Archive for the 'Ideas' Category

Adopt an AbaY dog

Published on 10/01/2012 in Ideas, front page, people, press coverage, the bay and wild life. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

At remote Arugam Bay, a few hundred homeless dogs are waiting to be adopted by caring animal lovers. Please help to save them.

Adopt an Arugam Bay dog !

A sponsor has already been found to provided a suitable, safe  vehicle.
To take them to Colombo or elsewhere on the island.
All animals will be collected, fed, treated and transported with the outmost care & respect
All the Community needs is an address to deliver them to.
Please, animal Lovers:
Please do come forward and let us know where to send them to.
Before even more are run over by speeding and careless drivers on our new fast roads!
The Social Networks are buzzing.
With appeals and online petitions to stop a rumored animal cull.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-the-sri-lankan-government-from-killing-millions-of-stray-dogs/


We support this initiative!
But. What to do?
At Arugam Bay four costly  sterilization programs have been carried out, since the 2004 Tsunami.
In our  remote Bay residents and visitors are unsure if any success can be reported.
Many people are simply too scared to walk on the beach or indeed the road, specially at night. Due to large packs of hungry dogs around.
Below is a copy of one of the stories we covered 5 years ago.
The writer of this article has personally observed that one  particular, disabled bitch alone has had a litter every year since and produced 60 or so pups, most of which appear to be unwell or/and  mentally unstable …..
Something has to be done – This situation is out of control.

The article below was first published 6th Marc, 2007:
The Tsunami Animal People Alliance (TAPA) has, in the true sense of the word: emBarked on a dog sterilization program at Arugam Bay.
Operation Theater
Vets at work @ SVH
In total 300 – 400 dogs are being treated locally.
Arugam.info is informed that about 10,000 have been spayed island wide already.
It is said to be the best and most humane method of controlling stray and infected animals.
The visiting, all Sri Lankan team consists of 4 qualified vets and 7 assistants, a van, and a mobile clinic.
Arugam.info is informed that a budget of 18$/dog has been secured by foreign donors, most of which (10$) will be used for quality drugs and medicines.
Take a look at the work in the attached photo album.
http://picasaweb.google.com/arugamsurf/TAPAAtAbaY
Their web site is:
www.Tsunami-Animal.org.
A FaQ is posted as Comment below.

AbaY TAPA at SVH compound

New A/c Bus Service. A Logic logistic Idea

Published on 16/10/2011 in Ideas, Security & Safety, front page and services. 7 Comments

Luxury Bus Service to Arugam Bay

At long last!
The air conditioned bus service, which we last proposed back in 2007 (see article below) has become a reality.

Shown the Yellow bus. Parked nr. Muslim School @ AbaY

Two new purpose build coaches serve the Colombo – PottuVille (Arugam Bay) sector every day now.
Departure: 21:00 daily at SLT office, Punchi Borella, nr. Maradana, Colombo10. This is near the Immigration Dept.
Arrival at Arugam Bay:  approx. 04:00 am

Return:
Departure 21:00  PottuVille  Town Cente,
Arrive : Back in Colombo before sunrise.

Price: Rs./ 750 per journey

Clean interior, airy, with a TV & sound

Phone numbers are shown. Other contact given is: 0773 864 656

Just for the record, here is an extract of our ideas 4 or 5 years ago:

Published on: Mar 19, 2007 @ 6:33

Apart from security concerns the main problem facing the Bay is the distance from the only International Airport, Colombo. And the high cost of getting across the island.

To hire a taxi, van or minibus to take you over 320km of bumpy roads today cost you even more than a flight ticket to Bangkok ($110).
So far, there is no comfortable, reliable bus service connecting the Bay.
AbaY Tourist Bus Service
Arugam.info thinks that a good, say 60 seater air conditioned, second hand Tourist Bus could be purchased for about the same price as one of the houses (nobody really wants anymore) is being put up in the back woods of the Bay, i.e. 1.4Mill. rupees (14,000$).

By removing half the seats, fitting the bus out well, including a good sound and vision system and with a team of 4 drivers on rotation shifts this service could travel EVERY day:
06:00 Airport- 08:00 Colombo/Galle Face- 18:00 Arugam Bay
20:00 Arugam Bay- 06:00 Airport- 08:00 Colombo/Galle Face

With the new Southern Highway a motorway a stop off at Hikkaduwa should  also be possible. Making this a very interesting and highly lucrative bus route linking the Nation’s capital City with the island’s two main Surf resorts. We are certain, that even locals would love to use this kind of service in future.

