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iolitewitchcraft · 7 years

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How to Buy Crystals from Any Source

A few times now, in my Mineral Mondays posts, I’ve mentioned trusting your seller.

But sometimes, sellers can’t give you correct information about your crystal. So in this post, I’ll break it down and discuss what to look for (and what to be cautious of) when you’re buying.

Crystal Shops

Crystal shops are great. I’m guilty of visiting crystal shops in my area almost every weekend (I even work at them sometimes!). My favorite part about them is they often have no idea what they have. This can be both a positive and a negative. See, if a seller has no idea what they’re really selling, you might find things like iolite to be ridiculously overpriced, but mixed in with those iolite crystals there might be a rare bloodshot iolite that would sell for far more somewhere else.

However, crystal shops are often guilty of selling things as more valuable stones, when in reality they’re just quartz, glass, or even plastic. This is not the fault of the seller in almost every case. Because crystal shop owners usually focus on the spiritual and magickal side of crystals, they aren’t able to immediately pick up on their suppliers selling them “fake” stones. Usually, it’s not even directly their supplier that’s getting sneaky - it’s someone way further up the line. However, shops have a responsibility to know what they’re selling - if this happens to you, bring it to the attention of the shop owner. A good shop will listen and resolve the issue, while an untrustworthy shop might try to make excuses.

Here are some things to look out for at crystal shops:

❌ Sellers who push really hard to get you to buy, or generally give you weird vibes while selling you a stone. Trust your gut! ✔️ Sellers who are willing to admit that they don’t know. A seller honest about not knowing is usually also honest with what they do know. ❌ Sellers who try to guilt you into buying a stone you don’t want (”Don’t pick it because of the color, it’s the energy that’s important!” If I want color, let me buy for the color). ✔️ Sellers who also carry small specimens behind the counter. If they’re selling the more rare and valuable stuff, they probably have at least a vague idea of what they have. ❌ Prices that are too good to be true. As much as we’d love to believe they are, no one is selling you a fine ruby for just $40, nor are they selling you that rare phosphophyllite for $12. ✔️ On the other hand, prices that are all over the place can be a good sign if you’ve educated yourself. It indicates a somewhat clueless seller, and if you know more than the seller, you can look for bargain prices.

Online Crystal Shops

I am so sorry to tell you this, guys, but I would almost never buy anything rarer than fluorite from an online crystal shop.

Why? Because, first of all, they usually never carry anything rarer than fluorite, so it’d be hard to find. Secondly, when you combine the lack of knowledge from a brick-and-mortar crystal shop with the inability to see and handle your crystal before purchasing it, you’re way more likely to end up with something you didn’t want. Plus, shipping costs ramp up the prices so much sometimes that it’s just not worth it.

However, I understand that you might be low on spoons, or not have a shop in your area, or something like that. So maybe you’re going to buy online. While there are better sources than crystal shops, sometimes something just calls to you. That’s okay. Here are some pointers to help you make sure your online crystal shop is trustworthy:

❌ High prices for subvarieties of amethyst. I like to use amethyst as an “indicator stone”, because in almost any form, it’s not particularly rare or valuable. A piece of chevron amethyst should be priced the same as a piece of regular amethyst. If the pricing is very different, consider looking elsewhere. ✔️ A clean, intuitive website interface. If they’re upfront about what they sell, and appear trustworthy and customer-oriented, they’re more likely to be trustworthy. ❌ Easily corrected errors and/or trying to make certain information difficult to find. Are they spelling fluorite ‘flourite’? What about selling both green amethyst and praseolite (the exact same stone) for different prices? Those could be mistakes, yeah, but if they repeatedly make errors like that, they probably simply aren’t educated about what they’re selling, so it’s more likely they’ll have been fooled somewhere higher up on the buying chain. ✔️ Providing lots of information on the stones they carry. Where were they mined? While it’s often impossible to answer that question, if they can tell you a probable source, they’ve likely done their research. ❌ Photographs that aren’t of the exact stone you’re buying. I get it, sometimes it’s easier to take a picture of one and say “all the others are similar”. For tumbled stones it’s usually fine. But rough crystals especially are all so unique, and you want to know exactly what you’re getting.

