Archive for the 'guesthouse' Category

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Ranga’s ‘Shorepiece’

Published on 25/07/2010 in Blogs, Traveler's Reports, accomodation, cabanas, front page, guesthouse, people, press coverage, restaurants, surf, the bay and wild life. 3 Comments

By M. Naushad Amit
Sri Lanka, as a global tourist destination, has many wonders on offer to its visitors who come with different plans during their stay in this beautiful pearl shaped island situated in the Indian Ocean. Within Sri Lanka itself, there are many holiday destinations which are popular among local and foreign tourists alike. But the unspoiled beachfront of Arugam Bay is a beautiful location yet to be explored by holidaymakers.

Arugam Bay. A popular Surf Destination

Though Arugam Bay is gradually picking up in popularity among the locals as an infrequent getaway, it has been a surfing haven for foreigners for three decades. Even during the peak of the 30-year long ethnic war that affected tourists arrivals, Arugam Bay catered to many foreigners, especially surfers, who found the waves there a special treat to their surfing ‘needs’.
Arugam Bay, which is located near Pottuvil in the country’s east coast, is rich in bird life and wildlife in the surrounding jungles, wetlands and lagoons nearby. Being an area with links to ancient kingdoms, there are many remnants in the jungle from old Buddhist culture. Just outside Pottuvil, behind the dunes, are excavations of a 2000-year-old temple, the Modu Maha Vihare. About 3,500 people live in and around Arugam Bay. It consists of three small villages, where fishing and farming are the main livelihoods. Since Arugam Bay is reputed to be one of the world’s best surfing points, the number of foreign surfers to visit the location has increased. To meet the demands, many in Arugam Bay have shifted their interest and trades into tourism. Though the area lacks luxury hotels, the limited number of beachfront resorts and cabanas provide the best in tourist hospitality.

Ranga of Beach Hut fame

Comfort Zone
One such resort with a difference is ‘Ranga’s Beach Hut’, where guests get to enjoy a totally new experience in hospitality. Ranga’s Beach Hut which is located at two different places neighbouring each other, is owned by Continue reading ‘Ranga’s ‘Shorepiece’’

Beach Bar Quotes Arugam Bay

Published on 17/07/2010 in Arugam Surf Club, Blogs, Culture, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, Ideas, Literature, accomodation, bars, front page, guesthouse, hotels, people, restaurants and the bay. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Quotes from an Arugam Bay Beach Bar

“We are perceivers. The world that we perceive, though, is an illusion.”

“Cast aside all clinging and the essence will at once emerge.”

A menu with a difference @ The SVH, Arugam Bay

“Even if only in your imagination, it is still good to escape the sadness of everyday life and spend some time in another world.”

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world. One should see as a new butterfly.”

Shalita, New Mexico

source:
http://rainehailorshine.blogspot.com/2010/07/beach-bar-quotes-arugam-bay.html

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Hideaway in Arugam Bay, Lahugala, 1st Century Monastery south of Panama

Published on 04/07/2010 in Blogs, Culture, Historical sites, Literature, accomodation, books, front page, guesthouse, hotels, people, restaurants and wild life. 1 Comment

(extract quotes) ……Hideaway in Arugam Bay for the best rice and curry I have had in a very long time – very fresh, very hot.

K: Kudumbigala monastery near Arugam Bay/Panama-a fantastic setting for a 1st century BC site

Lahugala in April with millions of butterflies…..

Together on and off stage
By Smriti Daniel
Ranmali and Kumar have known each other since they were 16 – they first met on the set of Richard de Zoysa’s and Rajiva Wijesinha’s dual productions of ‘Romeo & Juliet’.They shared the stage again for several plays, including Steve de la Zilwa’s ‘Accidental Death of an Anarchist’. “I suppose you can say we ‘met’ on stage and the drama continues!” says Ranmali, of their 18-year marriage.

Unfortunately, acting hasn’t been a priority of late. As Manager Programme Delivery, Ranmali is responsible for all the arts related programmes the British Council delivers in Sri Lanka. An integral part of the team that created www.writeclique.com, she is also working on several new projects that will nurture and showcase young Sri Lankan artistes. Continue reading ‘Hideaway in Arugam Bay, Lahugala, 1st Century Monastery south of Panama’

Arugam Bay. From Bridge to Bridge

Published on 01/07/2010 in Blogs, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, Ideas, Traveler's Reports, accomodation, cabanas, front page, guesthouse, hotels, restaurants, services, taxis and the bay. 1 Comment

Arugam from Bridge end to Bridge end

Every year,  since 1999 a virtual walk all the way through the little hamlet called  Arugam Bay takes place in mid year. Always around the 1st July.

