Another beautiful, mild & sunny weekend comes to a close
At Arugam Bay
Below are a few impressions how some enjoyed their last supper.
The Eastern Coastal road still ends at Arugam Bay & beyond,.
A real Dead End, at the the wide river at Kumana.
No modern catering facilities there. So far.
A rare leopard at Kumana. He had his dinner ...
Grazing at Sun Set. Kumana
This one was not friendly. And chased us off (Kumana)
Sharing Supper. At the last river ‘cafe’, Kumana
No High Tech kitchen here
Kumana Catering Dept. – on the bank of the river
This is as far as you can go. Opposite is Yala & Kataragama
Waiting. For his second supper….
Dad’s Home cooking
Some seem to prefer a liquid “German” Dinner
Okanda Fishing folk prepare for dinner
Sharing a dinner. At the end of the road. Kumana river end
(No) High pressure cooker. At Kumana
The catering dept. at Kumana ‘cafe’
The river at Kumana. Opposite is Yala & Kataragama. South East end of Sri Lanka
The Automobile Association Handbook (1935 !) advises:
AAC's Travelers guide to Ceylon. 76 Years ago.
“Arugam Bay: EP (=’Eastern Province’) . 68 miles from Batticaloa on the east coast road. This is a health resort for residents in the malarious inland areas, (such as the Moneragala planting district), with its fine sea front and facilities for sea-bathing; while there is good sport to be had in the vicinity.”
. I dedicate this article to the memory of my maternal grandfather Arumugam Thiyagarajah (1910-1982)
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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…..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’
In July, every year, pilgrims walk tru Arugam Bay on their way to Kataragama
With the end of the war, bigger crowds have joined the annual Pada Yatra, says Patrick Harrigan
Many pilgrims walk through the Surfer's resort of Arugam Bay
Earnest devotees of Kataragama by the thousands—hailing from all communities but especially Tamil Hindus—are now undertaking the annual Pâda Yâtrâ or foot pilgrimage through Yala National Park to Kataragama for this month’s Esala festival that started on July 12.
Just passing out of Arugam Bay
With decades of fear and uncertainty swept away, this year more devotees are walking than at any time in living memory, possibly even more than in 2004 when Wildlife Department officials counted over 30,000 pilgrims entering Yala East National Park on the final 70-kilometre stretch from Okanda to Kataragama.
A totally unspoiled Countryside lies ahead. Arugam Bay to Kataragama
The first waves of pilgrims all up and down the east coast have already arrived to Okanda Murugan Kovil in Yala East where tens of thousands are pausing to rest and worship before entering Yala Strict Natural Reserve on the long jungle trek to Kataragama.
The Kataragama Pâda Yâtrâ traditionally starts from points in the Jaffna peninsula like Nallur and Selva Sannidhi Murugan kovils, from where the pilgrimage may take up to two months to reach Kataragama. This year for the first time since 2005, a few souls are walking the full distance, joined along the way by a few more from Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, and Trincomalee districts. Continue reading ‘Walking that walk’
Magic stopovers on the way to Arugam Bay
Sri Lanka’s highest awarded resort brand KumbukRiver has just introduced a special rate package that allows more locals to spend a private holiday at its celebrated eco resort on the edge of Yala. The resort which sells at US$ 250 per couple for a night, now offers special rates from Rs.3500/- per person full board especially designed for locals who appreciate a holiday at one with nature’s splendor.
KumbukRiver Eco Extraordinaire (www.kumbukriver.com), awarded as the world’s leading eco-lodge by the coveted World Travel Awards, is a private getaway nestled on a 16-acre nature enclave in gem-rich Okkampitiya in Buttala. The spritely Kumbukkan Oya meanders through the resort offering unparalleled privacy as the resort entertains just a single party at a time despite its vastness. KumbukRiver borders the Yala wildlife sanctuary and features the world-famous Elephant Villa, a 40ft high, 2-story villa which adds a touch of class to eco holidaying. The eco resort also features two other chalets and all in all presents several well-appointed bathrooms and lounges among other features which create a unique holiday for the whole family.
