Monthly Archive for October, 2009

Windsurfing Arugam Bay

Published on 27/10/2009 in Blogs, Ideas, Kitesurf, people, surf and the bay. 3 Comments

Wind Surfing in Arugam Bay

Sri Lanka is blessed with the azure waters of the Indian Ocean, which lap the entire 1,585 kilometres of the coastline. This, together with the two seasonal monsoons that hit each side of the island at different times of the year, means that water sports such as Windsurfing can be indulged in at any time.

Windsurfing began in America sometime in the early 70s after the discovery that a mast located on a swivelling pivot could be used to steer a small sailing craft by using body weight instead of a rudder. The first boards made their way to Sri Lanka in the late 70s, when a group of Swedish holidaymakers decided to try to bring them along on vacation. After this more and more tourists started bringing boards, some of which were intentionally left behind. It was these boards that west coast locals used to learn the sport for themselves. Continue reading ‘Windsurfing Arugam Bay’

Just South of Arugambay: A Human/Elephant Conflict

Published on 27/10/2009 in Blogs, front page, people and wild life. 0 Comments

So, we rented some push bikes and set off for Peanut Farm. 100 meters out of the gate, Jerry fell over and skinned his knees. He had blood running down his legs but the cuts weren’t deep. We said we’d wash it in the ocean and moved on. South of Arugam Bay is a surreal landscape, surrounded by a sea of dry paddy fields, parades of water buffaloes, peacocks. Even elephants.

We left Peanut Farm because it was getting dark and we’d been warned not once or twice but thrice about elephants. At least I had. I also ran into an elephant on the way to the bar once (in Yala) and he tried to kill me. I avoid wild elephants like Minister’s sons, and I’d heard they were causing trouble in Arugam Bay.

The Good Part Continue reading ‘Just South of Arugambay: A Human/Elephant Conflict’

Games to play at Arugam Bay

Published on 25/10/2009 in Blogs, Ideas, Kitesurf, front page, people, press coverage, surf and the bay. 1 Comment

Kite Surfing

Keshini Hapugoda might be Sri Lanka’s first female kite surfer. The 28-year-old IT consultant loves to surf and dive, and kite surfing is her latest passion. A few weekends with an instructor in Negombo have helped her learn the basics of kite surfing and while she’s sticking to the shallows now, she’s hoping to head into deeper water soon.

Dilsiri Welikala is already comfortable out at sea. “It’s an amazing feeling, harnessing the power of the wind to propel yourself along,” he says. He talks of skimming along the water for hours at a time and of chance encounters with pods of dolphins. Though he needs a little help getting his 10 square metre kite up, once that’s done and the lines and harness are secured, he’s good to go.

“Your kite becomes like an airplane wing,” says Dilsiri, explaining that he controls the direction of his kite by changing the angle of his board. Kite surfers are slaves to the winds and will drive many hours to catch the right kind. As a result, this group has been all over the island, from Puttalam to Arugam Bay. Continue reading ‘Games to play at Arugam Bay’

Former AbaY Surf Club Chairman died

Published on 23/10/2009 in Blogs, Money Matters, Security & Safety, front page, surf and the bay. 1 Comment

paddle4relief149-year-old former Arugam Bay Surf Club Chairman, Ranjan, died of a massive heart attack while surfing at Baby Point, Arugam Bay, on the east coast of Sri Lanka. Attempts at CPR by both local people and Western tourists alike failed to revive him.

Ranjan died doing something that was close to his heart and will be sorely missed. He was a mellow and humorous pillar of the local community, leaving behind a wife and three sons. Alan, the eldest, is a regular surfer, who uses UK surfboards donated byPaddle4Relief. He has been a force within the charity, using his skills to repair our computer.

Ranjan’s death highlights the need for both beach life guards and a medical centre in the village. With the civil war over, internal travel within Sri Lanka, particularly the East and North, is more relaxed, so we’re seeing increasing numbers of both Western and Sri Lankan tourists crowding the beach and sea. It is more apparent then ever that there is a desperate need for qualified life savers. Local surfers are regularly rescuing individuals from the unpredictable tropical coastline, and the young surfers of the village are demanding action to prevent further loss of life. They are willing to undergo training and man the local surf breaks in an attempt to save life and prevent injury. These young men are turning to the international humanitarian, medical, surfing, surf life-saving and water sports communities to assist them in their quest!

