Monthly Archive for May, 2007

Once upon a time, there was a sleepy little fishing village.
It was so remote, that it took most brave travelers a day or more to reach, on bumpy roads all the way from the Airport. Indeed, this journey took even longer than than their flight into the little island called Sri Lanka from just about any global starting point.
A few unfortunate surfers timed their arrival at the last checkpoint before the Eastern Province wrong. They closed the post at 17:00hrs. stopping all night transit to the East Coast. A fact overlooked by hardcore surfers in their urge to brave the ongoing civil war just for the sake of a few, but very famous waves.
However, after a semi-romantic star studded night spent in the cramped van, below or on top of a bus, but somewhere near an STF camp and often surrounded by a few herds of wild Elephants as well as the odd elusive Tiger (or was it a Leopard?)…..the journey continued through the most beautiful Countryside they had ever seen at dawn.

In those ancient days the A4 main road reopened at around 7-8:00 every day.
Early morning our brave pioneers reached a truly cut off village – called Ullai.
Local names like Ullai and Sinnai (small) Ullai meant nothing to the average Surfer dude:
All they came for was “AraGum” Bay; as Aussies still call it, even now.

A great right hander break, long runs, good constant swell and many other, sandy breaks nearby, all of them always with warm water, but no sharks, with very low cost of living, fresh food and cold beers, some smoke & good, long period visa conditions, great weather, fair cops, and the odd party.
In a short time the Arugam Bay Surf resort was discovered.
Ranking about world’s 10th best spot due the sum of all the above, favorable factors.
A truly great place, safe, secure, cheap, friendly and regarded world wide as somewhat exotic, even dangerous to travel to: On the East Coast of Sri Lanka!
And the best of all this is: Everyone is more safe here, in a perceived (near) War Zone, one of the very few with a happy MIXED Community. A place where Tamils, Muslims and Buddhists have intermixed and where there is no racial tension at all.
Everyone loves a foreign visitor and of course the sleepy Bay has no strategic importance to anyone; there simply is nothing around and no reason for anyone to attack this remote little enclave.
And what is the Happy Ending of this legend?

Nostalgia has returned to the Bay!
You can re-discover that 1960 to 1990 feeling right now!
Best of it is that you can do so with no known or predictable risk to yourselves!
Now, as the STF has also decided to close the A4 at night; -without prior announcement – we suppose it is done just to hep us to create the old, authentic atmosphere once more.

Message: The A4 is closed at night and opens at around 8-9:00 in the morning!
Time your arrival at Arugambay for daylight hours.
(There is no danger, but as a precaution the forces check the road physically at sunrise to give the all clear to transit traffic)
On the return journey, a simple transit pass is required. The driver will know how to do so at PottuVille Police Post.