The Sri Lanka Travel Experts
On the fringes of Hikkaduwa Beach Fest
Aug 6th
My half-baked ideas for a painting the town red usually end up being memorable nights. The night of 30 July was no different: the first night of the Hikkaduwa Beach Festival. The past couple of years the Hikkaduwa Beach Festival had gained immense popularity although shrouded with some controversy. The 2010 Hikka Festival did not seem to garner the same crazed interest as the previous couple of years, but since I had no idea what the festival was all about I was determined to experience Hikka on this Friday night.
My friends from the Sun House – fondly known as the Galle Gang – were all in high spirits about the impending outing. So we set out for Hikkaduwa in four motorbikes after borrowing helmets from all and sundry in order to have a safe journey on roads overflowing with cops. I had not ridden pillion in over 20 years and the outing had the earmarks of a daring escapade.
The Murali 800
Jul 27th
As something of an adopted Sri Lankan these days, I felt obliged to journey south to Galle from Colombo to join the great pilgrimage to Murali – hero to the island’s cricket cult for the past 18 years. Following the announcement of Murali’s impending retirement from Test cricket after the match, the Galle International Stadium and surrounding Dutch Fort was dressed up as the chosen shrine, littered with celebratory billboards and flags, with India, the old rivals, identified as the sacrificial offering.
Tailing the procession to the south coast and arriving in the nick of time was the president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, himself. The sight of his helicopter fleet bearing down on Galle Fort on the final morning ended up as more of a distraction than a grand welcome. By this stage with 799 Test scalps in the bag, the spin magician from Kandy was on the very brink of a superhuman cricket landmark. Thanks to Sri Lanka winning an important toss and batting through day 1, and with the heavens opening on day 2, Murali finally took to the outfield on day 3, and then only with pads on and bat in hand. Respectfully greeted by an Indian guard of honour and seemingly endless fireworks, Murali characteristically flogged his way to 5 not out.
Sri Lanka Travel Photo Competition
Jun 9th
Good news for all you keen photographers: Red Dot has just launched an annual photography competition for Sri Lanka travellers. The competition is really easy to enter and the winner will receive a free flight to Sri Lanka valid for 12 months. There will also be additional prizes for runners-up including free accommodation stays and meals in Sri Lanka. So if you have recently visited, or if you are travelling before the end of December 2010, make sure you enter the competition and share your best holiday snaps with us.
For more information please see Red Dot Photo Challenge 2010
Your Sri Lanka Experience
Jun 9th
Red Dot is keen to hear about your travel experiences in Sri Lanka. To tempt you into writing a short blog we’ve decided to giveaway a bottle of Veuve Cliquot champagne every three months to one lucky writer. If the winner prefers a four-pack of Stella Artois then we can be flexible. The winner will be announced on Facebook every three months and all the blogs we like (that are not deemed libellous) will also be added to this blog.
For more information please see Your Sri Lanka Experience
RedDot dash to Trinco
Jun 9th
Red Dot are committed to regular hotel checks and May is a month which offers us opportunities to escape the office from time to time to check out new hotels and also to catch up with those who have become a well-known part of Sri Lanka’s holiday scene.
So this time it was obvious where we were heading – the east coast and Trinco, which is reopening to tourists again. Since May is the start of the beach season on the east coast, we were
all excited to see what Trinco holds for us.
I am not much of a beach person — everyone in office knows that — but I was actually looking forward to seeing the amazing white beach and clear blue seas of Trinco which I last visited when I was four-years-old. I still remember playing on the white sand.
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