#01 Stardust is the very first Hotel you come to after crossing the Bridge and as you enter Arugambay. Hence we indexed Stardust No. #01.
But in any case “Stardust” has always been the “No. 01″ address at the Bay, offering the highest class of hospitality available in the entire area.
When the late Per together with Merete settled in Arugam Bay this Danish couple established without any doubt very high, fresh standards of hospitality at Arugam Bay.
For many years the well run Stardust was just like an oasis in this very remote enclave.
With only a few highly original, but low budget establishments such as #05 Beach Hut, #45 Sooriya’s and #58 Rupas around in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s #01 Stardust’s high class, international cuisine together with a dozen or so perfect, ultra clean rooms firmly established Arugam Bay on to a global map.
Suddenly there was a place in town not just for surfers, but for demanding world travelers!
A man with a vision, a true pioneer, Per Goodman continued to develop his great resort until the end; of 2004. Stardust gained and maintained the reputation of being the finest Restaurant in the East, offering good local and always perfect International dishes in a beautiful location and setting near the large lagoon.
The Hotel’s own web site, designed by the late Mr. Philip has for many years been described as a ‘good source of information’ about Arugam Bay and the surrounding area.
Again, even the site was ahead of its time and rightfully still holds the No. 01 position on Google.
Check it out with the link below!
www.arugambay.com
Nate Berkus‘s Stardust Beach Hotel Story
Where: Sri Lanka
Tue Jan 18, 2005 at 09:54:28 AM EST
We aren‘t big Oprah watchers, forgive us if we are usually working weekdays at 4 PM, however, yesterday we set our Tivo‘s, after a reader informed us that designer Nate Berkus would make an appearance on Oprah, and recount his tsunami experience on the show. Oprah showed incredible exclusive footage, shot by hotel guests, during the tsunami, who were staying at different hotels in and around Sri Lanka‘s Arugam Bay. Arugam Bay, is home to world class surfing, and now the former home of many bohemian beach hotels, which have been subsequently wiped out by the storm. Only three hotels remain standing in Arugam Bay, two of which, the Siam View Hotel and the Hideway, have turned themselves into Red Cross headquarters.
Nate was vacationing at the Stardust Beach Hotel when the tsunami hit, and the Stardust was one of the many Sri Lankin hotels that was pummeled into oblivion by the big wave. The Stardust‘s owner, Dane entrepreneur Peer Goodman, drowned along with his hotel, and was buried in a lagoon near the remains of his hotel.
No doubt many, many, tsunami survivors have absolutely incredible stories, and many tsunami vicitims will never be able to tell their stories, however, it was powerful to listen to Nate tell his, and look at the absolutely incredible devestation to Arugam Bay Sri Lanka.
If you are looking to help the check in here. (Of course there are plenty of other places).
If you are looking for hotel damage reports, go here.
Related Stories:
· Goodwill Is Alive And Well After The Disaster [CNN]