Out of respect for Ranjan, the community of Arugam Bay is determined to make this change happen, and hopes that all who read this article can be generous in offering  either practical or financial help.

Please either contact Fawas, present Chairman of Arugam Bay Surf Club or Tim Tanton at Paddle4Relief.

source:

http://www.driftsurfing.eu/index.php/archives/2812

Flower & Sunkiss

Published on 22/10/2009 in Blogs, front page and people. 0 Comments

Arugam Bay and our connection with  Bob’s  two surf boards….

Well, this most certainly isn’t my first surfboard but it was a special board. Maybe you will agree. It had a very, very interesting life! The one on the left.

The one on the right was Natalia’s first surfboard. The same very interesting life.

We had walked into the surf board shop at Sorake Beach on Nias, Indonesia to rent boards. We stayed at the Friendly Inn with Rick and Sheryl.

As we were staying there for some time, over the course of time, I had gone by the shop almost every day. The shop was between our bungalow and the point. We could either paddle by it of walk by it coming of going surfing.

There were 7 blanks standing in the corner of the surfshop. The shop owner said that an Ozzie had brought them and was going to shape them, but had suddenly changed his mind and left. There the blanks stood.

Like I said we were there for some time.

One day I got the idea to tell the shop owner that I would shape all of them, he puts up the materials. I had to glass these two but he would glass the remaining 5. I get the two boards. He gets the 5.

Here they are as you see them. It was my 108th and 109th board. Surfers remember such things, don’t they? I mean unless you’re some kind of machine in a manufactures establishment.

Anyways, no more renting two boards for the week. I put in a week of work and get two boards. Good deal, yeah? Natalia was well on her way to learning how to surf and so when she got this board she was ready for it. Natalia did the designs. We were limited to pigment colors. We were on Nias. It had taken the shop owner a three day turn around trip to go and get the glass, resin, acetone, etc. For some reason we named our boards. I had never done that before. Flower and Sunkiss.

So every evening, in the some what cool of the evening, Ha! –we were at the equator, I was at his shop for that week shaping the boards, then glassing ours.

We stayed for 4 months with a turn around visa after two months.

We went over to Bawa at the end of our trip there on Nias. After Bawa we went to the Philippines for the typhoon season and then the next year we went to Sri Lanka. Eastern Province at Arugam Bay to stay with Fred and Somlak at their Siam View Resort.

We made a decision to leave our boards there as we were going to Japan. We could come back the next year and have them. That was our idea.

The painting of Flower and Sunkiss is on our patio of our bungaloo at Siam View, Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka late August, 2004. I had taken up water color painting as hobby.

In December of that year, 2004 the tsunami generated in Nias went to Sri Lanka, Arugam Bay and reclaimed Flower and Sunkiss.

source:

http://rqpiii.blogspot.com/2009/10/flower-and-sunkiss.html

Arugam’s Forgotten Hero: “Nilu – Neelu”

Published on 20/10/2009 in From our own Correspondent, front page and people. 2 Comments

Arugam.info published the story below exactly 2 years ago:

This is a rare photo of Mr. Neelu, from Kataragama.
Named “Arugam’s Hero” after the 2004 Tsunami
neelu.jpg

Neelu has long been forgotten at Arugam Bay. His great deeds seem to have been sadly ignored by just about everybody, incl.  the Hilltop Survivors. Nilu was most active looking after the injured and traumatized on the so called “Hero’s Hill” as they spent the night waiting for the choppers to take them away from the flooded Bay.
However, there are some, like us here at arugam.info, who will always treasure and value the totally unselfish help which Neelu gave to everyone in need in the hours, days and month following 26th December, 2004.
Neelu never stopped giving all he could to anyone in need.
He also was the one who ensured that the now reconstructed school at Ullai actually re-opened on the due day, as early as January, 2005.

A remarkable man – sadly shunned and totally forgotten by …most.

END OF POST DATED 20 OCTOBER, 2007

———————————————————————

We decided to re-print the article on this 2nd anniversary .
Reasons:

  • Mr. Nilu feels he has been totally forgotten
  • He has been imprisoned on Remand for about 6 months
  • He does not what his charges are or might be
  • Nobody seems to take any interest in his case and plight
  • He is deeply depressed and needs help

Arugam.info does not get involved in political or legal cases.