Furthermore, Arugam.info would totally paint the Tourist bus all round with nature motives of the Bay and Yala East for three reasons:

  • 1.) To promote Arugam Bay and make the resort known in the capital
  • 2.) To demonstrate that regular, daily travel presents no problem
  • 3.) To show checkpoints that this is a TOURIST Bus by such it will make control easier

Indeed, if the operator, drivers  and conductors would be security trained: Continue reading ‘New A/c Bus Service. A Logic logistic Idea’

Visit AbaY by Train

Published on 07/06/2011 in Ideas, Share Transfer, Traveler's Reports, front page, services, stop over Ideas, taxis and tuk tuk. 0 Comments

It’s very easy.
It’s very convenient
It’s very safe
It’s very cheap, too!

Arriving fresh & rested in the East

Travel to Batticaloa courtesy of  Sri Lanka Railways.

And connect to Arugam Bay along  the beautiful East Coast
Below are time tables & prices:

Eastern Line to Batti & back

Intercity Express to Batti & back

http://www.railway.gov.lk/index.php

Batticaloa is just 100 km North of your favourite Bay.
The A4 coastal, main road is perfect these days.
Frequent buses connect Batti with PottuVille

On request, a private  AbaY shuttle bus or taxi will wait for you at the Main Station when you get off

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“Arugambay” challenges Quicksilver & Billabong

Published on 30/05/2011 in Arugam Bay Surf Club, Arugam Surf Club, Arugambay Surf Club, Blogs, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, Ideas, Money Matters, front page, people, press coverage, services and shops. 1 Comment

Fashion News

A start up Sri Lankan ‘beach brand’ aspires to challenge Billabong and Quicksilver

Arugambay Beach T-Shirt

Sri Lanka’s emerging apparel brands inspired by a stray dog and an East coast beach

Arugambay T-Shirts and Shorts

Developing local brands is challenging because the market is flooded with cheap knockoffs of international brands

Bubble gum coloured flip-flops are the rave among teenagers in Colombo since the Arugambay brand launched its multi hued slippers in 2009. In a simple but crucial way Arugambay improved and made flip- flops in to something surprisingly flattering and fashionable.

Arugambay Flop-Flips

Ajay Virr Sing an Indian living in Sri Lanka and once a fulltime ad-man, launched the Arugambay beachwear brand in 2009, ““We started with flip-flops Continue reading ‘“Arugambay” challenges Quicksilver & Billabong’

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Arugam.info Milestones & Statistics

Published on 25/03/2011 in Blogs, From our own Correspondent, Ideas, front page and services. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , .

Arugam’s 2011 season is going  to be a blast!
Just a few more days before High Season starts.

On this occasion, below are a few facts & figures.

Arugam.info web Mistress informs

Arugam.info
Is perhaps Sri Lanka’s oldest web site.
We have been on line for more than 15 years – well before anyone else know what Internet was and what it can do  – here on this island.

Now we are well connected and teamed up with all modern social networking sites.

We have embraced Facebook, Twitter and YouTube a long time ago.
Because all of them offered totally free services to promote our remote little Bay.

We are happy to publish  the following facts:

  • 200,707 Visitors to this site (since 2010) on Arugam.info
  • 100 registered readers (guys who get a short summary into their email)
  • 1,300 unique Posts
  • 1,600 Comments
  • 400,000  spam messages and posts. All intercepted and blocked
  • 12 Scheduled posts (Important articles which will automatically be published)
  • 470 Tweets on our Twitter site
  • 117 Followers on Twitter

We are amazed how well our associated Facebook page has done:

  • 25,640 Friends on “Arugam Surf“
  • 51% FEMALE  FB friends !!
  • 43% Male  users
  • 12,000 of our ‘fans’ are from Sri Lanka
  • 6,000 from Indonesia
  • 2,000 from the Philippines, etc. down to:
  • 107 Germans ….. only.
  • 300,000+ page views

Greening Project goes to Arugam Bay

Published on 29/11/2010 in AbTa News, Ideas, Money Matters, front page, press coverage and services. 0 Comments

Arugam's New Road. Previously "Mercy Corps" had a fast growing tree planting program. Under the power lines

The SWITCH-Asia team took the greening message to 44 hoteliers in the Eastern Coast of Sri Lanka on 16 November 2010It was a special invitation extended to the project team by M. H. A. Raheem, the Chairman of the Arugam Bay Tourism Association (ABTA) which was aimed at making the hoteliers aware about the project and its deliverables, namely, enhancing the environmental performance of Sri Lankan hotels through improvement of energy, water and waste management systems.

The participants were enthusiastic about reducing the cost of operations of the hotels at this world famous Surfers’ Paradise.

The hoteliers were keen about the outcome they would receive by participating in the programme which will give them the opportunity to brand and market their hospitality establishments as ‘low carbon foot print hotels’ and thereby increasing the market acceptance among the growing number of eco-conscious tourists. Continue reading ‘Greening Project goes to Arugam Bay’

Smoker’s Research Trip to AbaY

Published on 18/11/2010 in Arugam Surf Club, Blogs, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, Fun, Humour, Ideas, Music, Traveler's Reports, front page, parties, people, press coverage and stop over Ideas. 0 Comments

Tripped ‘Outstation’

“Abyss” – A Smoker’s Research Trip

Since the 9th of November I’ve been out of my mind so much it’s insane. From one intoxication to another, bouncing around different locations, I still can’t believe it. Smoking pretty much every strain of grass available in this country, from KG to Manali hash to Ukraine skunk, it’s nuts.

The other day we headed off to Mirissa and stopped by at Hikka on the way. We never thought the grass we bought would be so good till we smoked it and found it hard to get off the bed. Mirissa was just mindblowing, just like the first time. This time was better since we got boogie boards and pretty good treatment from the guys at the Surf Bar. I’ve even got myself a Continue reading ‘Smoker’s Research Trip to AbaY’

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And we are back! On Facebook!

Published on 04/11/2010 in Arugam Bay Surf Club, Arugam Surf Club, Arugambay Surf Club, Blogs, Culture, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, Fun, Historical sites, Humour, Ideas, Kitesurf, Literature, Money Matters, Music, Share Transfer, Surf Federation News, Surf competition, Traveler's Reports, Wind Surf, front page, parties, people, press coverage, presse-deutsch, services, shops, stop over Ideas, surf, taxis, the bay, tuk tuk, weddings and wild life. 0 Comments

Done! Super Happy ARUGAM !

We managed to resurrect our popular Facebook page “Arugam Surf”.
Which was knocked off the net exactly 2 months ago.

Arugam Surf

Please join, participate, submit YOUR photos, videos. Let’s make this page even more popular.
Please understand that we had to add additional security features to avoid access to our hacker ‘friends’ in future.

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Community-based development vital for Arugam Bay

Published on 01/11/2010 in Blogs, From our own Correspondent, Ideas, front page and people. 0 Comments

The Arugam Bay Tourism Association (ABTA) has commenced an English language course for the youth of this popular beach town, as a first step in introducing community-based development initiatives, aimed at enhancing the capabilities and potential of the community of Arugam Bay.

With Arugam Bay being a popular tourist destination, improving the knowledge of English and creating greater awareness of its importance among the people, is vital for the future development of the industry as well as the individual, said M. H. A. Raheem, Chairman of ABTA. The ongoing spoken English training programme also will support the Government initiatives of attracting 2.5 million tourists by 2016. Continue reading ‘Community-based development vital for Arugam Bay’

Arugam on a Post Stamp

Published on 26/09/2010 in Culture, Ideas, Money Matters, front page, services and the bay. 0 Comments

Arugam Bay Beach. A new, special Sri Lanka Post Office Stamp. Value Rs./40. Cost Rs./100

Arugam Bay is getting ready to drum

Published on 16/09/2010 in Blogs, Culture, Environmental, From our own Correspondent, Fun, Humour, Ideas, Music, front page, parties, people, press coverage, services and the bay. 0 Comments
http://www.10billionbeats.com/intro.html

A message of Love from Arugam Bay

http://www.10billionbeats.com/intro.html

Bing a drum, a kettle. Or your Pot! :-) And join the Global Million Beats/per hr. experiment !

This Saturday, 18:30 @ AbaY Beach Front of SVH

Background and further information:

There will be people drumming all over the globe, in homes, gardens, car parks, fields and beaches, in cities and villages alike. Join us at one of the locations below or in your own home wherever you are in Sri Lanka.
Please suggest locations convenient to you which you and your friends would like to gather at on the page so others nearby can join you. All that matters is the relevant time, tempo and good vibe.
The drumming will begin on a hilltop Continue reading ‘Arugam Bay is getting ready to drum’

Lanka Challenge at Arugam Bay

Published on 12/09/2010 in Blogs, Facebook Fan Club: Arugam Surf, From our own Correspondent, Fun, Humour, Ideas, Traveler's Reports, front page, people, press coverage, services, stop over Ideas and tuk tuk. 1 Comment

Lanka Challenge at Arugam Bay

…..we enjoyed our stop at Arugam Bay more than any other….(quote)

Getting to know the country, people and culture, all in a tuk-tuk
By Dhananjani Silva, Pix by Nilan Maligaspe
Tuk-ish Delight followed by Trinco and Back, Orbis, The Third Wheel, Shake and Bake, Mothertukkers, the Wolf Pack, The Dragon Wagon, Where’s Ali and Jar of Vegemite… in they came, a line of decorated tuk tuks carrying a bunch of excited, comically dressed foreigners.

