🇱🇰 “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.

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