Vaccinations and other nasties...

Unless you plan to roll around in the mud with a bunch of wild dogs, you shouldn't need any special vaccinations for Sri Lanka ...but hey, who knows where a good night will end up?

It is recommended to have Hep A, Hep B and Typhoid vaccinations for Asia if you haven't already had them. They usually last about 10 years so they are good to get anyway. Rabies and Japanese Encephalitis are optional for Asia and aren't necessary for touristy areas. Have a look at this vaccination website for more info.

Malaria is not a risk in the area where the wedding is, however it is a risk in the rest of the country. The chance of getting it is very slim and in my experience the side effects of anti-malarial medicine outway the risk of getting it. Many anti-malarials make you more sensitive to sunburn, and can make you nauseous, disoriented and feverish.

If you get bitten by mozzies, I would suggest you bring lots of mosquito repellant and some mosquito wrist bands, lots of people were wearing these when we were there last time. You can get them from camping shops.

When you're walking through the jungle and your butt begins to rumble...

Diarrhea is always a concern when travelling through Asia. It will happen to most of us at some point. Here are a few simple ways to avoid it...

1. Only drink bottled water, including when you brush your teeth.

2. If you are eating something that looks a bit dodgy, drink Coke with it because it seems to kill the gut bugs.

3. If you're not near the ocean, don't order the fish. If you haven't seen a cow, don't get the steak. Basically, eat the local food and it is more likely to be fresh. You have the same chance of getting sick somewhere fancy as in a roadside cafe, the trick is to order the freshest thing on the menu.

4. Avoid dairy products. There's a reason that Sri Lanka isn't famous for its cheese.

5. Go bananas! 'If your gut's too mellow, eat the yellow. If your gut's obscene, better eat the green.' For diarrhea, eat 1 GREEN banana every 2-5 hours or until symptoms subside. If you are feeling a bit blocked up, 2-3 RIPE bananas on an empty stomach in the morning should do the trick.

6. If all else fails, Imodium is your friend.