Hideaway. In Arugam Bay

Only armed with a small camera, every single visible sign is photographed.
Staring at the PottuVille (Northern) end of town up to the bridge at the other, Southern end where the road opens up into unspoiled Countryside, paddy fields leading to Panama.

A nice, New 7/11 shop at Northern end of the Village

Since 2005 or so this album is digital, on line for all to see changes in this remote village.

click on the image to see  years changes here:

AbaY Walk 2010 part1

If you like, compare it with last years walk thu the village:

Arugam Bay Walk 2009

Or, if you are still not fed up, here is 2008:

AbaY Walk 2008

And here is our 2007 walk through Arugam Bay:

AbaY Walk 2007

Earlier years on application; some images need to be scanned.

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Sri Lankan Airlines Pro Surf 2010 @ Arugambay

Published on 19/06/2010 in Blogs, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, Kitesurf, Surf Federation News, Surf competition, accomodation, cabanas, front page, guesthouse, hotels, people and surf. 1 Comment

Voted as the numero uno surf destination in the Asian zone by Floating Asia, Arugam Bay will now host an international surf tournament from June 18 to 24. The event is spearheaded by SriLankan Airlines and will feature 128 competitors from all parts of the globe including USA, Australia, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, UK, Germany etc.

The contestants comprise former champions as well as some of the best surfers in the world.

Their moves will be graded by 22 internationally recognized surfing referees.

The event is conducted by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), the global governing body for surfing. They are the key players in putting together world class surfing events like the World Championship Tour alias the ASP World Tour.

Strolling along the sandy beaches, basking in the golden sun and feeling the salty breeze ruffle your hair maybe a part of the deal when you hit on the nearby beaches but, more is in store for you if you visit Arugam Bay. The wondrous strip of golden sand was not only recognized as one of the country’s wonders by locals but it has been hailed as Asia’s top most surf destination.

Located in the dry zone of Sri Lanka’s South-East coast, shrouded by the wide spread wetlands, lagoons and jungles encompassing a variety of flora and fauna lies Arugam Bay, a fishing village two and a half kilometers south of Pottuvil. The area belongs to the Ampara district.

Overall humid climate prevails at Arugam Bay. A slight breeze sweeps by from the North-East. Usually, showers are expected in September and October. The surfing season is at its peak between June and October. This is when many holidaymakers and surfers hit the beach. Diving is also a favourite pastime with visitors because the area comprises many ship-wrecks that are a challenge to explore. You can also catch sight of wild elephants in the long, deserted beach leading down to Crocodile Rock.

Fishing and farming are the main occupations at Arugam Bay. Continue reading ‘Sri Lankan Airlines Pro Surf 2010 @ Arugambay’

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Arugam Bay is ready to surf

Published on 14/06/2010 in Kitesurf, Money Matters, Surf Federation News, accomodation, front page, guesthouse, hotels, parties, people, press coverage, presse-deutsch, services, surf and the bay. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

Sri Lanka is getting ready to surf its way up with two international surf festivals organised to be held next month.

Tourists surfing at Arugam Bay

Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Dileep Mudadeniya told Daily FT yesterday that two surf competitions will be held next month at Arugam Bay attracting 300 surf lovers.

“There will be a British Pro Surf competition in the first week of July and the next week will be dedicated to an international level surfing competition,” Mudadeniya said.

The British Pro Surfing Competition is set to attract 75 to 100 British nationals and the Five Star Surfing Championship will attract 200 persons from 15 to 20 countries. The Five Star Championship will be held from 18 to 25 July.

“This is a world quality event and Sri Lanka tourism can attend a large mileage from organizing such events. And the regional empowerment is also vital. The local economic development is set to score high with so many people coming down in one month,” Mudadeniya asserted.

Some 200 rooms, all there is available in the area, have been already booked for the event.

Arugam Bay is on the list of the top 10 surf points in the world. Situated on the South East side of Sri Lanka Arugam Bay receives the same Antarctic winter swell’s that hit Indonesia in the in the middle of the year.

The best time of the year is between May and November when the predominant wind is offshore for at least the first half of the day.

source:
http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/business/127-local/12964.html

“Best Pub in Sri Lanka” Award goes to Arugam Bay

Published on 23/05/2010 in Blogs, Culture, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, Money Matters, Traveler's Reports, bars, front page, guesthouse, hotels, people, press coverage, presse-deutsch, restaurants, services, shops and weddings. 0 Comments

The Siam View Hotel (SVH) as been voted to be The Best Pub / Bar in Sri Lanka
By the Daily Telegraph, London, UK

Best Pub / Bar Award

The Siam View Hotel is now not only classed as the best Pub / Bar in Sri Lanka, but is now in with a chance of becoming the Best in the World.

continue to read the background of this nomination… Continue reading ‘“Best Pub in Sri Lanka” Award goes to Arugam Bay’

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Classic Dox – Adrift in Sri Lanka On air: 5 February 2010 13:20 – 1 March 2010 13:20

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. 0 Comments

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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A true Paradise on Earth. Just 10m South of Arugambay

Published on 18/02/2010 in Blogs, Historical sites, Literature, Music, accomodation, guesthouse, hotels, presse-deutsch, tuk tuk and weddings. 1 Comment

The Panama beach itself was a paradise on earth.

Unspoiled Panama beach

The sand dunes stretching along the beach made us stop our jeep and walk a short distance to the turquoise sea beach which stretched endlessly without a single sign of habitation.
A typical Robinson Crusoe atmosphere.
The pink rocks of Panama stood out at the far end of the beach.
The evening sunlight made them glow pinker.

Panama Point. Looking North to Arugam Bay

Here too were monkeys running up and down.
The beach was covered with exquisite marine plant life. It suddenly dawned on us that this may be one of the only beaches left untouched by civilization and pollution.
We were mindful not to tread on the plants or drive over them in our jeep.

Untouched Panama. A true Paradise

This beach with its abundant plant life must be saved for people to see and admire.
It should not meet the fate of the Nilaveli or Passikudah.

Badly polluted Passekudah Beach area


We remembered the native American saying:
“We did not inherit the earth from our parents, we are borrowing it from our children!”

(The above is a highlighted , illustrated  extract from the previous post / traveler’s report)

Danish Villa – Arugambay

Published on 05/02/2010 in Blogs, front page, guesthouse, people, press coverage and surf. 0 Comments
The Danish Villa – Arugam Bay

The world famous windsurfing destination in the country, picturesque Arugam Bay is the home for the luxurious Danish Villa for a serene holiday in the Eastern coast.


From the moment you step into the Danish Villa you are assured of a memorable holiday that only the discerning truly earn

The Danish Villa is owned and managed by Per Jergensen a Danish citizen whose intention was to offer the best for the curious guests a place where they could explore from the surf points to a deserted beach that leads to Crocodile and Elephant Rock, Okanda, Kataragama, Yala and Lahugala National Parks.

The Villa is the ideal retreat where you could slip into a world of your own in the lap of luxury.

Surrounded by a tropical garden with beautiful flower plants and fruit trees varieties of butterflies and birds could be seen all over where the guests could have a clear view of them from the terrace or the relaxing hammock.

The newly refurbished Danish Villa has been designed to show off its harmonious colours and styles and the hotel is fully geared to offer its guests a holiday experience like no other and memories that are truly immortal.

From the moment you step into the Danish Villa you are assured of a memorable holiday that only the discerning truly earn.

With five well-appointed bedrooms with all modern amenities, the Villa is a cosy place where you could relax and enjoy yourself between sightseeing, surfing and sunbathing.

For those who need a break from the monotony of life Continue reading ‘Danish Villa – Arugambay’

Arugam Bay Developments

Published on 29/01/2010 in From our own Correspondent, Ideas, Money Matters, accomodation, front page, guesthouse, hotels and restaurants. 0 Comments

A new project is under construction near PottuVille Point.

PottuVille Point is being developed

It seems that a new hotel/restaurant is being build on this beautiful coconut estate.
Overlooking the Indian Ocean, facing the Bay of Arugam.
According to local contractors and workers, #01 Stardust owners are branching out to this new location. Other say, an English family are behind this development.
Great spot! Where else on this island could such a fine, unspoiled location be found?