Online Mineral Shops and Auctions

These are one of my favorite sources for rare, unusual, and high-quality stones. Unlike online crystal shops, they’re not only selling to the average person - they’re selling to people who have been in the gem and jewelry industry for years, people who are trained mineralogists and gemologists, and people who have the power and influence to cause a lot of problems for the company if they’re deceived.

This means that most of these places are forced to be trustworthy. Also, they usually carry some really cool stuff, sometimes at incredible prices. However, because these are geared towards a different audience of buyers, the gemstones will generally be higher quality and therefore more expensive. If a quartz crystal or a tumbled apatite is what you’re looking for, it probably isn’t worth it to shop at these places. But if you want a benitoite, a faceted cerussite, or something equally rare and unusual, you’ll have better luck finding it here. Also, check if your auction site has a no reserve section - you might be able to buy a stone for an amazingly low price.

Here are some pointers to help you find a trustworthy online mineral store:

❌ It’s small or not a well-known website. Sometimes these little sites are “diamonds in the rough” (hehe) but for the most part, I prefer to stay away from them. There are exceptions. Good, honest smaller companies are definitely out there, and if you prefer to support these, great! Just be extra-critical when choosing a smaller website to buy from. ✔️ Sellers on the auction site must be verified to sell. This means the auction site has checked that the sellers they’re hosting are legit, and they aren’t ripping people off. ❌ There’s no way to easily contact your seller. If you can’t talk to them, you won’t be able to get a feel for whether they’re honest. This is most important for independently owned online shops (less important for auction sites). ✔️ Lots of information is provided about each and every stone. Unless you’re buying in bulk (in which case they should give averages and approximations), you should be able to access clear pictures, the dimensions of your stone (and/or the carat weight), and a description of its color, clarity, and general appearance. ❌ The seller advertises that there’s been a new deposit of the crystal found, or makes another similar claim - word travels fast in the gem world, and if a quick Google search shows nothing but their site, it’s probably a scam.

My personal favorite online gemstone auction site is Gem Rock Auctions.

Jewelry Stores and Gemstone/Mineral Shops

Despite their reputation, most jewelry stores are trustworthy. It’s just that when one does try to scam their customers, it’s all over the news, so it makes the bad stores seem way more common than they are (like a lot of things these days, actually. But I won’t get into that). Still, it’s good to be educated and prepared.

I know these two kinds of stores are pretty different and I’ve lumped them together, but they’re sort of similar in the “red flags” and “green flags” to look out for. Keep in mind some jewelry stores will have pushier “car salesman” style selling techniques. This is simply due to the value of the items they’re selling, and the need to keep their store running - insurance on those diamonds can get expensive, and they have to pay the bills! Don’t let these selling techniques guilt you into buying, though. Don’t buy unless you’re comfortable and ready.

❌ The seller is too pushy and makes you uncomfortable. A little pushiness is okay, because that’s often how jewelry salespeople are trained, but they should be able to sense if it’s making you uncomfortable and tone it down. ✔️ The seller is open and happy to tell you as much as they can about the gemstone you’re buying. ❌ The seller doesn’t answer your questions. Sometimes, a seller who isn’t knowledgeable will dodge questions, or hesitate and make up an almost-answer. Listen carefully and think critically. Remember that “I don’t know” is a valid answer - a seller who says “I don’t know” is far more trustworthy than one who spews a bunch of information but can’t explain any of it. ✔️ Specimens are labeled clearly with the name of the mineral and the source. Sometimes the source is unknown - if so, the seller should be clear about this as well, and perhaps offer some possibilities. Jewelry store salespeople may be able to tell you the sources for their diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. If so, great! If not, it normally isn’t a big deal. ❌ Sellers don’t disclose important things about your stone. Disclosure is super important - if they can’t answer “what should I know about caring for this stone?” you might need to think twice about buying from them. ✔️ The seller allows you to speak and voice your opinions. Maybe this isn’t really a deciding factor, but I know that when I shop for stones, if a seller is rude and talks over me, I just won’t buy from them. A seller who is polite and passionate about what they’re selling is much more trustworthy.

