The idea behind the whole complex is for it to blend as seamlessly as possible with the amazing natural formations in the area. The hotel is situated in between two natural rock formations and is designed so that it resembles the wings of a bird spread out in flight. With its size – an astounding 1.8 kilometers from one end to another – one might think that it is impossible for the edifice to blend with nature. However, the opposite is true: one look and you will wonder at just how natural everything seems to be! Even more amazing is the design itself, which allows the natural waters from the mountains to flow underneath the building, which is raised using platforms and columns. One should not be surprised to find out that animals range freely underneath the building as well.

The environment-conscious visitor will love the Heritance Kandalama for all its efforts to conserve energy. It has a very comprehensive program geared towards saving energy. The hotel makes use of auto-power controls, energy efficient lighting systems, and solar energy to heat the water supply. More so, the hotel does NOT make use of surface water to meet its needs. The water supply is a mixture of deep well water (using tubes going as deep as 200 feet) and rainwater.

For the ultimate pampering experience, one will not go wrong with the Six Senses Spa, which has won numerous awards from all over the world. The philosophy of the spa focuses on the five senses – finding the perfect balance among them. Think of a pyramid with the base constituted of sight, sound, and touch; and taste and smell constituting the middle portion; for the apex, think of a symbolism of the entire sensory experience.

The Six Senses Spa follows ancient Asian traditions geared towards rejuvenating the mind, body, and soul. They make use of indigenous herbs as well as tropical fruits and natural oils. Combined with steam, scrubs, massages, and other techniques, these herbs, fruits, and oils, are certain to please any visitor.

While a visitor would probably be more than content to spend time at the spa and lounge around the premises relaxing, the hotel also offers other activities to engage the active guest. There are three swimming pools – each of which offers a unique attraction. The Infinity Pool blends with Kandalama Lake. The Nature Pool shares the same bedrock which the hotel is built upon. The Rashmi Pool is the largest pool in the hotel and is naturally warmed by the sun.

Indeed, the Heritance Kandalama is the ideal place to go for a period of total relaxation.

When one talks of Sri Lankan food, curry is what usually comes up. There is no doubt about it – curry is everywhere in this country. That is not to say, however, that Sri Lankan cuisine doesn’t have various dishes to offer the gastronomic visitor. Still, we cannot have a discussion about Sri Lankan food without talking about the omnipresent curry.

A visit to Sri Lanka might very well mean a curry dish as the main feature of every meal. The dish can be made of pork, fish, chicken, beef, or mutton. In addition to these meats, various vegetables are also made into curry. A mixture of meat and vegetables is also possible. The common ingredients for Sri Lankan curry include coconut milk, onions, and chillies – lots of them! A word of warning is warranted, especially for those who cannot tolerate extremely spicy food: Sri Lankan curry can be VERy spicy. However, in most restaurants – especially in hotels – you can ask for a less spicy version to suit your taste.

Sri Lankans know that the best partner for curry is rice – plain boiled rice. Just like many other Asian countries, rice is a staple in Sri Lanka. It really is perfect to offset the rich (and spicy!) flavors of the curry dishes.

Aside from curry, Sri Lankans like to serve side dishes during a meal. Side dishes are usually pickles and chutneys. A signature side dish is sambol. This dish is made of fiery peppers mixed with coconut and other spices. Other popular side dishes are parripu (red lentils) and mullung (spiced green leaves which are shredded or ripped and stir-fried).

For breakfast, forget the traditional pancakes and bacon and eggs that you may be used to. Instead, go for hoppers. It’s not what you probably think it is (no insects in this recipe!). Hoppers are actually a kind of pancake but fried egg or sweet coconut meat is placed in the middle. It is fried in such a way that the edges are crisp but the middle stays soft.

Sri Lankan desserts are one of a kind and there are many varieties to choose from. A popular dessert is kevum or kavun. It is flour cake mixed with treacle and deep-fried. If you’re more adventurous, try moong kavun, which is made from green gram. It is shaped into diamonds prior to frying, making it more interesting. Wattalappam is another Sri Lankan dessert which visitors must try. It is actually egg pudding and is of Malay origins. For a sweet but healthy snack, kiri peni is the choice. It is curd (yoghurt made from buffalo milk) mixed with honey. If you happen to attend a ceremonial occasion, you’ll probably get to try another dessert called kiribath. It is made of rice cooked in coconut milk and served with sambol. Of course, you might be able to persuade the chef to prepare it just for you.

Wherever you go in Sri Lanka, you will not find yourself lacking for excellent dishes made with only the freshest ingredients.

Sri Lanka is well known for its festivals, and the month of January is one of the best times to visit this country. I already shared the Galle Literary Festival with you. The excitement is actually building up exponentially as the time draws nearer and nearer. Before this festival is held, however, there is another art festival that you should know about: Kala Pola.

Dubbed as Colombo’s grandest open air art festival, Kala Pola is traditionally held on the third Sunday of January. This festival is relatively new – it started only in the early 1990s, thanks to the genius of George Keyt. This man has impacted the Sri Lankan art culture in unparalleled ways, giving birth to a foundation named after him. Keyt’s supporters founded this organization in an effort to support and promote Sri Lankan artists and their works. More on George Keyt from Art Sri Lanka:

Promoting art and assisting Sri Lanka artists including painters, sculptors, musicians and writers, establishing a gallery of modern Sri Lanka art, restoring and preserving George Keyt’s work in all media, publishing writings and reproducing works of art of George Keyt and others to enable more and more people to have access to them.

Drawing from the inspiration and contribution of George Keyt whose life spanned almost the whole of the 20 Century – as a Painter, Poet, and Writer was a legend in his life-time, the George Keyt Foundation has in over twelve years made a major contribution to promote the Arts, and in a way revive it from the end of the nineteen eighties.

Today, the foundation continues to host Kala Pola at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo. The festival has indeed gone a very long way. From the 35 or so artists that took part in the original festival, there are now hundreds that participate and showcase their talent during Kala Pola. Artists come from all walks of life with all sorts of talents: painters, sculptors, etc.

The Kala Pola is actually reminiscent of the open air art galleries or fairs that are held in many European countries during the summer period. The atmosphere is relaxed and yet tinged with the passion of artists. One really important thing to remember about this art festival is that it showcases not only those artists who have already made a name for themselves, but it also provides a chance for budding and struggling artists. The latter group actually benefits a lot from the festival as they get the exposure that they may not have otherwise. From an art enthusiast’s point of view, this is the perfect chance to discover artists and their work. After all, you never know what you may find as you’re strolling along the streets of the art fair.

Art enthusiasts – especially those who are interested specifically in Sri Lankan art – should not miss this festival. The grandiosity of the display and the amount of interaction with artists and other enthusiasts are something that one may experience rarely in a lifetime.

Spending a luxurious holiday in Ceylon is not at all that hard to do, and of course, your “home base” for your holidays will be at the center of it all. There are a lot of places where you can stay in Ceylon, and one very highly recommended hotel is the Galle Fort Hotel.

Situated on Church Street in Galle Fort, this boutique hotel has already received a lot of attention from foreign visitors as well as the press. It is no wonder, really, as the hotel is perfect in so many ways! Take a look at this list to see what reputable entities have to say about the hotel:

• Conde Nast Hot List 2005
• Chosen by Conde Naste as one of the best new hotels in the world under $200
• Most desirable hotel bed linen in the world Wallpaper magazine
• Winner of the 2007 UNESCO Award of Distinction for cultural heritage conservation
• Selected by The Australian Travel Magazine as “ one of our top five places in the world to chill and relax”

Conde Nast has spoken – no need for further questions, don’t you think? Most desirable bed linen? Count me in! And of course, to be the recipient of such an award from UNESCO speaks volumes.

The hotel is housed in a piece of property dating back to the 17th century, ensuring guests of a stay steeped in history. It is reminiscent of what colonial Ceylon used to be and at the same time showcases the chic modern side of the culture. The hotel has a total of 11 rooms and suites, all of which are quite spacious. Indeed, many a traveler has described their rooms as enormous. In this day and age where chain hoteliers put such a high premium on space, the size of Galle Fort Hotel’s rooms is very much welcome. The design and décor of the rooms are a mix of Sri Lankan and Chinese – very minimal but extremely relaxing.

One of the best features of the hotel is the pool, which is in the courtyard. It really is a simple pool, not very large, but the whole setting is very serene. I doubt that you would want to leave once you find a shady spot to relax in!

Of course, I have to talk about the food, which has garnered so much praise from its guests. The food that the hotel serves is mainly Chinese and Thai, although chef Christopher Ong has quite a few tricks up his sleeve. One thing is for sure – you will have all the fresh seafood that you want! For cocktails, wines, teas, and other drinks, the front verandah is the place to be. It is also open to outside guests, making it the perfect meeting place for a lot of people.