Arugam Bay is located 220 km due East of Colombo. It is a popular surfing and tourist destination in Sri Lanka. I’ve been to Arugam Bay before in its tourist season and it’s an absolute beauty. The waves the wind and everything was so perfect. However in the raining season it’s not the case; you cannot even go out because of the rain. In the raining season it’s very hard to find a day without any rain. Thanks to a weather forecasting website I was able to find a day without any rain. It was June 2009 nearly four and a half years after Sri Lanka was hit by the Tsunami in 2004, and surprisingly Arugam Bay is one of the very first coasts to get hit by the Tsunami in Sri Lanka.This time I visited the place to see how it progress after Tsunami.
Many of the buildings were destroyed in the 2004 tsunami. The post Tsunami recovery has by and large been very quick despite the remoteness of the area. Many NGO’s and private organisations have help rebuild the area and some of the guest houses are now much better than before the wave. Both north and south of Arugam Bay there are undoubtedly some of the most beautiful beaches in the whole of Sri Lanka.Due to its popularity among tourists they are managed a slow recovery by private initiatives only.
Day 3 and 4 of our backpacking trip saw us heading out from Pottuvil at 5:30am on Wednesday morning to reach Batticaloa around noon. Stuck for an alternative, the bus was a neat enough place to experience the sunrise from.
We went back to Thameemy’s to get some food, found a local barber and even got haircuts and shaves. Batticaloa town is colourful. It looks a lot like you’re walking through an old south Indian movie. Continue reading ‘Arugambay/PottuVille/Kudahs’
Arugam.info highly recommends the following, well researched traveler’s report
from innovative “sinhalaya travels“. Note their slogan: ….. “it’s hardcore, maan”…..
kudumbigaladagaba
After a short hiatus we are back with more on our backpacking venture. Expect more posts on more travels in the near future. You can also view a short grainy video of our stay at A’Bay here.
Day 2 saw us still at Arugam Bay and wondering what to do next. Consulting the trusty Lonely Planet Guide it was found that there is a rock monastery built in the middle of the jungle many centuries ago. The place is called Kudumbigala and further searching on the internet provided us with more information on it. Lonely Planet had never been there due to the area being closed in times of war. Naturally, we jumped at the chance.
If you are looking for a lonely but beautiful beach for camping, this is an ideal location. At Sangamankanda Point, I saw miles and miles of sandy beach and not a soul around. In fact this is known as the East most point in Sri Lanka.
This is close to Potuvil - Batticaloa (A4) road and it lies about 25km from Potuvil towards Akkaraipattu. The main road does not go close to the beach, so you have to turn towards the sea side and travel further 3-4 km on a gravel track. For the last bit, you may need to walk through an open land where there is no roads but only footpaths.
At the beach you will see an abondoned lighthouse. From there you will see endless beaches on both sides. One notable feature about Eastern beaches is that it has wider beaches than Southern or Western beaches. Here at Sangamankanda, the beach is over 100m wide.
Sleeping in the back of a Sri Lankan taxi is no easy task. Buses roar into view, their smiling drivers beeping blithely. Bicycles ignore cars brushing their backsides, pedestrians saunter across the road and dogs lie in the middle.
Exotic: The beach at Unawatuna, near Galle, Ski Lanka
A bus aptly emblazoned with, ‘Jesus save us’ passes within a whisker. But the hair-raising driving is not the only reason to stay awake.
The ever-changing scenery provides more thrill than fear, from congested Kandy with its temples, great white Buddha and daring tuktuks, to the textured tea plantations in the Bogawantalawa Valley, a quilted landscape with sheer drops, lush vegetation and barrow loads of king coconuts.
I was last in Sri Lanka in 2002 with my friend Jess, who was studying in Kandy. We surfed in Arugam Bay, cycled the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, took long bus journeys and drank lots of milky tea (a ‘hug in a mug’). The people and the place left an impression. Continue reading ‘Tea for Two at AbaY’
Angela was surprised that I found her place on the Galaha Road up from the University of Peradeniya located just outside of Kandy. It is indeed a more remote area then what most travelers would find on their own. But her instructions were meticulous and the three wheeler driver I found at the Peradeniya Junction was able to get me to her green gate after a right turn at the Twelve Kilometer mark off Galaha Road.
I met Angela two years before on a trip to Yemen and she mentioned she had a home in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka was on my short list of countries to visit so that is how I came to her place off Galaha Road.
Resting at Panama Beach
Angela has proposed we hire a car and driver and organize a short trip to the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka as well as to Arugam Bay. Arugam Bay was one of the areas hit by the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami so it was interesting to see the redevelopment of this area as well as the communities south and north along the East coast.
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’
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