The spectacular Kandy Perehera.
Aug 21st
One of the great thrills of being a Red Dot chauffeur guide is taking clients to the Kandy Esala Perehera, the island’s most colourful and dramatic street pageant, which takes place in the days leading up to the Esala Poya Day in August. This year I escorted Tony and Trudi Barringer, a charming couple from Cambridge, UK. Tony was mesmerised by the experience and would not stop talking afterwards as we travelled on to Ellerton Lodge. For those thinking about coming to Sri Lanka next August, don’t miss it! The dancers, drummers, fire-eaters and the colourfully draped Elephants that troupe elegants down the streets makes for a spell-binding spectatcle. I think Trudy and Tony will never forget their evening and will have travelled home with a very special memory. They were so excited that they are already talking about their next trip to Sri Lanka when they might travel to the deep south and also to the north. Perhaps it will be my first trip to Jaffna? I hope so.
Luxury Camping in the Knuckles.
Aug 14th
The Red Dot sales persuaded the Directors to take two days off for some serious “research”. The attraction was a new luxury camping option in the Knuckes, a beautiful range of mountains to the north-east of Kandy. The campsites in the Knuckles are managed by Leopard Safaris, one of the premier wildlife operators in the island and one of Red Dot’s partners.
East Coast is rising again.
Jul 28th
Surfaced from Arugam Bay last evening. What a trip!! so much to explore enroute and once there, peaceful fishing villages and the Indian Ocean waves that has put Sri Lanka on the world’s surfing circuit as one of 10 best surf spots in the world. Some of us in Colombo have been waiting for terrorism to end to get across to Arugam Bay, whilst surfing loyalists who know the waves so well have continued with their annual pilgrimage to `AbaY’ through it all. Some I chatted to have been coming here for over a decade always returning to their favourite haunts – Stardust hotel, Hideaway, Aloha Cabanas, Galaxy Lounge and the list goes on. Peak months for surfing is July/August and this year, business seems to be looking up for the guest houses on the strip as surfers from Australia, Japan, Britain, Germany… are all out there early morning to catch the `swell’ and ride the waves. There are several surf points – Ulla, Pottuvil point, Peanut farm, Surf point, and Crocodile Rock – of which some are more suited for advanced surfers. Plenty of encouragement though, for beginners with many places renting surf boards and providing surf lessons. There are some interesting beachside cafes and restaurants – Café del Mar, Siam View, Mambos, Geckos (for yummy home made ice-creams. Dark chocolate and Arrack flavours are my favourite!). Most prefer the spicy Rotis served at the local eateries in town.
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