If you’re looking for a quiet and luxurious place to stay – at an affordable price – then you can’t go wrong with the Galle Fort Hotel. For more information, visit the Galle Fort Hotel web site.

“The most companionable of all festivals”- that’s how Michael Morpugo describes the Galle Literary Festival. This award winning author of children’s books definitely knows what he is talking about, and this is just one more reason to try and join the host of literary enthusiasts in the festival next month. It’s not just Mr. Morpugo who has expressed his praise about the festival. The well respected Harpers Bazaar has also dubbed it “No.1 Literary Festival in world.” And this was done right after the festival’s debut a mere 2 years ago!

What are the features of the Galle Literary Festival? The general idea is to encourage intellectual and artistic interaction between respected writers from all around the world. People who may not have had the chance to get published but have a passion for literature are also welcomed with open arms.

The festival is jam packed with talks, debates, workshops, and other activities that will keep participants busy all throughout the five days. Renowned authors will be sharing stories that they have written about Sri Lanka, giving participants an insider’s glimpse. Aspiring children’s books authors may also take part in a workshop where Sandhya Rao will talk about writing in this genre. Other talks will revolve around fables, fairy tales, poetry, and more.

One particularly interesting workshop will be given by Lal Medawattegedera on the 29th of January – the Young Adults’ Writing Workshop. This is open to people aged 15 – 25. I think it’s a perfect “start of the year gift” for teenagers who are into writing. In this day and age, where reading and writing is not always considered “cool” anymore, exposure to a workshop like this can prove to be valuable.

Another excellent reason to join the festival is the fact that they are featuring crime writing (including graphic novels and pulp fiction) for the first time. The festival organizers are known for experimenting with various genres, and it really is exciting to see how the participants will respond to this potentially controversial development. I’ll go out on a limb and say that this is probably going to be a successful move!

The Galle Literary Festival will run from 28 January to 1 February 2010, and if you cannot afford to pay for passes that will allow access to every single event, you can still enjoy what Galle has to offer. This Sri Lankan city is located about 119km south of Colombo and is actually the fourth largest in the country. Galle is also the capital of the Southern Province.

There are a lot of attractions and activities that you can see and do in Galle. The Galle Fort is definitely a must-visit – it was built in 1988 and has been nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can also visit numerous temples and churches. Aside from these, popular destinations include tea estates and markets (be prepared for a chaotic but exciting experience). Rainforest treks, scuba diving, and other activities are also popular.

Mark your calendars – the Galle Literary Festival should be in your travel plans next year!

To follow up this, we thought it would be interesting to compare how Old Ceylon has evolved into the New Sri Lanka over the last century using photographic imagery.

To start us off, here is a picture of Pettah, in Colombo:

And here are some other wonderful examples of how Old Ceylon has become New Sri Lanka…

Galle Face Hotel, Colombo

Air Ceylon

York Street, Colombo

Khan Clock Tower, Colombo

Colombo Harbour

We will be posting more of these soon

After a long day shopping and soaking in the fascinating sights of Colombo, Havelock Place Bungalow is the perfect place to come back to. Its existence has always been a cherished secret to those ‘in the know’. Described by many guests as an oasis in a busy city, this elegant retreat tucked away down a quiet leafy cul-de-sac in the heart of the capital was in fact Colombo’s first boutique hotel and prides itself on its high standard of personalized service in a homely and comfortable setting. Built in the 1940s, the hotel consists of two bungalows, which have been cleverly combined and entwined within a landscaped tropical garden, that provide all modern conveniences within a charming colonial setting.

Having initially opened as an art gallery, fascinating paintings and prints still envelope the walls of the villa especially in the comfortable living room which, with its little library is the main social focal point to the property. Housing three suites and four standard rooms, each with their own courtyard or garden access, Havelock Place Bungalow has a surprisingly large garden full of flowering plants, shady trees, lush foliage and little ponds. A swimming pool and Jacuzzi is located beside an outdoor terrace with a little spot for sunbathing.

Being centrally located in the capital, Havelock Place Bungalow is the ideal place to rest at the start or end of your holiday, or as a base for exploring the exciting museums, historical sights, temples, parks and beaches that Colombo offers. There are many renowned restaurants close by while the villa is a perfect base for some last minute shopping at the end of your holiday.

