailand get shoutouts. These are the Freedom Beach, Paradise Beach, and Donald Duck Bay.  Also, with popular hubs such as Pattaya and Phuket, beach tourism is a major driver of the blue economy and the GDP of the country.  However, beyond these facts and accolades, the best beaches in Thailand, for me, are important because of the “Feel.”  The clear water, soft sand, and the warm hospitality of the place make it one of a kind. Furthermore, the landscapes starlight out of a storybook offer the quintessential tropical charm.  However, while traveling with my kids, I decided to focus more on the best beaches in Thailand beyond the commercial hubs such as Phuket. I wanted to take them to smaller regions where they could relax and feel the intimacy.  So, in this article, I will talk about the best beaches in Thailand for families, with Ao Nang in focus. I have also included the names from Phuket and Koh Lanta.  Ao Nang In Focus: The Best Beaches In Thailand For Family  As I have mentioned, despite Phuket getting most of the attention, Ao Nang is more suitable for a family vacation.  It has calmer waters, dramatic scenery, and a more authentic, community-centric environment for children. No wonder that Ao Nang in Krabi Province has emerged as the most overlooked gem among the beaches in Thailand.  The overall experience here is more authentic, and it offers a community-centric environment for children.  And here are the best beaches in Ao Nang I visited and loved.  Pai Plong Beach: The Ultimate Jungle Adventure Pai Plong is one of the best beaches in Thailand for families because of the soft golden sand. Furthermore, reaching the Pai Plong Beach is an adventure in itself. Children especially will love it.  How To Reach The Pai Plong Beach Via The Monkey Trail?  To reach the hidden cover, we took a walk along the main Ao Nang beachfront until we reached the start of the famous Monkey Trail.  This hiking path passes through a lush and dense jungle. Walking was quite adventurous but convenient with elevated boardwalks and wooden steps.  Furthermore, my kids were thrilled to have such close encounters with local monkeys. So, the excitement built up even before hitting the ocean.  Scenery And Swimming Beauty At The Pai Plong Beach  The Pai Plong beach is smaller than the neighboring public bays. However, the visual punch was unmatched.  It has surreal limestone cliffs and a striking karst island sitting just off the coast.  Furthermore, it was a welcome relief from the world-famous and overcrowded Railay Beach. Also, as a mother, the best part was the texture of the beach. The sand was soft. So, I did not have to check frequently whether any of them had toppled over and gotten a cut or gotten hurt.  In addition, the water was crystal clear, and the sea floor was entirely free of painful sea urchins. So, the kids could splash around safely without heavy water footwear.  2. Phra Nang Cave Beach: A Crystal-Clear Paradise Phra Nang Cave is another world-class coastal destination when you are traveling through Krabi with your family.  Even if many people consider Railay Beach to be the ultimate spot in the area, Phra Nang is actually a clear winner by miles.  How To Reach The Phra Nang Cave Beach?  The journey to the Phra Nang Cave Beach is an exciting experience. We took a traditional Thai longtail boat from Ao Nang to the Railay peninsula. As we stepped off the boat, we had to walk for around 20 minutes through a scenic route.  The path meandered through quiet and quaint villages, and the entire route runs alongside a vertical and majestic limestone mountain.  Moreover, the road is well-shaded, and it is full of biodiversity. We got to see playful monkeys on the route.  However, I got a little scared seeing the giant monitor lizards.  What Are The Best On-beach Activities For Children On The Phra Nang Cave Beach? The ocean water is so clear that we could easily spot schools of tropical fish around our ankles. We did not even have to wear a snorkel mask.  Furthermore, kids love the rock climbing spectacles here as professional climbers scale the massive and overhanging limestone crags right on the edge of the sand.  Moreover, there is this secret sandbar walk. During some tide windows, we could spot a pristine and shallow sandbar. We walked right across the ocean on the sandbar to explore a nearby rocky island.  3. Noppharat Thara Beach: The Golden Shell-Collecting Haven Noppharat Thara Beach is an ideal place if your family prefers tranquility and wide-open spaces.  Away from crowds, this beach is more popular as the “Other Beach” in Ao Nang. It is also less commercialized.  We took a quick tuk-tuk ride to reach the beach from the town. You can even plan a walk for 20-30 minutes from the town.  Unending Golden Sand And Natural Cleanliness Guarded by giant karst limestones on both horizons, the Noppharat Thara Beach boasts a long stretch of golden-brown sand.  The beach was pristine in the truest sense, and it was a relief seeing no litter or discarded garbage on the shoreline.  This is so hard to find on the beaches of Southeast Asia.  Noppharat Thara Beach Has A Thriving Ecosystem For Little Explorers  Young kids and inquisitive toddlers will love the shoreline covered in thousands of intact, beautifully colored marine seashells. Even I could spend hours collecting and sorting those seashells. Furthermore, as the ocean water stays calm and shallow at a distance from the shore, the beach is safe for toddlers and youngsters to swim.  In addition, you can spot thousands of miniature crabs and tiny sea snails in the damp sand here. So, overall, the beach offers an interactive learning session for the kids.  Planning A Day Trip To Hong Island (Ko Hong) From Ao Nang After spending some time on the mainland, we decided to go for a day trip to Hong Island from the Ao Nang coast.  We chartered a private longtail boat from the boatman's collective located at the northern edge of Ao Nang Beach. Once the boat arrived at Hong Island, getting off it was a lot of fun. We had to disembark onto a floating pier and not directly on the sand.  It is a great move to protect the delicate shoreline. However, before you leave the dock, take a note of the specific boat number and ask the captain about the exact pick-up time in the afternoon.  