More than a driver – Prasad became part of our Sri Lankan adventure We are Tina and Mike from Munich, Germany, and we were travelling Sri Lanka for 12 days ä, because we wanted a real adventure: wild elephants, crocodiles, Sigiriya, whale watching, Buddhist and Hindu temples, lagoon safaris, surfing—and so much more. We planned a journey with three main stops: Sigiriya, Trincomalee and Pottuvil. But when you travel from Germany to another continent, excitement always comes with a little uncertainty. You simply don’t know exactly what to expect. Then Prasad picked us up from the Colombo International Airport Hotel near the airport. From the first moment, he welcomed us with such warmth, openness and friendliness that we immediately connected with him. During the several-hour drive to Sigiriya, we also quickly realised two things: choosing Prasad had been an excellent decision—and Sri Lankan traffic is very, very different from German traffic! Yet Prasad always drove calmly and carefully. We felt completely safe and well looked after, and our initial worries disappeared almost immediately. Our Honda mini-SUV was perfect for travelling around the country. It was always spotlessly clean, fully air-conditioned and very comfortable, even during the longer drives. There was also plenty of room for all our luggage, so we never felt cramped. Prasad knows a great deal about his beautiful country and shares his knowledge in exactly the right way: never too much, never too little, but always with interesting stories and helpful information about the places we passed and the regions we visited. Combined with his kind personality and wonderful sense of humour, this made every journey with him genuinely enjoyable. Already on our first day in Sigiriya, Prasad found the perfect solution when I wanted to hike Pidurangala before sunset while Tina preferred a massage. He dropped her off for her massage and then made sure I reached Pidurangala before dark. Both husband and wife happy on the first day—that is already an impressive achievement! The following morning, he was waiting punctually to take us to the magnificent Sigiriya Rock. He even walked with us to the ticket counter, made sure we knew where to go, showed us the entrance and later waited for us on the other side. Prasad also organised our safari in Minneriya National Park, where we saw wild elephants and buffaloes and had an unforgettable time. Later, in Trincomalee, he arranged a whale-watching tour for us, came with us to the operator’s shop and picked us up punctually at 5:50 in the morning. And what a trip it was—we saw both blue whales and sperm whales! When we returned, Prasad was already there waiting to bring us safely back to our hotel. In fact, this was something he did throughout our entire journey. Whether we went out for dinner, joined an activity or needed to travel somewhere, Prasad took us there and was always ready when we wanted to return. We never had to worry. That feeling of safety, comfort and reliability was incredibly valuable to us. When Tina developed a painful problem with one of her teeth, Prasad once again went far beyond what we expected. He drove us several hours to the nearest larger city, accompanied us to the dentist and then took us all the way back to our final stop near Arugam Bay. In a stressful situation far away from home, his support meant more to us than we can properly express. He also made sure I got a device for making string hoppers—my favourite Sri Lankan breakfast, especially with dhal curry. Thanks to Prasad, a little piece of Sri Lanka has now travelled home with us to Munich. Whether my homemade string hoppers will be quite as good is another question! And as if safely looking after two German tourists was not enough, Prasad even stopped to rescue a tortoise that was attempting the most dangerous road crossing of its life. Thanks to him, all three of his passengers made it safely to their destinations! Prasad was never simply our driver. He was our guide, organiser, problem-solver, safety net and friend throughout the journey. He always asked what we wanted to do and never pushed us to visit a place, book an activity or buy anything. Whenever we did want to arrange a tour, he helped us find high-quality experiences at very fair prices. We always felt that his only priority was for us to have the best possible time. We will truly miss travelling with Prasad. This was one of the best holidays we have ever had, and he is a big part of the reason why. His kindness, patience, honesty and genuine desire to help made our journey incredibly special. To anyone planning to visit and travel around Sri Lanka: we absolutely recommend booking a private driver. And with Prasad, you could not be in better hands. Thank you for everything, Prasad. We hope our paths cross again one day! Tina & Mike from Munich, Germany
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