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🇱🇰 “Colombo Felt Like Kerala + City Vibes + Nagercoil” – My 36-Hour Solo Trip for Hip Hop Tamizha

 

🇱🇰 “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

TimeActivity
5:15 PMBoarded Payanam bus from Sarjapur
1:00 AMReached Koyambedu, Chennai, grabbed tea
2:00 AMReached Chennai airport for check-in
4:15 AMBoarded Air India flight (Business class!)
5:15 AMTook off for Colombo, had South Indian meal (dosa, idli, that sambar)

🌴 Day 1 – Touchdown Colombo

TimeActivity
6:30 AMLanded. Took Bus 187 to Pettah (~LKR 300)
8:00 AMUber Bike to Galle Face hostel
9:00 AMReached hostel early, used common area
10:00 AMExplored Galle Face Beach. Spotlessly clean!
12:00 PMSupermarket run – Milo, chocolates, snacks
1:30 PMTook local train from Kollupitiya to Pettah. Sea beside the track—gorgeous!
3:00 PMReturned to hostel. Power nap + gear check
4:00 PMLeft 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.

HighlightExperience
CrowdPure energy, Tamil fans screaming their lungs out
PerformanceAadhi was FIRE. Full power vibe till past midnight
Post-ShowNo auto. No bike. Walked halfway back with a crowd
ExpenseTuk 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

TimeEvent
8:00 AMWalked to Galle Face Beach again. Took more photos
10:00 AMBought Milo boxes & Sri Lankan chocolates
12:00 PMChecked out from hostel
1:00 PMVisited local mall, tried Boba Tea
2:00 PMTook tuk-tuk to airport
3:30 PMUsed Priority Pass lounge via Tata Neu card (decent, not wow)
5:15 PMFlight 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

CategoryCost (Approximate)
Flights₹0 (Redeemed via Tata Neu + Axis points)
Hostel₹890 + tax
Local Transport₹400–₹600
Food + Shopping₹1000 max
Concert TicketAlready 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

LessonWhat It Taught Me
Be FlexibleNo drone? No problem. I still captured memories.
Cards Are SuperpowerTravel can be free if you plan your points smartly.
Tamil ConnectsFound warmth in Sri Lankan Tamils. Pure brotherhood.
Solo ≠ LonelyWhen 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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