Brighton Bliss: Crafting Your Perfect Coastal Getaway Itinerary

BY  Mashum Feb 26, 2019

The cost-of-living caps the fantastic landscape and culture that Australia has to offer and explore.  For many tourists and Australians, it is much cheaper to travel abroad and explore other countries. However, traveling around Australia is incredible and can cost you minimal amounts if you are aware of the budget-friendly travel ideas in Australia.  So, before you plan a trip to Australia, learn the art of sticking to a budget. Budget-Friendly Travel Ideas in Australia The cost of traveling should never be a constraint if you want to explore the beautiful land of Australia. Let’s head straight to the most practical and budget-friendly travel ideas in Australia. 1. Stay In Hostels This tip is more relevant to Australia even though it applies to all parts of the world. Most hotels in Australia are costly, mainly if you are operating on a budget. If you wish to have a less luxurious sleep, you will save a lot of money.  2. Camp You can even try camping if you want to be more adventurous. It will help you save a lot of money. The cheapest way to explore Australia is by getting around and camping at different campsites.  There are several free camping spots around Australia, although there will be areas where you will need to pay for your campsite. Even then, the fees may be as little as $5 per person. You will get access to showers and toilets, which aren’t always available on the open road. 3. Prepare Your Meals Even if you decide to eat in a fast-food joint in Australia, it will not give you much change from $10. Besides, you can bring havoc to your body by substituting main meals with fries and burgers.  Make sure that you are getting food that will support healthy living. You can achieve this objective by preparing your food. It is much cheaper than relying on ready-made food.  Most parks in Australia provide public BBQ facilities free of charge. All you need to do is buy some veggies or meat from the local supermarket and get some grilling.  If grilling every day is not your thing, make good use of the available kitchens in the hostels. Use them to prepare your meals. You will realize a significant difference in your bank account.  4. Purchase Your Booze Bottle-O Bottle-O refers to the liquor shop or bottle shop. This store sells alcohol at a lower price than the ordinary bars. You will get affordable liquor deals in this place. Most budget drinkers like to go for the Goon, which is a cheap boxed wine.  5. Use A Private Vehicle to Commute  In Australia, you must get around by car if you want to explore the country. You can do it either by purchasing a vehicle temporarily or hiring a car for your travels. However, these two options can be slightly expensive.  You can use comparison sites such as Car Rental Buddy or Car Hire Choice to find and compare vehicles. Alternatively, you can opt for campervan hire from Camper Champ. You will not fail to get a cheap deal when it comes to commuting in Australia. 6. Travel On Greyhound Bus Most backpackers like to use this option as their preferred means of transport. It is among the cheapest modes of transportation in Australia.  You can get a travel pass for approximately $500. It will allow you to hop off and on as many times as you would like. It is an excellent way to view the fantastic scenery of Australia. The good news is that you will not spend so much on these journeys.  7. Participate In Homestays or Couch Surfing Accommodation in Australia is expensive, even for backpackers. So, if you want to explore Australia cheaply, take advantage of staying at homestays or even Couch-surfing in people’s homes. It will help you get free accommodation in exchange for cultural learning and community interaction. 8. Purchase A Campervan This option is best if you are traveling as a group. It will help you to spit the gas among yourselves. Driving via Australia is exciting, but you can still make your trip more enjoyable.  One way is to purchase a campervan in Cairns and then drive down to Melbourne or the other way around. Even though driving is more expensive than flying, you will stop anywhere you wish. Besides, if you have a big campervan, you can still use it for accommodation.  9. Have Fun by Participating in Active Hobbies Australians (particularly in the north) are known for their outdoor lifestyle. Therefore, you can join them and have a lot of fun outdoors. You will not spend lots of money when you pursue your hobby.  You can try scuba diving, snorkeling, skiing, bungy jumping, and a lot more, thanks to its vivid landscape and coexistence of various geologies. 