Sri Lanka Reaches No 1 in New York

By David Hopps

This is now officially boom time in Sri Lanka. Even the good ol' New York Times has granted its approval. Travellers from the United States are not known as the most adventurous in the world -- in recent years with good reason you might say -- but the New York Times has named Sri Lanka as the no 1 destination in the world for 2010.

As Red Dot's growing sample of travellers includes about 0.000001 customers from the United States, we are pretty impressed with this new insight. Bring it on! We are ready to serve.

I admit I am as sceptical as I hope some others will be about Lists. Travel supplements are full of them these days. Ten or more years ago, you could read Paul Thereoux on a journey through the Pacific. Wonderful stuiff, even if you did sense that he made some of it up. Now you get a List: 20 Great Walks, 20 Hot B&Bs, 20 Best Beach Shacks, 20 ways to Avoid Writing Something Meaningful. 


The New York Times does not stop at 20, it does 31. But, hey, Sri Lanka is no 1. So it should be. Good on the New York Times. Bring it on.

(The New York Times, incidentally, is one of the world's great newspapers. I mention this for those who do not read newspapers anymore and believe that quite enough news can be gathered free of charge from the Internet. You will not be saying that in ten years if paid-for news collapses and it begins to dawn on you that you are being fed pap).

But I digress. More on The List. Mysore, which is also covered in Red Dot's burgeoning South India programme ( South India ) is at no 4, tucked in behind, ehm, the Patagonia Wine Country and Seoul. Red Dot has researched neither so can make no comment on tbeir hipness for 2010.

Other interesting candidates? Copenhagen at 5 - well, I suppose it deserves a consolation prize after the dismal climate summit. Antarctica is at 9, though still rumoured to be a little bit short of boutique hotels. Las Vegas is rated as the 17th best place to travel to in 2010, so if that is true even if I win the lottery I suppose I can only take 16 holidays.
Incidentally, thanks to that most assiduous reader, Karl Steinberg at the Galle Fort Hotel ( their website or, even better Galle Fort Hotel ) for altering us to this.

You can read the full New York Times list of the 31 Places Top Go in 2010 at Click Here. I don't hink it is compulsory to do all 31. We recommend that you start at no 1 and then reconsider your strategy.

Currently rated 5.0 by 1 people

  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Bawa House 87

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.

Currently rated 4.0 by 1 people

  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Feel Negombo 2009

By Kishani Gunewardene
With less than a month to go, Negombo is fast sprucing up for `Feel Negombo 2009’ – a beach festival to be held from 11-13 December organised by Sri Lanka Tourism Board. Planned along the lines of the popular Hikkaduwa Beach Festival, this event promises even more. From colourful street parades, adventurous watersports, family bonfires to late night rave parties – there’s something for all ages and this is being marketed as a family-friendly event. There will be catamaran rides, snorkelling, jet-skiing, and paint-balling to name just a few of the activities. By night Negombo’s beautiful shores will come alive with the pulsating rhythms of the Brazilian drummers and Sri Lanka’s own fabulous fusion musicians – Triloka and Elephant Foot drummers. For more programme information check out www.feelnegombo.com, www.srilanka.travel

Be the first to rate this post

  • Currently 0/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Back of beyond - Kahandamodara...

By Kishani Gunawardene
I was on tour down south last week, checking old properties and visiting some new ones, and I was fortunate to discover my perfect escape: Back of Beyond Kahandamodara.  Remote and truly back of beyond, this place is off the main A2 road about half an hour before you get to Tangalle coming via Nonagama Junction from Uda Walawe. The property is set on eleven acres of wilderness and mangroves by an estuary where the Uruboku Oya meets the sea. Having actually found it, leaving behind the peace and tranquillity of this place the next morning was so difficult.  Although I preferred to just lie in my verandah watching peacock strutting about and having the wind blowing through my hair, the staff did convince me there was much to explore.  So I set off on a walk through the estate, got in knee deep into the river that flows at the edge of the property, and onto the Oruwa which took us ever so slowly upto the beach.  Except for two fishermen drying their nets, the beach was all ours…so secluded only with our own footprints engrained in the sand.  A quite evening under a starlit night, a restful night in what was rustic yet quite a stylish room with cement rendered beds and a soothing blend of colours, I woke up next morning plotting and planning my return with a friend who I’m sure would love to have a Yoga retreat here.

Be the first to rate this post

  • Currently 0/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Saman Villas – Closing in 2010 for reburbishment

By Kishani Gunawardene
The end of the north-east conflict is encouraging much-needed investment back into the tourism industry and the owners of Saman Villas are latest to annouce forthcoming refurbishments. A statement released earlier this week said: “With the ending of the three decade civil war, we have decided to revamp our properties to meet the demands of future tourism. We have decided to take advantage of the low occupancies predicted for next year and to utilize this period to refurbish Saman Villas.” The hotel, one of the leading hotels in Bentota, will be closed from 22 April to 22 July 2010. According to the management: “The major modifications will be to the guest rooms and toilets in all suites. All guest rooms will offer improved comfort levels while two suites will be converted to twins. The toilets will offer a new concept with complete change of fittings with a floating bath tub and shower tray. Most public areas will be revamped, where roofing, flooring, furniture and fixtures will be changed. The entrance and reception area ponds will undergo a complete change, a more visually appealing effect with crystal clear water. Several other improvements, as well as maintenance work, will be carried out in order to add value to the product.” The management also control Mermaid Hotel & Spa and they have decided to reburbish this property as well, introducing nine new deluxe rooms, all of which will have direct sea-facing views and spacious new toilets. The public areas will also be enhanced.

Currently rated 5.0 by 1 people

  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5