About this listing
A quiet spot to hang out with a group and explore Mannar Island. Price is per room with attached bathroom and there are ten rooms available.
The Space
Lawrence's is a big place. Spread over 3 acres, it offers ten double rooms and two family rooms, each with private bathroom. There's a big, common living room, a dining area and a garden full of fruit trees. When we were there we bumped into a calf that was munching on some mangoes, we saw guineafowls and many pigeons. A nice natural feel this place has.
Interaction with Guests
Lawrence is a friendly 53 year-old man who lived on Mannar Island all his life. He's got four kids, whose names all start with a ‘T', so he named his place ‘ The Four Tees'. Lawrence built the place himself, after the Civil War ended in 2009 and he's hosted many tourists since. He speaks English, Tamil and some Sinhala, and he can arrange meals and transport upon request.
The Neighborhood
Those to search for Mannar on travel website wikitravel will find… nothing. Cool. That's a Neverbeen location for you right there. Sure, Mannar is not a reason to fly to Sri Lanka, but it sure is worth a visit if you like a trip off the beaten path. Sri Lanka's bridgehead of the Adam's Bridge, a sand bank that connects India and Sri Lanka, Mannar was accessible by foot from India until a storm washed away parts of the bank a few hundred years ago. Famous for it's mules, Baobab trees, pearl fishing and remnants of early Portuguese and Dutch occupation, Mannar offers a good mix of cultural and natural highlights to spend a good few days. Do not expect luxury tourism options though, as this region was occupied by the LTTE until 2009 has only been opened up to tourists a few years ago. So it's all yours.
When we visited Mannar was going through one of the worst floods in decades. We'll never forget the sight of that village in the distance, all it's pink houses rising straight out of the water...
Lawrence's villa itself is located in Thoddaveli, some 8 kilometres North of Mannar town. Mannar Lagoon, the Railway station and Keeri beach are all a short drive away.