Published on
01/03/2010 in
Blogs, Environmental, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, Money Matters, Security & Safety, Traveler's Reports, accomodation, bars, books, cabanas, front page, guesthouse, hotels, people, press coverage, presse-deutsch, restaurants and services.
Producer Marijke van der Meer was holidaying in Sri Lanka when disaster struck in December 2004. Her personal report from one of the country’s devastated towns told of the harrowing situation there and the desperate need for aid.
Award winning (Re-) Broadcast on 1st March, 2010
In the southeastern Sri Lankan coastal town of Pottovil – a town with an ethnic mix of Singhalese and Tamils, Muslims and Buddhists – a golden statue of Buddha stares serenely over Arugam Bay. The bay was a Mecca for surfers, who stayed in guesthouses with names such as Chill Space Surf, Hideaway, Aloha and even the Tsunami Beach Hotel. The statue of Buddha is one of the few fully intact constructions in this demolished town where a thick layer of muddy dirt covers the ground.
Destruction and death
Arugam Bay after Tsunami 2004
Soldiers look on as bulldozers shove aside trees and bricks from destroyed dwellings. The bodies of some 1,000 people – killed within a few seconds of the tsunami – have been recovered. But there are many others missing and many families who have no roofs over their heads and are in so-called ‘collection centres’.
The medical situation is critical in this isolated district, where several people are saying that they feel neglected by the authorities because Continue reading ‘Classic Dox – Adrift in Sri Lanka On air: 5 February 2010 13:20 – 1 March 2010 13:20′
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Published on
02/01/2010 in
Blogs, Environmental, From our own Correspondent, Money Matters, Security & Safety, accomodation, cabanas, front page, people, restaurants, services and the bay.
New Year's fire at Arugam Bay beach
Arugam Bay New Year‘s celebrations were peaceful, quiet and romantic.
However, residents and visitors were shaken by a totally unexpected fireworks display late on New Year’s day.
The fire started in some fishing huts in the middle of the Bay.
The popular “#38 Cafe del Mar” next door was engulfed soon and the blaze looked like Continue reading ‘New Year’s Blast at Arugambay’
Arugambay is full of places to stay. None of them are super posh but they’re usually cheap. LKR 700 was the cheapest rate I was quoted and LKR 5000 was the most expensive.
To find a place to stay, we just walked along the beach south from Stardust, walking into beach front guest houses and hotels and checking them out. Continue reading ‘Arugam Bay Guide 2 – Hotels and Restaurants’
Arugambay is a lot like Hikkaduwa. The accomodation is cheap but the majority of places are holes. They have fancy names (#39 Hillton!) and big, digitally printed signboards but are still holes.
Originally, when we decided to go there for the long, long weekend, I’d booked into Ranga’s #05 Beach Hut. When my wife found out Ranga’s had shared bathrooms, she had a fit, called me unspeakable names, names a wife should just not call a husband, and booked a place she found on the web called Galaxy Lounge. Continue reading ‘#03 Galaxy Lounge’
(Text by BEVERLEY JANSZ) The sunny golden beaches of Arugambay in Sri Lanka’s East Coast, which was almost devoid of tourists for the last 20 years due to the ethnic conflict, has come alive again. It is back to sun, sea and sand for both foreign and local tourists in their numbers in the wake of the Government’s peace initiative.
Chairman, Arugambay Beach Resort, Dr. Param sothi, who built the resort over 20 years ago, but was unable to even visit it for over 10 years due to the ethnic war, was all smiles and showed signs of relief. Continue reading ‘#04 Arugam Beach Resort’
While staying in the tsunami afflicted village of Arugam Bay on Sri Lanka’s east coast, we were asked to help painting a hotel door. We tried our best to make Mohammed another satisfied customer of Lehni-Trüb.
Project by Lehni-Trüb.
source:
http://kevinwadeshaw.blogspot.com/2009/02/sunrise-beach-hotel.html
Published on
02/02/2009 in
Blogs, From our own Correspondent, accomodation, cabanas, front page, guesthouse, parties, people, press coverage, restaurants and surf.
Tags: #05 Beach Hut, Arugam Bay.
#05 Beach Hut
My favorite place in Sri Lanka!!!!!!!!!
submitted by: pankrath@help-ev.de
arugamfoto@gmail.com
wishes to thank Mr. Pankrath for his submission above
Please feel free to send YOUR best impressions for publication to the above E-mail address!
#67 Peanut Farm is the name of a good surf break 6km South of Arugam Bay.
Years ago actual peanuts are said to have been grown there. But in 2009 only the name remains.
Off the beaten track and only accessible via a rough track #67 Peanut Farm is the Counterpart to the excellent PottuVille Point, up market development which is located the same distance in the opposite, Northern direction from the centre of Arugam Bay.
Now the Arugam Bay area has two great, additional locations to chill out, the party, to relax!
As from 2008 it is reported that the boys from #68 Mambo’s Chill out Cafe have taken over management of Peanut Farm. A few, maybe half a dozen ‘Tree’ Houses have been built, a generator is present and late summer 2008 seen the first proper and well organized Full Moon Party at #67 Peanut Farm.