But we strongly feel that Mr. Nilu is a man who deserves better.
After all, he has been praised as ‘Local Hero’  and many survivors of the 2004 drama owe him a great deal.
The #01 Stardust Hotel  mention(ed) him on their web site (www.arugambay.com).
We are unsure if Nilu ever received any help from anyone how was looked after by him .


We called the number given on the web site of the Hilltop Survivor web site (www. arugam-bay.org) but + 44 7802 385054 mobile failed to return our call. We simply wanted to ask, if any of the people who were so full of praise for Nilu’s assistance might wish to send him a message of good will or so.


Read on if you wish to make a donation to the Hilltop Survivor Project: Continue reading ‘Arugam’s Forgotten Hero: “Nilu – Neelu”’

Arugam Bay

Published on 19/10/2009 in Blogs and front page. 0 Comments

Arugambay is the most a comely beach in sri lanka it has endless sea waves for surfing and soft -heated shine for sun -bath .The sea is not much deep there.But sea waves are very high. So every one go there can get unlimited fun without any objection or fear.

Arugambay beach is the best sea waves and we can attend to the surfing to ornaments in August to December at Arugambay beach.

SURFING IN ARUGAMBAY

Sun Bath at “Arugam Bay”

source:

http://arugambaybeach.blogspot.com/2009/10/blog-post_18.html

Experience Surfing at Sri Lanka’s Arugam Bay

Published on 18/10/2009 in Blogs, front page, surf and the bay. 0 Comments
Retro Surfer Girl Magazine

Retro Surfer Girl Magazine

Sri Lanka is a very wonderful country that is packed with lots of beautiful places to visit and to do various sports activities. Sri Lanka beaches are very ideal for surfing activities. The best place in Sri Lanka to do surfing is in Arugam Bay.

Arugam Bay is situated 314 kilometers from Colombo, and is the most ideal place for surfing. This place is perfect for various water sports activities and also underwater photography. This bay is a fishing village that is in the southern part of a town. Arugam is a place idyllic for surfers that are on a tight budget with the bay’s low priced accommodations.

Due to the Arugam bay’s remarkable fame, thousands of divers come to visit here making the place really crowded. The waters in Arugam bay are with tropical waves that are what surfers search for, making it a dream place for every surfer. Perfect waters can be found meters away from the breach coast. Continue reading ‘Experience Surfing at Sri Lanka’s Arugam Bay’

Un-named powers helped SLN off Arugam Bay

Published on 18/10/2009 in Blogs, Security & Safety and press coverage. 0 Comments

…… Two more ships which were destroyed 1,525 km south-east of Arugambay on March 18, 2007……

Sri Lanka’s single most successful naval operation, which destroyed eight floating arsenals belonging to the LTTE, would not have been possible without the covert support of a foreign power, The Island learns. Continue reading ‘Un-named powers helped SLN off Arugam Bay’

Fishing Trawlers at Arugam Bay & North

Published on 16/10/2009 in Blogs, Money Matters, people and the bay. 0 Comments

Stranded fishy trawler at Arugam Bay

Stranded fishy trawler at Arugam Bay

SRI LANKA: Fighting over fish

COLOMBO, 16 October 2009 (IRIN) – The seas off Batticaloa in the country’s former war-torn east are home to one of the most fertile spawning grounds off Sri Lanka, and fishermen rarely had to travel far for a good catch.

But of late, traditional fishermen who use boats powered by outboard motors or canoes to fish have complained of meagre harvests.

“I went out on five consecutive days, and only yesterday did I return with some fish, but only 6kg,” said Tamil Chelvam, who operates a boat from Tirivendu beach, just south of Batticaloa.

Locals blame a recent influx of large fishing trawlers into their waters for their dwindling catches. Before the encroachment, a good catch would earn fishermen up to US$174, and a normal catch, about $85. Continue reading ‘Fishing Trawlers at Arugam Bay & North’

Shafraz Thawfeek’s Arugam

Published on 16/10/2009 in Blogs and the bay. 2 Comments
Sunrise at Arugam Bay Beach, Sri Lanka. October 2009.

Sunrise at Arugam Bay Beach, Sri Lanka. October 2009.

Day Break, Arugam Bay Beach,  Sri Lanka

Goncalo’s Arugam

Published on 15/10/2009 in people and the bay. 0 Comments
Goncalo Figueiredo' s Impressions on Flickr

Goncalo Figueiredo' s Impressions on Flickr

Arugam Bay, in Sri Lanka, a world destination for surfers, is also the working ground for fishermen who wake up before dawn to push the boats to the water. Two hours later, they haul their boats to the sand, put the sardines in baskets, and rush them to the market.

