What a surprise!
After last weeks unprecedented incidents we really thought we lost our brilliant reputation as a very peaceful, remote Bay.
Little wonder that our friends from Israel, including some attractive,young ladies packed their bags last week to escape yet another confrontation with angry Muslims. Many feel they have enough of it at home and don’t deserve similar impressions on a well earned holiday.
(Note the two girls on the left; they are also shown in our: “Surfers leaving the Bay” article). They returned to the Bay in less than ONE week! Respect!!!!
We are honoured that all of a sudden most guys (and specially the two girls mentioned) have come back to us to show solidarity, representing a very strong support and full confidence in the little Bay at Arugam.
Just as distant Governments warn of East Coast travels:
Here are our REAL travelers, rather than illinformed pen pushers – who voted with their presence.
And they show up all this nonsense and overreacting hype.
Being no expert at the complex Internet, and also a tiny bit drunk due to the ongoing celebrations, I don’t know right now how to copy and paste more and better photos into this space here (as yet..old man still learning…and so on…)
But here is a link for you to take a glimpse of some up to date, tonights, events at Arugam Bay:
http://picasaweb.google.com/arugamsurf/AndTheyAreBack
Folks!
We are overwhelmed!
Who would have dreamed that our little Community would recover so quickly?
Again: Totally on our own!
Last week we really though that we lost years of good reputation.
And nobody would want to know us anymore. Or come to see and stay with us.
Today we are happy to welcome even more visitors and we received dozens of emails of moral support. Even more surprising:
Loads of guys phoned up and asked who our DJ will be for next weeks Full Moon Party!!!
To be honest, we will show restraint and we will just have a low key get-together FMP on the night of the 5th October; that’s all.
Sad events happened outside the Bay and we also wish to show respect, of course.
It’s the Holy month of Ramadan …as well.
However, on a brighter and more cheerful note we are very happy to report that we have received our first photo collection from our good friend Ms. Line (sorry: that’s not her Line, but a Danish name).
Line asked us to publish her impressions during her long stay at East Surf Cabanas:
So here it is:
http://picasaweb.google.com/arugamsurf/LineGallery
#44 East Beach Hotel
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#43 Home Needs
#43 Home Needs is a well run, clean food and small needs shop.
Something a bit like a Sri Lankan 7/11 corner shop.
Situated right in the middle of the Bay, open until 21:00 hrs. it is perhaps the best run little shop Arugam Bay has to offer.
There are plenty of fridges and freezers and quite a few more items are stocked than in PottuVille. Many may appeal to visitors: Corn Flakes, imported sweets, sun lotions, tampons, diapers.
The hard working owner is Mr. V-Jay.
The shop was wiped off Dec/2004, but with determination and generous immediate financial assistance from the Siam View VJ managed to be the first place to re=open after the Big waves receded.
Common practice has it, that many goods are supplied on credit; a ‘tab’ is kept to ensure customer loyalty.
AbHa recommends, however, that visitors pay for all goods as they receive them.
This would help the cash flow of such small shops.
And avoid bad debts.
#42 Dean’s Hotel
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#41 Surf & Sun is the most colorful, friendly looking development, located roughly in the middle of the Bay, opposite #40 Hello Madam and #39 Hillton Hotel.
Run by two Sri Lankan surfers, Samman and Nuwan the entire place has a distinct surf appeal.
In front there is a surf shop, as well as a recent addition of a small Internet cafe.
Behind you will find a friendly bar with a good selection of fresh food complimented by a choice of surf related movies.
#41 Surf n' Sun's surf shop and gallery
In addition to the popular, warm and homely restaurant there are a number of nice cabanas and a few pretty bungalows with upstairs living rooms.
#41 Surf & Sun has hosted a few memorable events such as a hugely successful Reggae Concert recently.
In August 2006 a very colorful and most romantic wedding took place when Samman married Minna from Sweden. The event was recorded and some photos are included in our popular gallery; see right navigation bar.
#41 Surf n' Sun's main entrance
Continue reading ‘#41 Surf & Sun’
# 40 Hello Madam is (now) located between #39Hillton and #42Deens.
This actually represents the third location in as many years of this particular ‘Madam’, who is actually known as Liz, or Elisabeth.
Liz came from the UK, stayed at #01 Stardust, fell in Love with the Bay and #01 employee Ramesh. They soon married and they are now blessed with a baby son, born 2006.
In order to live and work locally the couple decided to run a small business. The first chosen location, Hello Madam Mk.1, was at the bridge end of town. The small shop only opened briefly in December 2004, selling textiles, T-shirts and so on. But only for a day or so……
Mk.2 “Hello Madam” was a colorful shop opposite #50 Siam View and in addition to fabrics handicrafts and home made ice creams were on offer.
Living on one end of town, right next to the loud mosk and in rented accommodation and running a shop at the other proved to be difficult.
A rare opportunity arose in 2005 when the Aussie/UK Robbo/Peter/Linden consortium put their plot of land onto the market.
Smart Liz grabbed the chance and for the first time the happy family obtained their own premises.
#40 Hello Madam is predicted to be Arugam Bay’s rising star in years to come.
Why?
Because the entire concept is brilliant and can’t fail:
A innovative shop selling everything tourists are looking for on vacation, a nice beach side restaurant named “Gecko” offering home made goodies such as dark bread, perfect ice creams, fantastic cakes and pies. All in a homely, creative setting: It simply feels like home from home.
The new roadside lounge with plush English settees, offering good wines coupled with Liz’ known hospitality as well as a few planned rooms compliment this excellent development the Bay should be proud of.
# 39 Hillton Hotel, Arugam Bay is situated between #38 Cafe del Mar and
#40 Hello Madam, on the sea side of the main road.
#39 Hillton Hotel has its own web site:
www.arugambay.lk
Formerly known as “The Hilton” the extra “L” may have been added to avoid confusion or international law suits from the somewhat greater chain of Hotels.
The owner is Mr. Rahim, an ambitious former rotti shop manager from nearby PottuVille.
Mr. Rahim worked himself up in life very well, making the best of any chance offered to him.
This may have been with the help of some good business partners.
The result is a fine, strong concrete building facing sideways towards the open ocean.
This design feature saved the structure from serious damage in 2004.
A fine court-yard restaurant exists, which has been popular with many NGO’s.
A further notable feature are the popular eco tours the Hillton offers.
These canoe trips explore and explain interesting mangrove shores of the PottuVille lagoon.
Compliments to Mercy Corps, Mr. Rahim also is the President of the local Tourist Association and he managed to remain friendly and in close contact with all other organizations.
#38 Cafe del Mar
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#37 Hideaway is located about in the middle of the Bay, opposite Hillton Hotel.
Set in its own, very large tropical gardens you can truly hide away here.
Owned by Mr. & Mrs. Tissera for many years you will experience a type of true colonial setting. Sitting in the open restaurant of the main building, surrounded by attentive staff, impeccable table settings and traditional food you might have similar impressions the British loved Ceylon for years ago.
The well stocked, licensed bar and the odd Gin & Tonic (to keep a few mossies away of course..) will greatly assist this kind of experience.
Accommodation at Hideaway consists of upstairs rooms in the main building as well as separate stone build cabanas in the front garden. A new development is being completed near the main road, a nice looking 2 story private bungalow.
Do you have any nice photo of Hideaway?
Please send them to: ArugamFoto@Gmail.com and we will take care to publish them at once.
#36 Zaara Beach Rest
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#35 Shanoon Beach Resort
taken in 2009 and still the same...
#35 Shanoon Beach Resort is not open for business at the time of this edit.
In fact, this small place has never been re-opened since severe damage on 26th December, 2004
#34 Orient Beach Rest
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#33 Sun Rise Hotel
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Sign atop the hotel
#32 Tri Star Hotel (http://tristar3hotels.com/) are fact of two Hotels:
The old, original Tri Star with its large landscaped gardens has been around a long time.
It was managed by the family of the #16 Midbay Hotel for many years, on behalf of the Tamil owner, a doctor from Colombo.
Around 2002/3 the arrangement was terminated, the hotel refurbished and a small, oblong swimming pool placed in the garden. This was -and still is – the only pool in the Bay. A Jaccuzzi was place in a tiny room, under some stairs – a position in the open air would have been more popular maybe.
The first floor seen an a/c restaurant, a conference/cinema room and all the cabanas received a full face lift and furniture, imported from Indonesia.
The position of the old TriStar, however, remained land side, away from the popular beach.
Entrance into #32 Tri Star Beach Hotel
It seems that the original owners entered into a partnership with a Muslim business man, Mr. Razak in 2004 or 2005 and a brand new “New” Tristar was constructed after the Tsunami. Opposite, on the beach front, in the (then) 50- 200 meter exclusion zone.
The new building has around 20 air con rooms, which many feel are somewhat too small in size. The hot air is blown into the hotel itself – which is a little unfortunate, maybe.
There is a good satellite TV system, a large flat roof top and a very small front, ocean facing garden.
Due to Muslim ownership it appears that there is no alcohol permitted inside the premises. This part of the Tristar is popular with NGO’s, government officials and other visiting dignitaries
Foreign visitors and tourists from abroad often feel that their preferences have not been fully addressed, but local visitors from Colombo and Kandy are said to be happy in the New Tristar Hotel.
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