And what a great, unspoiled, beautiful location it is!!
#70 Upali’s Surf Cafe is the nearest place to famous Surf Point.
Right behind a huge sand dune, looking across to the Northern End of Arugam Bay.
This great place is more a way of life, than a commercial enterprise.
It certainly is situated right as a jewel in the crown of Arugam Bay; right on the tip of the peninsular.
A brief background:
This small family run Cafe offers not much more than a few local drinks, like milk tea, fruit juices and the odd Jaffle.
There is no accommodation to speak of, the first and proper shower, outdoors, is nearing completion late 2008 – after years of ‘Construction’.
Not so easy, as it may seem: There is no electricity installed so far.
And the few donated generators and not present, for whatever reasons.
There are two main characters associated with #70, and that is certainly what they are:
1.) Mr. “V.J.”
Known for his distinctive way of expression and his Super motorbike
2.) Mr. Richard
Known to be an excellent masseur. He has learned his skill from a Japanese friend it is said
Brief History:
A family run business, on the same spot for many years.
There is a sad story from long time ago associated with #70 Surf Cafe; the case remains open
More recently, the Forrest Department as well as the CCD (Coast Conservation Dept.) have planted some markers around this prime spot. Suspicions run high that authorities are planning a sort of top class hotel nearby…….
Published on
08/07/2008 in
Blogs, From our own Correspondent, Money Matters, accomodation, bars, cabanas, front page, guesthouse, hotels, people, restaurants, services, shops and the bay.
In the middle of the year, we supposed to have “High Season” at Arugam Bay.
Every July, Arugam. info walks from bridge to bridge, simply armed with a little camera.
This year we have a new USAIDs bridge to the North of our hamlet.
The Southern, Panama end bridge remains in poor shape.
Over the years every single sign and sign post has been documented in that way.
You are welcome to compare each year and study the ‘progress’ – or the opposite thereof…!?
Since 2005 the files are in Arugam.info ‘s our Picasa Album, see link below.
http://picasaweb.google.com/arugamsurf/AbaYWalk2008
| By Sanath Weerasuriya, Pix Nilan Maligaspe |
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The sunny golden beach of Arugam Bay in Sri Lanka’s East Coast is one of the top attractions in the Sri Lanka’s beach destinations. Arugam Bay, which is located 230 km East of Colombo, is one of the best surfing and tourist destinations in the world.
Though it is world famous, the most significant thing is the absent of star class hotel in the area. Out of popular surfing joints, Ranga’s Beach Hut stands tall among the visitors to the area. Ranga’s Beach Hut started its operation in 1989 with just a restaurant and two Cabanas. After all these years of terrorists threats and 2004 tsunami, the Hut developed into a popular seafood place and now with 7 Cabanas and six standard rooms.
 
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| Ranga |
The resort is now in full operations and a massive refurbishment is under way to cater to the influx of tourists to Arugam Bay, after the liberation of East.
‘I am certain that the golden beaches of Arugam Bay will soon be another ‘Hikkaduwa’ and the arrivals have gone up since last few months’ said Ranga Krishnarajan, the proprietor with much hope.
The service at Ranga’s Beach Hut is homely. The food delicious, offering the catch of the day straight from the Bay beach, fish, jumbo prawns, king crabs, cuttlefish and lobsters are the name of the day. It makes up the mouth watering menu in addition to the usual Western and Eastern cuisine. Guests are also offered pure curd made of fresh milk available in plenty and fresh fruits at Arugam Bay.
Ranga’s Beach Hut offers a host of tourist attractions. It lies midway between two popular National Parks, Lahugala National Park and Kumana Bird Sanctuary, which is the eastern border of Yala National Park. Lahugala is only13 k.m. and Kumana Bird Sanctuary is only 30 km from Ranga’s Beach Hut.
A host of heritage sites and ruins dating back to the 5th century are in close proximity to the resort.
They are traditional Panama village, Magul Maha Viharaya Mudu Maha Viharaya and Kudumbi Gala Hermitage, the Oakande Rock and Hindu temple, which is said to be the spot where Sindbad the Sailor ended up after a ship wreck.
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source:
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080629/TV/tvtimes001.html
Holidays are over. The new term has begum. sriya reads his composition to the class about his trip to the Arugambay Beach resort.          We  reached Aruganbay around nine in the morning on the second of Augast. we  didn’t have to run about looking  for accommo dation as father had booked two rooms in a guest  house. The romms were large with all facilities and we were uite comfortable . We enjoyed the meals with  many varieties of  sea – food.
source:
http://binari1.wordpress.com/2008/03/22/the-arugambay-beach/#comment-2
Arugam Bay is basically a simple, straight 2km Beach Road, and nearly all Hospitality places are located here, either sea or land side.
This “SunRise Strip”, AbaY ‘Broadway’ or “Marine Walk” has no name or indeed house numbers.