Sellers at Gem and Mineral Shows

Gem and mineral shows are my absolute favorite place for buying gems and crystals. 100%, hands down, my favorite. I love them.

Why? You see a mix of people from all of the above backgrounds. You see a huge variety of stones in one place. Prices are usually amazing. Sellers are trustworthy and knowledgeable. Plus, they’re usually crowded with people just like you - geeking out over all these amazing crystals!

So, what to look for?

✔️ Sellers who are happy to answer your questions about their stones. ✔️ Everything is clearly labeled and easy to see (but you might have to ask). ✔️ Sellers only bring out a few stones at a time if they’re in a case. If they throw the whole lot on the counter and turn around to help someone else, I’d raise an eyebrow at the value of their merchandise. ✔️ Sellers who are happy to point you to other sellers at the show if they don’t have what you’re looking for, but the other seller might. ❌ The seller ignores you or is very dismissive of you because you’re young, aren’t wearing expensive-looking clothing, are with a friend, or any other similar reason. Sellers have lost business from me for this, because I am young, and I often dress casually to these events, so I'm often ignored in favor of people who look like they have more money.

Other Sources

Eventually, you may come across a source I didn’t go over here. You may make contact directly with a gem dealer, or you might end up at an estate sale. Museum gift shops are also a great source for crystals. Since I can’t cover literally every possible place you might buy a crystal, the best advice I can give is to always think critically about what the seller tells you, and look at the crystal carefully (learn about that particular crystal first, if you can) before you buy.

In General

Educate yourself as much as you can about the stone before spending any significant amount on it. The internet is a great resource!

If the price is too good to be true, it probably is.

Except no-reserve auctions! Check these for amazingly low prices.

Most sellers are trustworthy, because in such a small industry, reputation is everything.

Ask questions - sellers should be happy to answer.

“I don’t know” is a good answer.

The seller’s top priority should be making you feel comfortable and confident in your purchase.

If something feels off, don’t buy.

#crystals #crystal witch #gemstones #gems #witchy #witchcraft #witch

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kaiyeti · 7 years

Conversation

Idea for my own story.

Detective: Hello. I'm detective Origace. I understand you had a rough night so I'll try to make this quick. Your name Sally Galiran, correct? *The Detective said as he entered the room, taking a seat at the table cross from the the young woman staring down it the cup of coffee she held in her hand.*

Sally: ... Yes.

Detective: And how is your head and leg? *Origace asked, eyeing the bandages wrapped her forehead while her other hand subconsciously rubs her leg.* From the report it seems you suffered from a gash from a piece of glass on your head with no major head trauma and chemical burns around your leg. And supposedly after the medics cleaned and bandaged your wounds you refused to go to the hospital and asked to come straight to the station.

Sally: ... Yes. But is wasn't a piece of glass. *Sally said, her voice almost a whisper.*

Detective: *The detective raises his eyebrow.* Yes. You mentioned that to the officer who took your statement after they arrived. Though, considering in the reports, when the officers found you, you were laying in breaking glass from a broken window this you yourself claimed to be thrown through. Are you sure you didn't receive the gash from the glass?

Sally: It wasn't glass. *Sally said firmly while setting her cup of coffee on the table rather roughly.* The cut I got was from the same thing that burned my leg.

Detective: Right, the burns your leg. *The detective mutter turning a page of the report to photos of the crime scene.* According to this, there were no chemical what so ever within the building that caused the burn on your leg. However, initial lab reports state that other burns on cloths and wood showing that its a chemical that only reacts to organic material.

Sally: *At the mention of this Sally's face changed slightly for a fraction of a second before returning to the tired blank expression with the exception of her eyes. Her eyes held a sense of fear as flashes of her memory of a beastly figure, people she knew running and screaming, blood, a blue-ish black devil, and lastly blue-ish silver eye staring into her soul.* You don't have to tell me. I know first hand.