10. Spend Most of Your Time with Nature Australia has so much when it comes to natural beauty, and this offers a free experience. You can get into the botanical gardens in Melbourne for free. Also, you will not pay anything to visit the beach.  You can also hike via the Royal National Park or Sydney’s Blue Mountains. You will not spend even a single cent when interacting with nature.  11. Hiking  There are several scenic walking trails in Australia that you can explore. Do you want to hike along the Australian coastline and admire the beaches? Or do you want to hike up mountains to get a view of the Australian landscape? You will be able to find an abundance of exciting hiking trails for your adventure. You will get excellent hiking opportunities at no cost in Australia.  12. Check out the Galleries and Museums Unlike the rest of the world, the galleries and museums of Australia are free to get in. Therefore, if you are tired of the outdoor experience and want to get a feel for the culture, museums are your best bet.  The best place to start is the National Gallery of Victoria. You can also try out the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Both locations will give you fantastic opportunities to tour Australia at budget-friendly rates.  13. Cycling In some cities, there are cycling initiatives that you can take advantage of while visiting Australia. In Brisbane, it is possible to cycle for up to half an hour for free using their city hire bike scheme. There are several cycling trails that you can also explore around the city. 14. Swimming At the Beach  Australia boasts thousands of kilometers of coastline where you can go swimming and enjoy yourself at the beach. Whether you decide to stop in a major city like the Gold Coast or head to a quieter town such as Airlie Beach, there will be an option for you. 15. Fishing  If you can get yourself some fishing rods, you can go fishing at a local creek, dam, river, or beach. 16. Barbecues One thing that is unanimous with all Australians is their love for an excellent outdoor grill. Having a barbecue meal with your travel group is also one of the most budget-friendly travel ideas in Australia. You can head to the supermarket and buy a loaf of bread and sausages for a tonner. You will enjoy a barbecue in the company of friends. Conclusion  These are just a few of the budget-friendly travel ideas in Australia. You don’t have to break the bank to have a good time. There are plenty of things to see and do in Australia. You must be open to the different experiences the region has to offer. From Kangaroo Island to the Barossa Valley, Australia has scenic beauty that you can soak in without burning a hole in your pocket. So, make a budget and stick to it to have a happy and hearty journey!

BY  Sibashree Mar 5, 2026

Kandy has been in the news recently for the last-over clincher between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the last ICC T-20 World Cup tournament.  It is also good to see Kandy slowly getting its rhythm back after the major disruption in the beautiful Colombo-Kandy-Ella-Badulla railway due to the impact of Cyclone Ditwah in the latter part of 2025.  With a man-made lake at the epicenter, Kandy, in a bowl of mountains, was home to the last rulers from the Kandyan empire.  Today, it continues to play an important role in the politics, economy, and culture of Sri Lanka as the capital of the Central Province.  Sri Lanka is full of contradictions. From the rich Tamil Culture in Jaffna and the abandoned Buddhist ruins at the Ritigala Forest Monastery, to the bustling city of Kandy, it’s like visiting different countries with a few miles of traveling.  Moreover, Kandy is just 20 km away from Gampola, the home to the famous Ambuluwawa Tower, the symbol of natural diversity and religious inclusivity in Sri Lanka.  Hi, in today’s blog, I will talk about how to reach Kandy, the things to do in Kandy, where to stay, where to eat, and more.  How To Reach Kandy?  Kandy, one of the major cities of Sri Lanka, is easily accessible. If you are a budget traveler and a believer of the LowDownUnder Travel philosophy, you can take a local bus or train for the journey.  1. The Kandy Railway Station: The Major Gateway The Kandy Railway Station is the main gateway to the city if you are traveling from other parts of the island.  Also, this railway station on the beautiful Kandy to Ella line still exudes a colonial charm and shows Victorian influences in its architecture.  A train ride from Colombo to Kandy takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes, and based on the class, the ticket prices cost between LKR 300 and 1200.  You can even take a train on the Kandy to Ella route to explore the tea plantations, mountains, and the highland region.  However, being one of the most scenic railway routes in the world, tickets for these trains are always in high demand.  You can check out the available tickets at the official website of the Sri Lankan Railways. Tickets for a date get sold out even 1 month before.  2. Colombo To Kandy Bus  If you cannot book trains to reach Kandy. Don’t get disheartened, as buses are available from the Bastian Mawatha Bus Station in Colombo.  You can take an ordinary or AC intercity bus to reach Kandy from Colombo. The distance is around 120 km and the travel time is approximately 3-4 hours.  Also, the ticket prices start from LKR 360.  What Are The Things To Do In Kandy?  Kandy is the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. So, no wonder that it offers a good mix of colonial history, spiritual experience, and the serenity of the Kandy Lake.  Also, Kandy is home to the quintessential Singhalese food. I found the delicacies in Kandy to be way creamier and milder than the fiery food in Jaffna.  Nevertheless, I will talk about what to eat in Kandy a little later, and for now, let’s explore the things to do in Kandy and enjoy a mixed bag of experiences.  1. Visiting The Royal Botanic Gardens Hours Open: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM Entry Fee: LKR 200 for Locals, LKR 3540 for Foreign Visitors From Kandy City, you can take a short tuk-tuk ride to reach the Royal Botanic Gardens. It is home to more than 4000 plants and covers an area of 147 acres.  A green oasis in the overwhelming city landscape, it also has an arboretum and decorative flower beds.  My favorite, however, was the majestic palm tree avenues. However, as the day grew, it got crowded by social media content creators.  Furthermore, there are giant bamboo trees. Another popular photography spot in the national park is the Mahaweli Ganga River suspension bridge. However, more than five people cannot get on the bridge at a time.  So, you may have to wait in a queue if you desperately want a photo for your socials.  Moreover, you will see bats hanging from trees, chipmunks, and monkeys in the botanical gardens. And don’t miss the Spice Garden here.  Also, if you feel hungry, you can buy drinks and snacks from the stalls inside and the local vendors outside the park. 2. Exploring The Udawattakele Forest Reserve Hours Open: 6 AM to 6 PM Entry Fee for Foreigners, LKR 830, For Locals: LKR 70  I walked for around 30 minutes to reach the Udawattakele Forest Reserve. You can even take a tuk-tuk ride from the Centre of Kandy.  It has some of the most famous caves in Kandy and diverse fauna.  However, I did not expect that mother macaque monkeys would welcome me with their babies clinging to them.  After the grand entry, I chose the circular route around the park as I wanted to see the religious caves, the bathing pond, and the city viewpoint.  The Route  The green canopy stands in humility as you advance on the route, and now you are transported to a different world.  The birds were chirping, and I could hear the squeal of monkeys.  However, the highlight on that route was the Liana’s. These tree-sized vines created coils along the oath.  I followed the route upward and reached the City View Point.  The City View Point  From the City View Point, I loved the perspective of Kandy City and Lake. Then, walked further to come across the Cittavisuddhi Lena cave and othe two religious caves.  The cave had beautiful sculptures, paintings, and offerings by pilgrims. These are sacred to the Buddhist people.  However, overgrown trees and the fear of insects and bats deterred me from entering the cave and exploring the two other Buddhist caves.  Despite all the cautions, destiny had something different in store for me. There were leeches all over my legs, and luckily, I was carrying adequate salt to get rid of them.  The fellow tourists also helped to remove the leeches.  3. Visiting The Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue The Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue at the top of a hill is the guardian angel of Kandy. You need to take a short and steep walk to reach the Buddha Statue from the town.  You can even take a tuk-tuk.  Once you reach the statue, you can find the steps behind the magnificent statue and climb to higher vantage points looking over the other side of the city of Kandy.  