To give you some idea of their position, as from 2006, we list all “hotels” with a #prefix followed by a number starting with #01 Stardust at the Lagoon bridge.
The tractor washing bridge at the Panama end might one day see #100 or so.
(see annual Mid Year AbaY Photo “Walk” in the photo gallery)
We list all of them, one by one, and we include at least one photograph as well as a brief introduction giving you a little bit of history.
Once they are all numbered and properly in line, special buttons will be added leading directly to their respective Home Page and an email editor.
If you like what you read and see you one click and you can book directly with them. No need to go back to Google!
When you have returned home, simply leave a comment! So you can help other travelers with your impressions, recommendations, or warnings.
AbHa hopes to improve services and standards this way and we want to assist you to form a closer link with the Bay and our respective establishments.
Remember! Not everyone has a home page or a guest book.
Charming, understated #59 Ruwangi “I think” has no own home pages….I think..
It is also very transparent for all to see. And discuss matters if need be.
“Hotel” is to be understood as a place where you can either sleep, eat or drink – any or all of it.
Sorry, folks! This is how it is: It’s just the Sri Lankan word for ‘Hotel’; it could be a simple tea shed right now.
Should one day more visitors arrivals warrant a little expansion this little shack now called ‘Cool Spot’ might soon bloom into AbaY’s “Hot Spot”!
But:….It could be even worse. Maybe it will be “The Hilton”, a Galadari or perhaps The AbaY ‘Kalahari’ one day…….who knows?
#69 East Surf Cabanas Is the last resort as you pass AbaY center and walk out towards the end of the village towards Panama.
We were planning to write an introduction for some time, but the entire story has a bitter ending due to sad events late September 06.
Ranga has been the popular manager of Mambo’s Chill out surf Cafe for many years.
Frankly, we know of nobody, from all Communities who ever mentioned a single negative word about Ranga: He simply is a great, pleasant, considerate young man.
Only a few weeks ago, the soft opening of the romantic small development took place.
His pride & joy, it was after all young Ranga’s first, own little business and he called it East Surf Cabanas.
Located on the edge of the village, just in front of some huge sand dunes, East Surf caters for low budget, peaceful and fun loving people mainly coming in from Hikkaduwa wishing to enjoy the surf during our summer months.
This afternoon everything changed everything.
A huge black cloud suddenly alerted the village -East Surf was on fire.
The entire restaurant and bar, made of natural materials, burned to the ground.
Police is investigating, but locally there are plenty of rumors already.
we are very sad and very unhappy that the latest addition to quality hospitality in Arugam Bay has gone.
However, we hope and wish that the little resort can be reconstructed soon.
As usual, it is a question of money; but disturbing is the fact that this appears to be no accident.
News Update:Â
Recent photos show the construction site of a New Mosque at Arugam Bay.
It will be situated in front of #69 East Surf Cabanas.
Work commenced within days of the fire.
The large plot of land is privately owned, said to be sponsored by Saudi Arabia or a devoted guest worker.
A sign stood nearby, at the sub post office, indicating a plan to construct the holy place for a long time and it seems that there has been no objection.
In any event, religious freedom is guaranteed under the Sri Lanka constitution.
#59 Ruwangi Place is a simple wooden hut hidden in the back Streets of AbaY, very near to #58 Rupas.
The most striking impression of this Place is a sign on the table in the front garden:
“Best Arugam Bay Rice & Curry” followed by a very modest: …..I think…
The funny thing is: EVERYBODY agrees!
Even the world’s favorite traveler’s Bible/Koran, the totally-out-of-date-at-time-of-print “Looney Planet” got this one right! For a Change.
And they even listed #59Ruwangi in the ‘old’ 2006 edition. For a change! i think…!
The great cook and friendly landlady, which actually is little Ruwangi’s mother, has a very hard time since husband Samman was sent off to work away from the family home. Playing the single mum role, she really tries her best to keep the family together and earn a little honest income.
The almost impossible happened: In face of maybe 1,000 other R&C (Rice & Curry) competitors around the famous Bay everybody -so far- agrees that she has beaten them all to fame.
By simply producing the VERY Best, VERY cheap, fresh, usually vegetarian RICE & Curry in the entire Bay.
Let’s have YOUR feedback!
Was it really your favourite All-YOU-can-Eat R&C ?
road sign
#58 Rupa’s Cabanas: Together with other originals “Sooriya’s” and “Beach Hut” old Mr. Rupas completes the Famous Three representing Arugam Bay hospitality at its best, for more than quarter of a rather difficult Century.
Rupas Cabanas are located at the Southern end of the Bay, near famous Surf Point.
Family run, a new beach side restaurant, clean and also modern rooms and a great reputation; this sums up “Rupas”.
A good German friend has designed the first ever home page of Rupas and we will post the direct link below as soon as soon as the web site is completed.
Do you have any better photos of your time at Rupas?
Please send them to: ArugamFoto@Gmail.com and we will take care to publish them at once.
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Surf Forecast for Arugam Bay
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