Detective: Which bring me to ask. How exactly did you receive those burn in the way you did? The burn on you leg goes all the way around, as if something was wrapped around you to grab you. Plus, from what I saw myself at the scene and what is in the report, the place looked like a battlefield. The damages to stone pillars, the walls, ceiling, and floors look as though there was a combination of explosions or high impact along with clear cuts through concrete and metal that look like claw marks by something big.

Sally: I told the police what caused the burns. And the damage to that burning. And to... *Sally said before going silent.*

Detective: Your friend that you claimed a monster with a large mouth fill with acid covered tentacles, massive claws, and glowing eye soaks that you claim killed and ate them. *The detective read from the report in his hand, slapping the file onto the table.* I think you can see why we are having a hard time taking what you said because of this statement. Since, our city is powered and guarded by the Gaiaus prevents any of those types of demons. Not to mention there is no evidence of anyone else being there with you.

Sally: But I know what I saw and I wasn't alone. *Sally said as she looked up from her feet for the first time since entering the room.* It was one of them. That monster was-

Detective: Why didn't you go to the hospital? *Origace interrupted, folding his hands together while leaning against the table.* You clearly need medical attention and if what you think you saw was really their than you know you are poisoned.

Sally: Ah... *Sally blinked and averted her gaze.* I didn't feel very safe going to the hospital.

Detective: Safe? Safe from what? *Origace asked when suddenly another officer opens the door.*

Police officer: Excuse me, Detective Origace. You have a nest connection from Detective Platnite. She says it's important.

Detective: Alright. I'll be right there. *He told the officer as he stands up and walks out but not before turning back to Sally.* I'll be right. When I do, I would like the full truth.

Sally: ... *Sally only looks down in response as the door closed. During this time as the detective and the officer moved down the hall, they were unaware of someone coming from the other of the hallway and entered the interrogation room. As the door open, Sally's eyes glanced up towards it only to widen in horror. She immediately shot up from her seat, backing away from the man wearing a dark blue coat and black hunter hat as he closed the door.* I-I-I didn't say word about you. I swear. *The man looked at Sally, his blue ringed silver eye seemingly to look into her soul.* Please... I know who you are. What you are. Please... *Sally pleadedas her wall hit the wall and watched the man's hand turn into claws and blades.* W-W-W-Wait please! I swear I am not like them! I just want to-

???: I'm sorry, Sally. *The man said taking a step forwards, the lights in the room flickering revealing his eye and claws seemingly dimly glowing in the dark.*

~~~

Origace: What? What did you just say? *The detective mutter in shock as look at the holographic screen in front of him.*

Platnite: I'm saying that this skinned mangled body that we found this morning at the wall has been identified with bioreiki as a college student named Sally Galiran. *The woman detective informed her partner showing pictured of the dead body that was partially reconstructed compared to a picture of Sally.* Meaning that woman you're holding isn't Sally Galiran.

Origace: Shit! *he cursed pulling off the collar like communicator from his neck and rushed out the door while shouting to another officer.* Get a combat team down to interrogation room three ten right now! *The detective then ran as fast as he could through the halls, leaping down a flight of stair while drawing his gun and made his when to the interrogation room. Once there, he instantly realized the door slightly open.* Damn it! *He mutter and kicked open the door, which to his surprise fell to the ground. Confused but unfazed He moved int with his gun at the ready only to be meant with a site he did not expect. A site of a room thrown into ruin covered with blood and deep claw marks with a torn apart decaying monster that most of it body leaning against the wall, its head twisted upside down with half of Sally's face draped over it. It was this that caused the detective to lower his gun and cover his mouth.* My god... What... What happened here?

