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For a young "upward mobile" Colombian male, one could stand to do worse than the newly opened Mythi Pool Bar. It is cheap and out of the way, which lends itself a certain charm. It is not a place however to take a date.

The main attraction about the bar is the fact that the beer is cheap and the proprietor is more than happy to keep the bar open after hours, according to demand. To play the game of pool itself, the costs are 200rs per hour before 5pm and 300rs afterwards.

The bar has attempted a certain American ambience by putting up posters of icons such as Rita Hayworth and Audrey Hepburn, this does not quite work however, as the rest of the bar does not continue the theme.

In the upstairs bar (which opens at 6pm), the atmosphere is more welcoming and the lighting is more friendly.

The music ranges from bubblegum hits of today through to old classics such as Elton John and Phil Collins. If you like that sort of thing then the music is right up your street and is played at a discreet level. All the music at Mythi is Western.

In conclusion, Mythi is a nice place to hang out with your mates in the evening, or in the afternoon if you require that all important liquid lunch. Despite it's rather drab and (at times) menacing decor it is still a friendly enough place and has already become a hit with many locals and tourists alike.

The Mythi Pool Bar is a good place to go in the evening to spend time with friends, listen to the excellent selection of western music and relax over a couple of games of pool on the full size pool tables. The feel is that of an American Pool Bar, which is reflected by the pictures of Hollywood Stars hanging on the walls.

The lights hanging low over the pool tables, add to provide a cool atmosphere. However, you may be forgiven for thinking that you were in a landscape, given the gentle sound of the indoor waterfall!

The drinks menu is extensive and offers a good selection of cocktails, spirits and lagers, all at a very reasonable price. Should you find yourself becoming peckish inbetween pool games, the snack menu provides a hearty selection of nibbles, ranging from a simple sandwich to the more substantial mixed grill.

The well air-conditioned bars, are separated into an upstairs and downstairs area. The lower bar is open from 11am, and is an ideal spot for lunch, whilst the upper bar is open from 6pm onwards.

Downstairs, your musical tastes will be enlivened, either by the selection on the music television, or by the live DJ.

"The staff are very friendly and will do anything to help. Also, this place has the best western music in Colombo!", says James Faulkner and James Chisnall of England, who are regular visitors to the Mythi Pool Bar.

Come Christmas and New Year, everybody's busy sending cards to friends and loved ones. The trend has caught on with companies, who are obliged to wish their clients here and abroad.

Alas, the cards that most of us send - and receive - have little or no meaning. They are just what their name implies- cards - empty shells that convey no message at all.

What if the New Year card is a combination of culture, adventure and nature ? This is exactly what the Sri Lanka Tourist Board has done with its all-new New Year Card, which showcases Sri Lanka's exotic attractions with a montage of vistas representing culture, adventure and nature.

The card has a truly global appeal - with New Year greetings in many languages. But it is the pictures that really do justice to Sri Lanka. They invite Sri Lankans to rediscover their land and foreigners, to come and have a look.

The Tourist Board urges individuals and companies to send these cards to their friends, colleagues and clients worldwide to boost Lanka's image and tourism prospects. So be patriotic and send a card for Lanka.

Navaratna, the Indian speciality restaurant at Taj Samudra, will hold a special food promotion to celebrate Diwali.

The restaurant will take on a Diwali atmosphere on from November 2-4 with lights, lamps, colour and vibrancy to give you a true Diwali feeling.

The Navartna which serves the best Indian cuisine will have a special Jalebi action counter making hot delicious Jalebi's on the spot and two mouthwatering Indian sweets will be given with the compliments of Taj for guests visiting the Navaratna. Children too receive a special Diwali gift. So if you are a real Indian food fan or someone who likes a real celebration the Navaratna will be worth a visit.

The Mount Lavinia hotel is holding a celebration of Malaysian culture, between November 1st and 10th. This is in celebration of receiving two of the most renowned chefs from The Renaissance Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. The gala will begin with an authentic Malay dance group, who are sure to entertain all at the La Fontaine restaurant.

The chefs will dazzle and delight you with choice Malaysian delicacies and to ensure the authenticity of the feast, much of the produce has been flown in from Malaysia.

The feast will be prepared by chefs, William and Mohammed, who have a long running expertise in this field of cuisine. Expect to have your taste buds teased with a tender chicken satay, followed by a cleansing chicken soup with glass noodles. This will open your palet in preparation for some delicate coconut rice, accompanied by spicy sambol prawns. To compliment your main course, you may choose from crispy stir-fried mixed vegetables and some chicken curry to add a little spice.

For those with a sweet tooth, the Burbur Cha Cha, (sagoo with yam and sweet potatoes) is sure to dazzle even the harshest of dessert connoisseurs.

A wildlife painting exhibition titled "Homeless in Paradise" will be on at the Lionel Wendt Art Gallery on Saturday 02nd and Sunday 03rd November.

The exhibition is by Nirmala de Alwis. Among the colourful exhibits is "Requiem" depicting the familiar sad story of the Sri Lankan Elephant, which is just one animal among many others facing the danger of extinction. "Homeless in Paradise" conveys the message that animals have a right to this land just as humans.

Let us in on Colombo's best kept secrets. We need hot tips on night spots, restaurants, cuisine and the latest in entertainment. Tell us what you like or share with us good bargain buys, promotional events, travel news- anything under the sun. If your tip is worth following, we will feature you on this page. Write to the Editor Travel, Daily News, Lake House Colombo 10 or e-mail us at [email protected]