Some 30 tuk tuks wrapped up this year’s Lanka Challenge which brought about 80 adventurous foreigners to the island to explore its scenic beauty and culture on board a tuk-tuk. As they went from point to point each day, they had to face many challenges involving culture and community in unfamiliar terrain…manoeuvring a trishaw being the biggest of them all.

Lianne Dawes and Karen Tonner from UK, the two “Happy Hippies” as they introduced themselves got down from the ‘Muthertukkers’ in multicoloured outfits. The fun-loving duo who profess a fondness for wine, photography and dancing said they wanted to do something fun and different which is why they decided to hit the Lankan roads navigating the tuk tuk.

“Driving this was challenging and initially I was terrified. But later I really started enjoying it. When we had a couple of breakdowns, the locals came and helped us and that is something unheard of in our countries,” said Lianne.

Their 10-day long journey took them right round the country from Katunayake through Negombo to Sigiriya, Trincomalee, Dambana, Arugambay, Buttala, Weerawila, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy and Colombo. The participants were judged by their tour timing from one point to another and the performance of tasks. The tour included two camping nights; one with the wanniyala-aetto in Dambana and another in Botakadan camp in Weerawila which is designed using Land Rover spare parts. Continue reading ‘Lanka Challenge at Arugam Bay’
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The East Coast of Sri Lanka is Ripe for Investment

Published on 06/09/2010 in Ideas, Money Matters, front page and services. 1 Comment

Invest in the East

The East Coast of Sri Lanka which runs from Arugam Bay, past Trincomalee and up to Nilaveli beach has finally come of age with a surge in interest from holiday makers and investors. Boasting some of the most beautiful beaches on the island, rich coral reefs and what some consider being one of the top ten surf spots in the world, the East Coast stands out from the crowd.

The peak season along this coastline runs from March to October which marries well with the west and south coast peak seasons which extend from October to April. In addition to beach activities, the East Coast is recognized for its ancient cultural sites including Koneswaram Kovil and Buddhist rock sculptures at Buduruwagala and Maligavila.

Admins Note:

This seems to be a well researched and well presented advert by a property Company.
Contact details shown below.
Potential investors are advised to avoid traps and pitfalls. Further, impartial, non-commercial, but objective  advice can be gained by contacting:
arugam.info@gmail.com

Continue reading ‘The East Coast of Sri Lanka is Ripe for Investment’

Tourist Police PR Clip (Thai, not Arugambay!)

Published on 15/08/2010 in Arugam Surf Club, Blogs, Ideas, Music, Security & Safety, Traveler's Reports, front page, parties, people and services. 0 Comments

Arugam Bay is situated 320km due East of the Capital, Colombo.
Across the Indian Ocean, the next piece of land you come to is Thailand.
Exactly 2,000km due East, on the other side  of the growing Tourist Resort of Arugam Bay. A VERY popular Tourist destination.
Not directly related to AbaY, but interesting to see how our Thai “Competitors” deal with public relations of their highly disciplined, multilingual Tourist Police Force.
Take one look at one of their Video clips and decide how much Sri Lanka might have to catch up with modern approaches.

We feel, that it’s always good to look around. In this case just ‘Across’  to see if we can learn anything from our Co-Players in the Tourist field….., right?

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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Last Chance to support Europe at Arugam Bay

Published on 11/07/2010 in Blogs, Ideas, Money Matters, Music, Traveler's Reports, bars, front page, hotels, parties, people, restaurants and services. 1 Comment

Many Football fans are  happy to have followed every single  Football World Cup match on vacation, and not at home.

Special License times at AbaY. Fun for All

Enjoy the Finals in a similar setting, with the ocean behind at Arugam Bay!

At Arugam Bay everyone enjoyed:
Uninterrupted coverage, Free attendance, good company, nice music, cheap booze!
And a fantastic backdrop with the blue ocean behind

Now, there is just the Grand Final to be shown.
Below are the dates and times, relevant for Sri Lanka:

The Grand Final is on:
Sunday night (11/12th July)
The game will be at MIDNIGHT

The party will only finish at Sun Rise with a BIG Splash into the clear Indian Ocean Waters!

Final
Match Date – Time Venue Results
64 12/07 00:00 Johannesburg Netherlands Netherlands Preview Spain Spain