~~~

*Meanwhile outside, the silver blue eyed man walked down a side walk blocks away from the police stations as police cars and ships passed by. He continued to walk for two blocks before stopping at a cross walk.*

???: So I take it you got the other one, Kai? *A short dark purple haired woman with pinkish highlights asked as she stepped next to the man looking up at him.*

Kai: Yeah Zo. I got them. Sorry to keep you waiting. *He said, taking his hat off his bandanna covered head and his coat dissolved upwards like flames and edged water.*

Zozu: Don't worry about it. I have to admit. It was pretty brilliant idea to hide from us in a police station while in the poor girl's skin. Though its a shame we couldn't find her alive and save her. Zo sighed with disappointment.* But at least we'll be able to tell Sally's parents we got her killers.

Kai: Yeah. *He mutter glancing down at Zozu's sad expression before patting his partner's head.* We can't win them all completely Zo. Just be glad you figured out went they were meeting and we manage to stop anyone else from being killed.

Zozu: Yeah I guess.

Kai: Come on. I'll taking you to the restaurant you been wanting to go to since we got here.

Zozu: Huh?... Hehe, Thanks, Kai. For trying to cheer me up. *Zozu smiled at her partner as the light changed and they began to cross the street.*

Kai: My Pleasure... Actually thinking about it, What did you do with those other college kids when I went after what was left of them?

Zozu: Oh I just dumped them at a bar. Which reminds me. *Zozu the kicked Kai in the leg.* That is for making me carry fourteen drugged college student out of an abandon build. One of whom barfed on my new coat.

Kai: Sorry.

Zozu: You should be.

Kai:...

Zozu:...

Kai:... Foot hurting yet?

Zozu: I hate you sometime. *Zozu grumbled with a limp.*

#Kaiyeti #OC Kai #OC Zozu #Untitled story

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jingphotography · 6 years

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In this article, learn more about the fortified city of Galle Dutch Fort, things to see and places to visit in one day, on foot.

Galle Dutch Fort, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Galle (pronounced in English as “gawl”) is on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, consisting of a new town and an old town. Galle Dutch Fort or Galle Fort, is the heart of the old town, a fortified city inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Galle Fort was first built by the Portuguese in the 16th century but was taken over by the Dutch in 1640. The Dutch greatly improved the fortifications while they used it as their main base.

Today, the preserved colonial structures reflect European influence with a dash of Asian flavor. Easily explorable by foot in a day, wandering through the streets of Galle Dutch Fort will take you to colonial buildings turned into chic cafes, boutique shops, hotels and restaurants. This once major trading port is also a hub for historical institutions like hospital, houses of worship, museums, grand mansions and administrative offices. Read on further to discover things to do in Galle as we explore places to visit in Galle Fort.

Galle Attractions

Walking through Galle Fort, Sri Lanka is like walking the streets of an old town in Europe on a hot Asian weather. Here are some of the Galle attractions that you can get covered in a day.

Churches and Mosque

Within the walled city are beautiful houses of worship that are co-existing harmoniously, serving as legacies from the colonial era. Among which are the Dutch Reformed Church, the Victorian-styled Meeran Mosque and All Saints Anglican Church. Interestingly, Meeran Mosque is unlike other Islam mosques because it was a Dutch church originally and later transformed into a mosque since it was abandoned.

The Dutch Reformed Church along Church Street

The All Saints Anglican Church along, guess where? Church Street!

Meeran Mosque at the corner of Leyn Baan Street and Rampart Street

Galle Fort Historical Buildings and Museums

Notable things to see in Galle Dutch Fort are the colonial buildings reminiscent of European occupation. Among these is the Old Dutch Government House, which then served as residence of the Dutch Commander. The building, however, looks like an abandoned, somewhat eerie space.

Old Dutch Government House along Queen’s Street

Next to the Old Dutch Government House and opposite the Old Post Office is the National Maritime Museum. The rustic and faded yellow-orange exterior walls of the National Maritime Museum and the Post Office strongly reminded me of my time in Georgetown, Penang in Malaysia while I scoured its streets for street art installations. See my photos of Georgetown here, to see the semblance.

