By Archie Fellowes

Happy New Year from Sri Lanka. No snow here. We are in peak holiday season and the Sri Lankan sun just wants to shine. After making some final checks of Red Dot’s first pdf brochure, I’ve been checking out the Southern beaches -- and it has to be said it has been a more restful experience. They’ve hit the spot.

A short journey south-east along the coast from Galle leads you to a selection of paradise beach options. You will first come across the slightly busier cove of Unawatuna. With an underlying backpacker vibe, this is the most established party beach of the south, and has been for a while. By the evening, Kingfisher bar, and Hot Banana are fun options for those with a disposition for dancing in the moonlight.

Further along the coast towards Thalpe is Wijaya Beach. The name of this smaller stretch is adopted from the excellently-run beach Wijaya Beach Resort, which has really made a name for itself. Palm trees loom over the restuarant roof. Watch the sun fade behind the aptly-named Frog Rock, which looks out over the ocean horizon.

Christmas and New Year saw temporary tents and dance flooring set out on the beach, with patterned flags and embroidered banners draping the rafters. You could call it trendy by day, and funky by night. The Thai Green Currys, seared tuna, pizzas (from the resort's own pizza oven), and Arrack Attack cocktails come highly recommended. Hop back on the coast road heading for Matara and you will find some beautiful beachside accommodation options regularly cropping up. The Thalpe coastline now deserves the label of Sri Lanka's mini-riviera - just head to Era Beach Click Here), or The Fortress, Koggala, Click Here) and see for yourself.

Travelling further to the south-east must include at the very least a brief stop at the extra special Mirissa beach. The nearby Weligama beach stretch is your nearest small town and an alternative, equally good surfing spot at this time of year. In addition to surfing, Mirissa Waterports Click Here ) offers watersports galore, deep sea fishing and whale and dolphin watching.

There are some fantastic massage centres hidden away in the groves of the surrounding village, and no doubt an enthusiastic game of beach cricket will happen in the evening. For your dinner, cover all corners with a seafood barbeque as you sit out with sand between your toes. Options include reef shark (the author's choice as a Christmas alternative to Turkey), barracuda, butter fish, tuna fish, king prawns and calamari squid.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a slightly different eating option, search out the small Sun and Sea guesthouse near to the rocky outcrop end of Mirrissa bay. Meet the friendly couple that run the show by themselves, and order you evening's food in advance. It’s nothing smart, but the chef will not let you leave hungry and you will taste local Sri Lankan food at its most authentic.

As I think I said at the start, for variety and natural beauty, the southern beaches over Christmas hit the spot. I’m heading to India for a few months now, but I can’t wait to be back.

By Kishani Gunewardene

Fed up with the frenzy of shopping and pre-Christmas buzz in Colombo, I escaped to Galle Fort for a peaceful couple of days with friends. My nagging list of unfinished things-to-do and a rather lengthy Christmas gift list was happily put aside to do when I return from my much earned r & r. Our hideout in Galle Fort was The Courtyard, a really nice and homely Dutch period villa at the corner of Lighthouse & Pedlar Street. I soon discovered, this was the best corner to be at this time of year!

It was December 22nd and life was getting on at the usually slow pace inside Fort with the vegetable vendor going door-to-door with his cart full of fresh veges, couples under colourful umbrellas on the ramparts, and children playing cricket by the lighthouse. Strolling along the maze of streets, there was so much more waiting to be discovered…. shops, museums, art galleries, cafes and restaurants all just around the corner. Out came my unfinished shopping list. Glittering Bindi bangles from Lollapalooza, a fun floppy hat from Barefoot, chunky turquoise beaded chain from the Dutch Museum shop, from Roots a colourful painting of a map of Galle Fort on a ceramic tile, an exquisite piece of pottery form the Orchid House, a slinky silk blouse from Mimimango, and a copy of `Around the Fort in 80 Lives’ by Juliet Coomb from the Kahanda Kanda shop. All done and having indulged in many a cup of latte and home made brownies at the Pedlar’s Inn, I decided this was the most enjoyable and stress free Christmas shopping spree I had ever done. A great holiday all in all with so much fun and good times!

By Kishani Gunewardene

Just before the Christmas rush I was able to escape for a day to visit some new properties in the Bentota area last week. One of these was the wonderful Bawa House 87 where I spent an utterly peaceful morning.  Enter through the large white gates and an instant sense of serenity takes over as your eyes gaze down the green lawns leading to a lake.  Set on 17 acres of jungle gardens, lakes, and marshland, this inspiring setting was created by Geoffrey Bawa in the 1960’s for artist Lydia Gunasekera.  The property is now opened for guests and has two tastefully designed bungalows - The Pavilion with two double rooms and The Shop House which has two single rooms.  Similar to Bawa’s Lunuganga situated close by, the gardens at Bawa House 87 are a work of art in itself with meandering  pathways, gigantic Bird’s Nest ferns, 100 year old Banyan and Tamarind trees and plenty of exotic birds hovering on the tree tops.   This is an oasis of calm and tranquility.

By Kishani Gunewardene

A week of creative inspiration is on the cards for those interested in creative design. Sri Lanka Design Festival 2009, a pioneering effort that is expected to attract a global audience, will take place from Nov 27 to Dec 05 in Colombo. Conceptualised by the Academy of Design in Colombo and sponsored by the Government of Sri Lanka, a host of private sector companies and the British Council, the design festival will promote Sri Lanka’s creative industries from heritage crafts such as handloom textile weaving, pottery, and Beeralu lace making to contemporary arts and crafts, fashion design, and architecture. Well known local and foreign design personalities will conduct creative workshops, discussions, fashions shows and art exhibitions under the festival themes of `Design without Limits, Garments without Guilt, and Ideas without Boundaries.’ The festival events are to be held at the BMICH, Barefoot gallery and other venues in Colombo. For more details see: http://www.srilankadesignfestival.com