Lahugala? Arugam? Uda Wallawe?

Published on 03/10/2009 in Blogs, front page and wild life. 2 Comments
A man uses his mobile phone to take a photo of a wild elephant that broke onto a farmer's propert, near Arugam Bay, 220 km (137 miles) east of Colombo.

A man uses his mobile phone to take a photo of a wild elephant that broke onto a farmer’s propert, near Arugam Bay, 220 km (137 miles) east of Colombo.

Photograph by: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds , Reuters

Text under this photo reads:
“A man uses his mobile phone to take a photo of a wild elephant that broke onto farmer’s property, near Arugam Bay, 220 km (137 miles) east of Colombo”

According to a number of comments left on various blogs and web sites there is a discussion where exactly this photo was taken.
Not many feel it is anywhere near Arugam bay or in Lahugala.
Do YOU have any better info?

The attached article to this Canadian post seems highly copyright protected.
For whatever reason.
Sadly, arugam.info (totally non profit, for the benefit of all) cannot show you what has been said and printed about our area.

However, part of the research  seems faulty:
Arugam Bay is 322km from Colombo – Not 220km (but maybe 220 miles)

© Copyright (c) Canwest News

Experience Surfing at Sri Lanka’s Arugam Bay

Published on 01/10/2009 in Blogs, front page, people, surf and the bay. 0 Comments
Vintage Surf Girls

Vintage Surf Girls

Sri Lanka is a very wonderful country that is packed with lots of beautiful places to visit and to do various sports activities. Sri Lanka beaches are very ideal for surfing activities. The best place in Sri Lanka to do surfing is in Arugam Bay.

Arugam Bay is situated 314 kilometers from Colombo, and is the most ideal place for surfing. This place is perfect for various water sports activities and also underwater photography. This bay is a fishing village that is in the southern part of a town. Arugam is a place idyllic for surfers that are on a tight budget with the bay’s low priced accommodations.

Due to the Arugam bay’s remarkable fame, thousands of divers come to visit here making the place really crowded. The waters in Arugam bay are with tropical waves that are what surfers search for, making it a dream place for every surfer. Perfect waters can be found meters away from the breach coast. Continue reading ‘Experience Surfing at Sri Lanka’s Arugam Bay’

Next Arugam Tsu: Only a matter of time?

Published on 01/10/2009 in Environmental, Security & Safety, front page and press coverage. 3 Comments

Tsunamis triggered by a strong quake in the South Pacific have killed at least 90 people across a number of islands.

At least 65 people were reported dead in Samoa, more than 20 in American Samoa and at least six in Tonga.

Samoan officials say whole villages have been destroyed while thousands of people are reported to have been made homeless in American Samoa.

An 8.3-magnitude quake struck at 1748 GMT on Tuesday, generating 15ft (4.5m) waves in some areas of the islands.

Map showing location of Samoan tsunami

The Samoa islands comprise two separate entities – the nation of Samoa and American Samoa, a US territory. The total population is about 250,000.

A general tsunami warning was issued for the wider South Pacific region but was cancelled a few hours later.

The general manager of Samoa’s National Health Service told the BBC that 65 people had died and 145 people were injured.
US President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in American Samoa, enabling federal funding to made available to help victims.
Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said he was shocked at the devastation.

“So much has gone. So many people are gone,” he told the AAP news agency.

False alarm

“Some of the areas are only a few feet above sea level, so you can imagine the devastation,” said Eni Faleomavaega, who represents American Samoa in the US.

Flood damage in Fagatogo, American Samoa (30 Sept 2009)

High waves damaged property and swept cars out to sea

“It caused severe damage to property, there are cars floating everywhere.”

Mr Faleomavaega told the BBC the waves had “literally wiped out all the low-lying areas in the Samoan islands”.

He said the tsunami had hit within minutes of the quake, leaving people with no time to escape.

“There would have been no warning system capable of giving adequate warning to the people,” he said.

Samoa’s Deputy PM Misa Telefoni told Australia’s AAP news agency that “the ocean went out within five minutes”.

“With the location and the intensity… I don’t know if anything better could have been done.” Continue reading ‘Next Arugam Tsu: Only a matter of time?’