AbaY Hotel nominated for Best of British Award

Published on 07/01/2010 in Blogs, Culture, Environmental, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, Ideas, Music, Traveler's Reports, accomodation, bars, front page, guesthouse, hotels, parties, people, press coverage, presse-deutsch and restaurants. 11 Comments

Nominated for the Best of British Award by the Daily Telegraph, London

The SVH on the Surfer’s Bay of Arugam. Established 1977 by a devout CAMRA member. The “Siam View” is still run by the same Manx expat and his family to this day. Despite the 30 war years and 2004 Tsunami this place never once closed its doors for even one single day. Home of more than a dozen all natural draft beers. Continue reading ‘AbaY Hotel nominated for Best of British Award’

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Ploomer’s Arugam Experiences

Published on 05/09/2009 in Blogs, front page, guesthouse, people, surf and the bay. 1 Comment


Sept 2nd, ’09
I arrived at Arugam Bay, a few kilometers below Pottuvil. Most of the tourists that make their way here are surfer types as this is reputed to be the best surfing in Sri Lanka. From what I have read it is best suited for the beginner to intermediate level crowd. I thought about giving it a shot but not this time. If I start surfing I want to devote some time to the exercise rather than spending a day twisting and drowning in surf.

After viewing a number of guesthouse/hotels I finally settled down at the Surf & Sun. A fairly nice place but it does feel a bit overpriced as does all the accommodation in the area. Everything is much more expensive in Sri Lanka than most might think but perhaps the prices are justified due to inflation, taxes, etc. ($20 for one night). There is no hot water (not that it is particularly necessary) and the food in the restaurants is pricey as well.

I do like random and the Surf & Sun has a bit of that. One of the owners is a woman from Iceland (been here for six years) and they have a pet owl. I was told that a member of the Sri Lankan Navy found the baby owl when it had apparently fallen from its nest. It was injured so he took it and gave to the owners of this hotel. I have to admit that I am quite taken with the bird as it is a beautiful creature. Every day they let it out for a bit of exercise but she never ventures very far and, according to Ms. Iceland (Mina), she will not fly away even though it is healthy and capable of doing so. They used to leave it out for long periods of time but a recent attack by a nefarious gang of ravens prevents her from being free all the time.

While sitting in the restaurant one evening I happened to spot a rather gigantic scorpion milling about. Continue reading ‘Ploomer’s Arugam Experiences’

A Dead End: Arugam Bay

Published on 25/08/2009 in Blogs, Environmental, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, Security & Safety, front page, guesthouse, hotels, parties, people, press coverage, restaurants, services, the bay and wild life. 1 Comment

Next week is Poya – a very Looooong weekend.
It’s the Height of this year’s season!
Arugam.info has been flooded with requests.
When will the next FMP at Arugam Bay take place?
Where and when is it going to be?
Will there be live music and entertainers?

Arugam's traditional Full Moon Party

Arugam's traditional Full Moon Party

(Click on the image above to learn about the long history of East Coast FMP’s)

Frankly, we don’t know what we can do, say or answer! Continue reading ‘A Dead End: Arugam Bay’

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Abay Walk 2009

Published on 01/07/2009 in From our own Correspondent, accomodation, front page, guesthouse, hotels, restaurants, shops and the bay. 0 Comments

Arugam Bay’s traditional Mid-Year walk from end-to-end of AbaY:

#0001 Seasands

#0001 Seasands

http://picasaweb.google.com/arugamsurf/ArugamBayWalk2009#

Do you like to try your luck and spot any “progress”:
Here are links to the same-same walk of previous years:

http://picasaweb.google.com/arugamsurf/AbaYWalk2008#

http://picasaweb.google.com/arugamsurf/AbaYWalk2007#

Note:
There are changes and various improvements 2009.
Now we show not only the road/street sign.But also at least one impression of the establishment as well.
This years walk was conducted by Mr. Tavis Fu, a volunteer from Taiwan.HKG FUi
Links and introductions on this page (arugam.info), shown right below will be updated asap. Please allow 1 week.

Close to nature

Published on 28/06/2009 in Blogs, accomodation, guesthouse, restaurants and stop over Ideas. 0 Comments

By Sanath Weerasuriya

Haldumulla, though is not a popular tourist destination, is fast becoming a major transit point to Arugam Bay and Pottuvil in the Eastern Province. ‘Mount Field Cottage’ is the latest and the most modern addition to the area of mild weather. Located in the 20 acre land in the silent village of Haldumulla, beside of the Colombo- Badulla highway, Mount Field Cottage is an ideal place to spend a relaxed holiday.

Just fourteen months old, ‘Mount Field Cottage’ has managed to attract the attention of Sri Lankan travellers with their nature friendly environment and luxury room service. The place is more popular with honeymooners throughout the year.

It has tastefully designed 15 cottages built towards the peak of the mountain with a panoramic view of mountains and surrounded by rock greeneries. In addition to the Cottages, main bungalow caters to luxury living. Continue reading ‘Close to nature’