Leopard in Wilapttu
The park had been closed for security reasons since 1988 although opened briefly during 2003 to give a fortunate few a glimpse of its natural treasures. With the end of the three decade civil war in Sri Lanka, the park has been cleared and deemed safe to re-open. Read the rest of this entry »
Thailand has been named the world’s Best Tourist Country by a leading Swedish travel magazine. Thai Airways also won a second place award for the Best International Flight in 2010.
The magazine, ‘Travel News’, presented the prize at its annual awards ceremony in Stockholm last week. Thailand fought off competition from Australia, Egypt, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, USA and Italy to win the award for the 8th time.
Thailand’s mix of culture, food and stunning environments has long delighted international travellers. We are fans of both the mainstream attractions in Thailand and more ‘off-the-beaten’ track locations and will be adding many more unique properties and destinations to our Thailand portfolio throughout 2010.
Kandy Perahera
Thai Airways has announced a plan to acquire 15 new aircraft and add numerous new routes. Seven 300 seat craft will be purchased for flying routes within the region while a further eight 350 seat craft will be purchased for their long haul routes.
Thai Airways
A reminder from our friends at Moonhill came in today about their paining workshop which seemss to be proving popular. I doubt there are more inspiring places anywhere!
For more details get in touch with us.
Andy from Moonhill writes:
Only a few places still available on Billy Showell’s ‘Orchids & Tropical Flowers’ painting
workshop in Sri Lanka. Course dates 4th-10th & 11th-17th April 2010.
Spend 6 nights in the tranquil setting of Moonhill, a luxurious beach villa on Sri Lanka’s
southern coast, drawing and painting orchids & tropical flowers Sri Lanka is orchid heaven!
More than 188 orchid species grow here, with a stunning 55 that are unique to the island and
provide the source of inspiration for this course.
Under Billy’s encouraging step-by-step guidance you will find yourself drawing and painting
these exquisite flowering plants with increasing confidence and skill. All-ability levels and
beginners are welcome on the 4-day painting course, with the small group size (maximum no. 
guaranteeing you individual tuition and guidance. Places are limited and will be based on
first come first serve.
Sri Lanka has been rated number 1 in the New York Times’ top travel suggestions for 2010.
Of the 31 countries listed in the feature, the publication cited the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war, the island’s glorious beaches and spectacular wildlife as some of the principal attractions.
The Nilaveli Beach Hotel and unexplored east coast, Thambapanni Retreat were singled out for particular praise, as were The Sun House and Galle Fort Hotel in Galle.
It’s great to see Sri Lanka finally getting some much deserved attention for the right reasons and we look forward to sharing in, and contributing to, the success and progress the country will make in 2010.
The British Foreign Office (FCO) has further relaxed it’s travel advice with regards to travel in Sri Lanka’s fascinating eastern provinces. This puts the fabulous beaches at Pasikudah and Kalkudah back on the travel map. Vibrant towns such as Amparai and Batticaloa are also officially considered safe again.
We’ve had 2 directors and a staff member in Sri Lanka for the bulk of this month - looking at product, talking to suppliers and generally making a nuisence of themselves. The overwhelming impression that were left with is how Sri Lanka is starting to take off after the end of the war 6 months ago. It aint a bed of roses by any means - but there is hope for the future and that is something new in Sri Lanka in many ways.
One of our directors, Mick Lowe, below gives his personal reflections on the political scene in Sri Lanka, from a tourist point for view and watch out for some great product news and reviews over the coming weeks.
Happy Christmas One and All!
Read the rest of this entry »
It’s just been confirmed that there will be a Presidential Election in Sri Lanka on 26th January. It’s basically a face off between the two great war heroes of popular Sri Lankan mythology - President Rajapakse and the fromer head of the Armed forces Sarath Fonseka, rivals as true heir to the Dutugemunu legacy, will slug it out for supremacy. The erstwhile partners in the successful push to finish the Sri Lankan civil war this year have fallen out with each other in spectacular fashion. Fonseka, hero to the masses and to the army rank and file, is certainly the only man around with the popularity credentials to get anywhere close to President Mahinda Rajapakse right now.
I can only assume it has been called so quickly to catch Fonseka and his unholy UNP/JVP alliance on the hop, whilst forcing the prospective candidates in the general election (which must be held before May 2010) to campaign ferociously on behalf of their President at risk of losing their own jobs/chance to contest a seat in the upcoming elections.
The inhabitants of Sri Lanka continue to live in interesting times…
The villa concept in Sri Lanka is much misunderstood and so it’s a theme I come back to - in the (probably) vain hope that someone might read this blog and help get the following messages out.
1: Villas are a wonderful option for staying in Sri Lanka, both for couples looking for luxury and privacy at a reasonable cost and for families looking for comfort and value.
2: Villas in Sri Lanka are generally not cheap and they are not basic self catering units as you get in the west.
3: Villas in Sri Lanka are great value.
I’ll deal with point 2 first. We at Experience Sri Lanka spend much of our time explaining that villas in Sri Lanka are not like cheap European/Australian/US villas/self catering units, that you cannot get them without staff and that you will pay a fairly decent rate, even for the most basic.
There are several reasons why the villas are not cheap: