1 செப்டம்பர் 2026, மதியம் 12:03 PM தமிழ்நாடு: Times of India - India அறிவித்த விவரத்தின்படி, the Supreme Court deferred the Cauvery water dispute hearing to September 15 Delhi Police moves SC to withdraw 13 FIRs, including 10 on attempt to murder SG seeks hearing on Sep 1; CJP had விதித்துள்ளார் Centre of reneging on withdrawal of FIRs. Notices were sent to the Centre, with the case scheduled for a hearing on September tenth, urging both protesters and law enforcement to comply with legal standards. SC: Externment orders cannot be அனுமதித்தது routinely, require reasons. Bihar, Jharkhand settle 25-year Sone water row Bihar and Jharkhand resolved a 25-year water dispute on Monday. The Sone river agreement was signed in New Delhi with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. MEA: 51 Indians die serving in Russian army. இந்த தகவல் 2 ஆதாரங்களால் (Times of India - India, Indian Express - India) உறுதிப்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. அடுத்த என்ன? சட்ட நிலைமை தொடரும், அடுத்த விசாரணிகள் அமைக்கப்பட்ட...
🇱🇰 “Colombo Felt Like Kerala + City Vibes + Nagercoil” – My 36-Hour Solo Trip for Hip Hop Tamizha
By Haerriz | April 2025
This isn’t your typical travel blog.
It’s not about sipping coconut water on a hammock or romanticizing sunsets.
This is a raw, real, solo trip story—where I, a Tamil guy from Bangalore, flew to Colombo, Sri Lanka, just to attend a Hip Hop Tamizha concert.
And what I found there?
A city that felt like Kerala’s lush roads, had the buzz of urban Chennai, and yet something deeply Nagercoil-ish in its people and pace.
🧭 Pre-Trip Jitters: The Drone, the Card Hacks & the Plan
Let’s rewind. I booked this trip last minute and wanted to take my DJI Mini 3 Pro drone to capture Colombo’s sea-soaked skyline.
But wait—Sri Lanka needs a 10-day approval for tourist drones. I found this out 48 hours before flying. So... plan scrapped. No drone.
But I had an ace up my sleeve:
Using a combo of Tata Neu Infinity Credit Card and Axis Vistara, I got a 100% free flight to Colombo in Air India Business Class. Yup, no cash, only credit card points magic.
✈️ From Sarjapur to Silk Board to Sri Lanka – Timeline Style
Here’s the time-coded play-by-play of what went down:
🕒 Day 0 – Bangalore to Chennai
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 5:15 PM | Boarded Payanam bus from Sarjapur |
| 1:00 AM | Reached Koyambedu, Chennai, grabbed tea |
| 2:00 AM | Reached Chennai airport for check-in |
| 4:15 AM | Boarded Air India flight (Business class!) |
| 5:15 AM | Took off for Colombo, had South Indian meal (dosa, idli, that sambar) |
🌴 Day 1 – Touchdown Colombo
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6:30 AM | Landed. Took Bus 187 to Pettah (~LKR 300) |
| 8:00 AM | Uber Bike to Galle Face hostel |
| 9:00 AM | Reached hostel early, used common area |
| 10:00 AM | Explored Galle Face Beach. Spotlessly clean! |
| 12:00 PM | Supermarket run – Milo, chocolates, snacks |
| 1:30 PM | Took local train from Kollupitiya to Pettah. Sea beside the track—gorgeous! |
| 3:00 PM | Returned to hostel. Power nap + gear check |
| 4:00 PM | Left for Hip Hop Tamizha concert |
🎤 Hip Hop Tamizha LIVE in Colombo
“I went alone. I came back with stories, energy, and new Lankan Tamil friends.”
I arrived around 4:00 PM but they let us in only at 6:30 PM. And the crowd? MAD.
While waiting, I vibed with two Sri Lankan Tamil guys—Loshan and Sheri. Talked about music, India, and shared memes. Good people.
The show started around 8:00 PM and ran till 12:15 AM.
| Highlight | Experience |
|---|---|
| Crowd | Pure energy, Tamil fans screaming their lungs out |
| Performance | Aadhi was FIRE. Full power vibe till past midnight |
| Post-Show | No auto. No bike. Walked halfway back with a crowd |
| Expense | Tuk tuk finally cost ~LKR 180 (₹480) |
🏨 Back to Hostel at 2:30 AM
-
Gate locked. No staff.
-
Waited outside for 10 minutes. Rang bell. Rang again. Finally, someone opened.
-
Slept at 2:30 AM. Woke up at 8:00 AM. Missed my chance to see Lotus Tower.
🍃 Day 2 – Chilling & Last-Minute Explores
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Walked to Galle Face Beach again. Took more photos |
| 10:00 AM | Bought Milo boxes & Sri Lankan chocolates |
| 12:00 PM | Checked out from hostel |
| 1:00 PM | Visited local mall, tried Boba Tea |
| 2:00 PM | Took tuk-tuk to airport |
| 3:30 PM | Used Priority Pass lounge via Tata Neu card (decent, not wow) |
| 5:15 PM | Flight back to Chennai (veg meal – sambar rice & corn gravy) |
🎢 The Return Hustle: Chennai to Bangalore
-
Zing bus I booked? Cancelled.
-
Rushed to a nearby mall, watched a movie, rebooked a Volvo sleeper.
-
Reached Bangalore next day via Silk Board at 2:20 PM.
💰 Trip Expenses Summary
| Category | Cost (Approximate) |
|---|---|
| Flights | ₹0 (Redeemed via Tata Neu + Axis points) |
| Hostel | ₹890 + tax |
| Local Transport | ₹400–₹600 |
| Food + Shopping | ₹1000 max |
| Concert Ticket | Already paid in INR prior |
| Total | ₹2,000–₹2,500 (all in) |
₹2.5K for a solo international concert trip? Worth it. Every rupee.
🧠 What I Learned from This Trip
| Lesson | What It Taught Me |
|---|---|
| Be Flexible | No drone? No problem. I still captured memories. |
| Cards Are Superpower | Travel can be free if you plan your points smartly. |
| Tamil Connects | Found warmth in Sri Lankan Tamils. Pure brotherhood. |
| Solo ≠ Lonely | When you vibe right, strangers become friends. |
🧳 Would I Go Again?
YES. But next time:
-
Drone + Permit ✔️
-
Lotus Tower ✔️
-
More Lankan Cuisine ✔️
-
Longer Stay (3 days at least) ✔️
Colombo was not just another destination.
It was familiar, it was emotional, it was "home but not home."
📌 Final Thoughts
If you’re a Tamil guy like me, looking to travel solo, chase music, and explore culture—
Colombo is your vibe.
Clean. Coastal. Calm.
Budget-friendly. Tamil-friendly. Energy-friendly.
Comments
Post a Comment