The colonnaded Old Post Office Building is a nice spot for some photoshoot

I love the rustic texture of the Old Post Office along Church Cross Street

The National Maritime Museum

Dating back to 1684, the Amangalla was built as residence of the Dutch governor and officers. Today, it stands as the 5-star New Oriental Hotel. Beside the hotel is the National Museum of Galle, which houses galleries of handicrafts and artcrafts, and archaeological artifacts from the colonial period.

The white building is the New Oriental Hotel. Beside it is the National Museum of Galle

Unfortunately, we missed the Old Dutch Hospital along Hospital Road at the eastern side of the coast. The Old Dutch Hospital is now converted into a commercial establishment with boutiques and restaurants.

Shops and Restaurants at Galle Dutch Fort

I am not a keen shopper but I find Galle Fort’s little souvenir shops quaint and attractive. I still didn’t buy anything though, hehe. I’m happy with taking home some photos of the shops’ façade. Shops and restaurants are scattered around Galle Fort but I find them more concentrated along Pedlar Street.

Galle Lighthouse

The Galle Lighthouse is probably the most well-known image representation of Galle Fort. The present lighthouse was built in 1939 but the very first lighthouse that guided the ships at the Galle harbor dates back to 1848. A survivor of the 2004 tsunami, the present day Galle Lighthouse is a working lighthouse. It would have been exciting to see the views at the top of the lighthouse but visitors aren’t allowed to climb it.

Galle Clock Tower

Galle Clock Tower is another prominent Galle Dutch Fort landmark. It was erected through the combined contributions of the people in commemoration of Dr. Peter Daniel Anthonisz. The renowned doctor is a Burgher (No, don’t think food. Burghers are Eurasians in Sri Lanka with Portuguese, Dutch or British descent) who served the local government.

The Fort Walls

To complete your things to do in Galle, Sri Lanka, walk along the top of the Fort Walls circuit. The fortification was built as defense against colonial forces. Years later, the walls proved its strength after protecting the Galle Fort from what could have been a greater damage caused by the 2004 tsunami. You can walk through the entire Fort Walls circle in probably an hour. I find some of the bastion names amusing, sounding like Sailor Moon’s league of heroes – Star, Moon, Sun, Aurora, Triton, Neptune, Aeolus Bastions.

Watch cricket from the Sun or Moon Bastion

Just as most Filipinos are obsessed with basketball, Sri Lankans are big fans of cricket. Galle’s International Cricket Stadium is just north of the Main Entrance outside the Fort Wall. From the Sun and Moon Bastions, you can have a view of the cricket players at the stadium. It would have been interesting to watch locals watching a live cricket game.

International Cricket Stadium as viewed from Sun Bastion

People watching

We went around Galle Fort on a Sunday when Sri Lankan residents, in addition to foreign visitors, were up and about . Fort Walls was busy with people but I didn’t mind as I found it amusing to observe how the locals are spending their free time on a weekend. In fact, people watching was probably my favorite thing to do when I was in Galle.

I found a lot of young and not so young dating couples who have chosen their own spots around the rampart to “set-up” their umbrellas for some privacy. Look at the pictures below to understand what I mean when I say “Payong (umbrella) is heart” in Galle.

Double, double, single….

Also, I haven’t seen so many couple photo shoots going on simultaneously over a small area as I did in Galle Fort. There were just too many of them that I am close to thinking that singles aren’t allowed in Galle Fort.

I also found a few snake charmers in Galle Fort. Snake charming is an ancient practice that has two faces – one being an iconic art or one depicting violation of animal rights. Because of the latter, snake charmers are said to be declining in number.

Bird watching

Crow watching, to be specific, does not sound as appealing as bird watching (like going on a bird safari in Sri Lanka). The presence of crows is often associated with the presence of food scraps, garbage and dead living things. Sadly, seeing crows as scavengers had been one of my observations in my 10 days in India. In fairness, however, Galle Fort is a clean city. This is maybe the reason why I enjoyed watching large groups of crows in Galle Fort. They actually kept me and my camera busy.

But wait, there’s more to bird watching in Galle than crows. I also found other interesting bird species (sorry, I can’t identify them all correctly) in my wandering.