We also went to the National Park. The entry fee for the national park was around 400 Thai Baht for adults, and for children, it was free admission.  Here are more attractions for travelers on Hong Island.  The Hidden Turquoise Lagoon A key highlight of visiting Ko Hong is journeying into its hidden inner lagoon. Most organized day tours include this stop.  Your boat captain will slowly pilot the vessel through a breathtakingly narrow opening in the towering rock walls.  Once inside, the water becomes beautifully shallow and shifts into a brilliant, glowing shade of turquoise.  The lagoon is entirely encircled by vertical, jungle-covered cliffs, creating an enchanting environment for kids.  Powder-White Sand And Protected Swimming Once you arrive on the main island, skip the exposed southern beach and head directly to the far northern tip.  Here, you will find a secondary lagoon that is completely shielded from the rough open ocean. This area offers perfectly calm, waveless water.  Hong Island easily rivals Railay Beach in raw beauty. While Railay features darker golden sand, Ko Hong boasts brilliant, blindingly white sand.  The sand texture is incredibly soft, feeling exactly like talcum powder underfoot. However, note that it sticks stubbornly to wet skin and clothes. Park signs and automated loudspeakers frequently remind visitors to wear life jackets while wading.  Additionally, the shallows contain jagged chunks of bleached coral reef and sharp, broken shells.  It is highly recommended to pack durable water shoes for the family to avoid cuts.  The Educational Tsunami Nature Trail As my kids were getting restless sitting on a beach towel, I took them on a 15-minute break to explore Hong Island’s interior nature trail.  The path features highly educational English interpretive signs.  These include profound historical accounts detailing exactly how the island was impacted by the devastating December 26, 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami.  While walking through the dense brush, keep a sharp eye out for the island's native residents: massive water monitor lizards.  These docile reptiles grow so large that children frequently mistake them for real Komodo Dragons. Overrated Icons: Why Railay And Ao Nang Main Beach Can Disappoint Families Railay Beach and the primary Ao Nang town beach are the two suggestions you will usually get when you search for the best beaches in the Krabi region.  However, there are practical reasons why I have not included them in my list of the best beaches in Thailand.  Railay Beach: The Longtail Boat Traffic Jam  The Railay Beach is visually stunning, and it has dramatic limestone peaks that jut straight out of the clear ocean water. Furthermore, the massive rock walls completely cut off the peninsula from the mainland. So, you can only reach it by boat.  This logistical setup creates the biggest problems for families.  Noise, Exhaust, And Crowds The constant presence of longtail boats is one of the major problems with Railay Beach.  Dozens of commercial transport boats gather right offshore and create a dense cluster in the center of the beach.  Furthermore, the boats have unmuffled and loud automotive engines. This process creates a near-constant roar, and it prompts strong fuel exhaust fumes across the sand. This ruins the peaceful tropical ambiance. Rocky Shallows And Missing Shells Thousands of tourists walk these sands daily during the high season. As a result, you will hardly find interesting pieces of coral or seashells for kids to collect.  Furthermore, the ocean floor here stays shallow and clean for a long distance. However, there is the presence of jagged and hidden rocks.  Moreover, you have to wear sturdy water shoes if you want to visit the beach for snorkeling and kayaking.  Ao Nang Main Beach: A Busy Transit Hub The main municipal beach running directly along the primary resort strip is noisy and has high traffic.  So, you can visit this as an important transportation hub, and it is not suitable for a swimming beach.  Furthermore, here are the following main problems with the Ao Nang Main Beach. Endless Rows Of Water Taxis  The water of the Ao Nang Main Beach has a continuous line of a massive row of longtail boats. These longboats wait to ferry tourists away to cleaner, offshore islands.  Pollution Concerns  Many sections of the beach have significant environmental issues.  One of the issues is the large municipal drainage pipes empty directly across the open sand into the surf line.  As a result, this can cause unpleasant odors near the runoff zones. Litter In The Sand  There is constant foot traffic from the shops and bars nearby. Furthermore, you will find a noticeable amount of garbage embedded in the sand. Furthermore, the garbage in the sand includes sharp metallic beer bottle caps. So, it is hazardous to walk barefoot in the sand here.  Comparing Alternatives: Phuket And Koh Lanta If you want to go beyond Krabi and explore more beaches in Thailand, you can visit Phuket and Koh Lanta.  Both islands have many beaches for the kids. However, these beaches are vastly different in their environments.  Phuket Beaches For Families  The beaches in Phuket are charming despite the dense crowd. Also, my kids especially loved the Bang Tao Beach.  I also loved Kamala Beach because of its long stretch of sand without rocks and seashells.  Kamala Beach  Kamala Beach has soft golden sand, and it allows an obstruction-free movement with a clear ocean floor and very little presence of rocks and seashells.  However, it is also a popular hub for parasailing and jet skiing. So, the waves can be huge sometimes, and you need to be watchful. Bang Tao Beach  With its long stretch of 8 km and unbroken beach, Bang Tao Beach was a delightful place to visit.  The southern part of the beach was quite busy, and as we headed north, we found a manmade ditch.  My kids immediately slid down the ditch and played happily for quite a long time.  Furthermore, the beach had many cool Thai food stands. So, we had a fun snacking time. Koh Lanta Beaches Khlong Dao Beach in Koh Lanta has a diverse marine life, white sand and gentle waves.  Furthermore, it is ideal for kid-friendly body surfing, and the sunset here was magical. Read Also: What Are The Things To Do In Santorini? A Complete Guide For Travelers Heard Of Patong Beach In Thailand? It Will Blow Your Mind! Bali vs Thailand: Which Place is Better?