Moreover, there is a small shop from where you can take trinkets and religious texts. The entry fee was 600 LKR when I visited last.  4. Exploring The Kandy Market I mentioned how an old lady in the Jaffna Public Market was the icebreaker during my trip to Jaffna.  In Kandy, it was the Kandy Market, which made me acquainted with the hilly region of Sri Lanka.  The market was near the Kandy Station. I visited it early in the morning and found vendors selling dried fish, bananas, fresh vegetables, and souvenirs.  5. Spending Moments By The Kandy Lake The Kandy Lake, or Lake Kandy, is at the heart of the city and is very close to the Temple of the Tooth.  It is a magnificent man-made lake around which you can take a walk of 2.1 miles. The pathway is called the Cloud Wall, and the highlight of my walk was finding out about the Queen’s bathing pavilion.  This ivory excellence reminded me of the regal past of the Kandy Lake.  I also spotted the ducks, busy schools of fish, and water monitor lizards.  Moreover, there is a well-groomed garden in the center of the lake. When I visited, it was in full bloom.  6. Walking To The Kandy Viewpoint After stretching my legs at the Kandy Lake, I took a short walk to reach the Kandy Viewpoint.  Hiking to the Kandy Viewpoint is one of the most delightful free things to do in Kandy. You can capture panoramic shots of the city from this viewpoint and interact with local hawkers for a meaningful cultural exchange.  7. Visiting The Asgiri Maha Vihara Pirivena - Buddhist Stupa And Temple If you are a Buddhist or someone eager to learn about the religion, visiting the Asgiri Maha Vihara Pirivena is one of the best things to do in Kandy.  This stupa is very close to the city, and I took the stairs across the train tracks to reach the stupa.  For me, the highlight of the stupa was the meditation room on the central floor. The iconographies were grand and meaningful.  Furthermore, the walls there depicted the three stages of decay a body has to undergo after death.  However, I did not yet know what was awaiting me, the dome of the stupa.  Filled with Buddhist artwork, an enormous lotus carving, and eight statues of Lord Buddha, it defined enormity.  The military guide finally took me to the balcony that surrounds the stupa. I found many monks clad in orange robes busy in their rituals, and I also loved the view.  8. Visiting The Temple Of The Tooth A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Temple of the Tooth or Dalada Mandira preserves the canine tooth of Lord Buddha.  It has the Udawaththa Kelaya to the east and the Lake Kandy to the south.  After several invasions and destructions, the temple was finally rebuilt by King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe, and it is in its current form that we see today.  The temple has beautiful works of ivory, gold, and silver.  More Things To Do In Kandy  Along with being a primary tourist attraction in Sri Lanka, Kandy is also the gateway to many iconic landmarks showing the richness of Sri Lanka in nature and wildlife.  You can take a train ride or a bus ride from Kandy to the Royal Cave Temples of Dambulla. Or, you can attend a wildlife safari in Kaudulla National Park and other national parks of Sri Lanka.  Where To Stay In Kandy? Know The Accommodations I stayed at a hostel near the hillside surrounding the city. It was modest, but the views I got from the room and balcony were amazing.  However, if you are not willing to walk so much, you can choose places such as the Ceyloni City Hotel.  The tariff of this city hotel is around 7500 LKR.  What To Eat In Kandy?  You can choose between vegetarian and non-vegetarian options in Kandy. Balaji Dosai is a nice spot to try vegetarian food, especially dosa.  The Siri Ramya Hotel is the place to try Kottu Roti in Kandy. You can have it as spicy as you want. Also, you can combine them with different types of veggies, eggs, chicken, or mutton.  Another thing you must not miss in Kandy is the snacks available on the bus or train. The fried chips and snacks have a lot of salt and chilli.  However, they are great for the taste buds.  Also, do not forget to try the rice and curry combination at the “famous hole in the wall rice and curry joints” in Kandy.  These offer a nice and filling lunch at the best price.  The Nightlife In Kandy: Where To Drink?  Kandy is not a place famous for its nightlife. However, if you want to cherish some drink after a busy day, you can visit places such as The Stag’s Head Pub and the Royal Bar and Hotel.  Enjoy the beers, cocktails, and your favorite drinks with spicy local snacks, and enjoy the view of the city and lake at night.  Drinking at any of these places will cost you around 790 LKR.

BY  Abdul Aziz Oct 20, 2018

Traveling is like a continuous learning session. It does not matter whether you are traveling for the first time or a seasoned voyager. Every destination awaits a new surprise where you need to use your judgment and experience to deal with adversities. However, following the basic tips to travel always gives you an edge.   Further, when you plan a trip to a dream place and follow the tips right, your travel becomes more economical, safe, and convenient.   Best Tips to Travel Around the World:  From the moment you plan to travel around the world, there are a lot of tasks upon you. Once you have made up your mind regarding the place, you check on the available transformation, expenses, weather, safety, and amenities.  Another crucial aspect of traveling right is traveling light. You must be on-point and minimalistic about what you carry. We always tend to overpack, resulting in additional baggage charges and inconvenience.   Here, I have curated the things you need to keep in mind if you love to travel.   1. Credit cards:  These are known as handy tools for travelers and are used for various purposes. Some of the cards work out to cut airline miles to lessen the cost of air travel. And many cards include no transaction fees. This allows savings of up to a 3% fee on any purchases.  It is essential to inform the bank when any international tour is planned and when a credit card needs to be used. If there is a sudden purchase from the international market and the bank is unaware of the owner’s location, then the account may freeze, suspecting something fishy.  2. A single big plane ticket:  It costs more when it comes to buying a ticket in pieces for different places. But, if a single ticket is bought for places all around, the cost is much less.  One needs to arrange travel in one direction only. They have a time limit to complete their traveling. But, still, it is a great idea to move around the world. Try to plan to move around to places cheaper to stay in. This is one of the smartest tips to travel around the world, enabling one to visit many destinations.  3. Light luggage:  The luggage should carry only the most essential stuff required during the travel. Look for the travel backpack. It is designed especially to work as an airline carry-on bag and secure one from the possibility of missing the luggage in between the flights. It also saves us from paying for checking the bags and overweight items.  The cost of an overweight checked item is at least $100. So, limiting the weight of your luggage is one of the basic tips to travel around the world.  4. Clothes:  It is advisable to pack a few clothes that can be washed and dried easily. Also, keep clothes for different seasons. The weather changes from place to place. Buying clothes from the international market will cost a lot.  In addition, keep some layering options handy with jackets and shrugs. Accessories like scarves and bandanas also help to sport a stylish look without much effort.   5. Look for a room or hostel:  Every traveler would like to stretch it in an air-conditioned room on the soft beds. However, the cost will be high. To limit the expenses, it is preferable to look for a room or a hostel which can be enough to rest, and the washroom facilities are good.  It is assumed that hostels are usually for students. But there are international organizations that serve the purpose of hosteling for travelers.  There are many amenities that hotels offer free of cost. But it covers the cost of it in other charges. Here, one can have “its” and limited use of such amenities to save the cost.  The best option is to look for a room that can provide privacy and a cooking facility. Make me feel at home.  The best travel agencies with years of experience in arranging international trip packages keep fair ideas for such accommodation for their clients.  6. Eat locally:  Dining in the hotels and restaurants will cost too much. In such places, they charge for food plus the ambiance and added tax.  Eating street foods is affordable. However, it requires checking the surroundings and maintaining a good hygiene level. Many times, this locally served food is equal to or much better in taste compared to big hotels and restaurants.  If the accommodation place has a kitchen, then it can be used to self-serve by cooking food.  7. Travellers insurance:  This is a must. One does not need to save money over here. Many travelers find it less important. It is helpful in times when any of the expensive things get stolen and turn out to be most useful in case any medication is required.   Struggling is for every traveler to adapt to the different water easily and get comfortable with the weather easily.  8. Enjoy exploring the place on your own:  This sounds great when a group of people is traveling together. It exhilarates the group to be together and share every tune of the time together. But it sounds a little different for a solo traveler.  They solo traveler can buy the local map to help him/her. He/she can skip the transport or ask the tour guide to pay a large amount. He/she can rent the transport for short distances, and the rest can walk around to see the surroundings.  9. Work part-time:  Even after following all the above points. If a traveler runs out or feels like getting short on a few bucks, he/ she can look for part-time work in place.   There are many opportunities for such work. This can be a helping hand and even a good time pass plus he/she gets to know people from different places.  Final Words: Take Care of Yourself   As we travel around the world, we often forget to take care of ourselves. Sometimes, our travel itinerary becomes very exhaustive in the pursuit of covering everything we need to see and do. Along with the tips to travel around the world discussed here, you must ensure you are taking care of yourself.  You must get enough sleep, eat healthy food, and remain hydrated to keep going. Also, you must take care of your personal hygiene. So, have a happy journey, and be safe!