Watch a gorgeous sunset

The best time to walk around the ramparts is during early morning when it not blazing hot yet or during the late afternoon in time for the sunset. If you’re around for the sunset, the best way is to end at the southern tip of Galle Dutch Fort.

The Flag Rock Bastion is where it gets the most crowded because of its popular spot for sunset watching. The rampart, however, is long enough, to find other less crowded spaces that similarly faces the coast and equally provides stunning views of the sunset.

The Flag Rock Bastion

Galle was where I experienced my first sunset in Sri Lanka and it did not disappoint. The setting sun was in full circle and I could not believe how magenta orangey it was. As the sun set, I looked up and the moon took its turn of capturing my attention. What a great way of ending our walk through Galle Fort!

How to Get to Galle Fort

Colombo to Galle: Train

If you are coming from Colombo, the best way to travel to Galle is by train. Aside from being the cheapest option, trains being a mass transport will entail lesser traffic congestion, air pollution and fuel consumption. Likewise, the railway from Colombo to Galle takes the coastal route, giving you a great view of the Indian Ocean coast.

Indian Ocean view on our way to Galle from Colombo

You can check the Sri Lanka railway time table through the official website of the Sri Lanka Railways. The line stopping at Galle railway station connects Colombo to Galle and ends in Matara. Travel time is about 3 hours.

Unreserved seats for trains to Galle are 2nd class and 3rd class seats only. Tickets are sold on the day of the travel. Check the latest railway schedule, show up at the train station about an hour prior to your selected departure time on the day of your travel and purchase your ticket. Be sure to wait for your train at the correct platform. We bought 2nd class seats from Colombo Fort Station at LKR 180 per head (March 2018 price).

Reserved seats can only be purchased for air-conditioned 1st class observation car. Sri Lanka railway online booking can be made through 12Go.asia at least 32 days prior to your travel date. For more information about Sri Lanka Transport by train, check here.

Colombo to Galle: Bus

Taking the bus getting to Galle from Colombo will involve two transfers. If you are coming from the Colombo city center, you need to go to Maharagama bus station first, southeast of the city center, where you can catch the bus heading to Galle Bus Station. To get to the Maharagama bus station from Colombo city center, you may take bus 112 or 138. The bus route from Maharagama to Galle is via Expressway EX001. Find out more about Sri Lanka Transport by bus here.

Galle Accommodation

We stayed at Galle Center Home, located 1 kilometer away from the Galle Dutch Fort Main Entrance. The room was clean with nicely decorated walls. They offer a common area, free wifi and a shared kitchen. The staff were friendly and helpful, too. The owner also runs a daycare facility within their compound.

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Common Area

Twin bed room

Single bed room

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Kids’ work at the daycare

Intriguing wall post in the daycare center

You can find other hotels inside the Galle Fort, which unsurprisingly gets more expensive than the ones located further away from the fort. Check Galle accommodation reviews and the latest prices here from all top booking sites with just one search.

Other Things to Do in Galle/ Near Galle

Surfing Lessons in Weligama – Get introductory surfing lesson that gives you all the basics to take on your first wave.

Balapitiya River Safari and Nature Tour from Galle – Cruise along the Madu River by motorboat and experience the rural life in the surrounding areas, visit Kothduwa Temple, witness the process of cinnamon cultivation and see baby turtles at the Turtle Hatchery in Kosgoda

Traditional Fishing Trip in Galle – Experience an immersive day time fishing activity at Hikkaduwa Lagoon with a local fisherman

Hikkaduwa Lagoon Camping Day Tour – Spend a day at Hikkaduwa Lagoon and swim in its many beautiful beaches, enjoy traditional boat riding, a foot treatment at a fish spa, kayaking, canoe riding, and more

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Galle Dutch Fort, Sri Lanka: A Walkthrough In this article, learn more about the fortified city of Galle Dutch Fort, things to see and places to visit in one day, on foot.

#galle fort #things to do in galle sri lanka #unesco world heritage site

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