The charming little hotel comprises seven comfortable and homely rooms – three suites and four standard rooms – each decorated and furnished in a different style with access to a private terrace or to the garden. Rooms come in different shapes and sizes but they are all stylishly decorated with genuine antiques including canopied four poster beds, interesting writing bureaus and wardrobes. Wi-Fi is available and all rooms have telephones. Each is air-conditioned and has en-suite bathrooms with hot water available throughout the day.

Havelock also offers excellent home cooked cuisine which has been consistently highly praised by past guests. Cooked by expert local chefs – under the supervision of Havelock’s owner Sharmala – who combine the freshest local ingredients with western cooking styles the result is a fusion of flavours that include Italian and Mediterranean specialities. The daily menu is written on a blackboard every day with choices of specials based on whichever ingredients were the freshest and best that morning when the chefs went to do the shopping. The fabulous selection of home-made ice creams and sorbets made by Sharmala should not be missed – we recommend you try the passion fruit sorbet. Delicious!

Meals may be served to you in the bistro-like restaurant or even out in the tropical garden. If you prefer to dine in your room or suite this can also be arranged – emphasis on personalized service is very important here. Breakfast consists of either western, Sri Lankan or Continental variations and along with the main meal dishes are all very reasonably priced. They also offer a good selection of imported wines.

The rates for accommodation range from $80 for a standard room and $130 for a suite. As usual, we recommend that you contact the hotel directly to make your booking.

Accreditation: Sri Lanka In Style

Fort Printers is an unassumingly stylish hotel. Unpretentious and quietly chic, it is for people wanting to feel like they are staying at a town villa and yet still be spoiled with a hotel’s services. If you stroll down Galle Fort’s popular Pedlar street (great shopping), you’ll find the Fort Printers at the corner of Church street- you would immediately think the elegantly restored building was the home of some lucky expatriate and not a small luxury hotel!

There is a definite air of nostalgia here, with the black vintage car parked out front (seemingly indefinitely) and the magnificently authentic printing machine in the entrance hall, seen from the street- to name a few. Although I used the word “luxury” in the previous paragraph, I wouldn’t necessarily say the Fort Printers‘ five suites was that- if you think of that word in terms if mod cons, designer toiletries or fancy mattresses seen in most top hotels in Asia these days. It is still very comfortable in an uncluttered boutique sense and smartly furnished with select antiques and interesting handmade crafts. The cozy library and intimate lap pool area are also great additions for tour-weary guests.

As a base for getting to know Galle Fort and it’s environs, Fort Printers would be an excellent choice because of it’s ideal location close to the shops, restaurants and picturesque ramparts. The food is also known to be excellent (try the delicious Mezze menu) and considering what you get for the reasonable rate of around $120 a night (low season), including tax, you could be tempted to stay longer than planned. Or better yet, invite some friends and rent out the entire hotel for a mere $600. Another good option would be to book the “Beach-Fort” promotion, which combines a stay at it’s sister hotel, the lovely Frangipani Tree for a very affordable price, including breakfast and transfers.

We ask all blog publishers to help bring awareness to the world today on the dire situation with climate change and the need for action!

Why Climate Change?

Climate change affects us all and it threatens more than the environment. It threatens to cause famine, flooding, war, and millions of refugees.

Given the urgency of the issue of climate change and the upcoming international climate negotiations in Copenhagen this December, we think the blogosphere has the unique opportunity to mobilize millions of people around expressing support for finding a sustainable solution to the climate crisis.

This is perhaps understood better than anyone by the people of Sri Lanka and those that have traveled to this beautiful island- after the calamitous Tsunami in 2004.

Suggested Posts

We encourage you to write about climate change in the context of how it relates to the topic of your blog. To help you start thinking, here are a few ideas about how you might connect climate change to things that you might already write about:

* A Technology or Business blog might write about emerging clean tech and how innovative companies might be able to help address the problem of climate change.

* A Health or Lifestyle blog might write about how climate change will affect our children’s health and daily living.

* A Nonprofit or Political blog might write about how climate change is deeply connected to many other issues – such as poverty and conflict.

* A Design blog might write about new trends in eco-friendly or sustainable design.

* A Travel blog might write about the places you want to see now before climate change makes them difficult to access or, well, under the sea.

Please join the 7,037 blogs in 135 countries and 11,211,921 readers in uniting over this urgent issue!