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. More »
Written by Georgie on January 31st, 2010 | Comments Off
Filed under Cuisine
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: More »
Written by Georgie on January 22nd, 2010 | Comments Off
Filed under Arts
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”
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Written by Georgie on December 24th, 2009 | 4 Comments »
Filed under Boutique Hotels, Ceylon, Galle Fort
“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! More »
Written by Georgie on December 19th, 2009 | Comments Off
Filed under Events, Galle Fort, Sri Lanka
A few weeks ago, we posted some charming old postcards of Sri Lanka, or Ceylon as it was known in those days (thus the name of this website!).
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:
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Written by Antonella on December 14th, 2009 | Comments Off
Filed under Architecture, Ceylon, Colombo, History, Hotels, Sri Lanka
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. More »
Written by Antonella on November 20th, 2009 | Comments Off
Filed under Boutique Hotels, Colombo, Cuisine, Hotels, Luxury Travel, Tips, Travel
Looking at old postcards is a wonderful way to glimpse into the history of a place. Here are a selection of some fascinating ones sent to us by a Sri Lankan friend from Galle that truly reflect the beauty and majestic qualities of old Ceylon.
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Written by Antonella on November 1st, 2009 | Comments Off
Filed under Architecture, Arts, Ceylon, Colombo, History
