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A chalet by the Bolgoda lake

by Prasad Abu Bakr

An exclusive guest house managed with a lot of taste and style.

About 5 km along the Moratuwa, Katubedda road, driving almost round the lake you arrive at a little guest house operated with a lot of taste and style.

It started off as a family business and it has stayed that way for over five years, said Viren Baddeliyanage a Director of this stylish, homemade operation which has its classy name 'Palm Jardin' reminding you of a chalet by the Nile. In reality it is almost so, with its well paved lawns leading you to the deck bordering the Bolgoda Lake, the lake known over the years as a holiday destination to many a big city dweller, which has resulted in the mushrooming of guesthouses and holiday homes alongside restaurants and in recent times people building their own little hideouts enabling them to get away.

It is more than what one can do at Palm Jardin, besides 'getting away' from the boisterous sound of the city, once there you find an array of activities to choose from rowing, fishing and swimming or simply taking a fine boat-ride around the lake which by itself can heal and cure. Palm Jardin has its own swimming pool where you can take a dip, over-looking seven well appointed rooms, surrounded by palm trees (thambili) and terraces.

Another good aspect about this place is its food, serving both eastern and western cuisine. the place specialises in serving clean, wholesome menus to keep you well-fed and with a minimum efficient staff the place assures you of an uncluttered stay on your arrival.

When asked about its popularity Baddeliyanage said that the place has been mostly sought by honeymooners and families who hire out the place all for themselves during long weekends. organisations planning to have a day-out for their staff are also regular clients, he added.

"When we have a large crowd we serve our meals in buffet style," he said, enabling the guests to enjoy a good spread in comparison to their regular rice and curry dishes, the latter which I personally enjoyed during my stay, that incidentally was during a full-moon Poya day and the evening was tranquil and cool.

if you decide to sit by the lake then it sure will be a magnificent experience in your life.

If you opt to watch TV then you can do it in the lounge on the upper floor of the restaurant area.

'Palm Jardin' can be a new discovery to anybody who goes weekend hopping out of Colombo regularly. the place will register in your mind for a long time, as for me it is still fresh in my memory.

As the waters of the Bolgoda lake 'Palm Jardin' too is calm, quiet but has so much to offer.

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A Park that glitters

by Pramod de Silva

The Gold and Diamond Park hosts 30 retail outlets and 118 manufacturing units

If there's one city in the Middle East that is synonymous with gold, it is Dubai. The city literally glitters with gold, with its famous souk attracting thousands of buyers daily. In fact, some call Dubai the 'City of Gold'.

Now the city has gone one step further, with the opening of a massive Gold and Diamond Park. That last word is a bit of a misnomer as it is no outdoor park, but a fully-airconditioned complex with 30 shops that sell every kind of gold jewellery under the sun.

Here's the one place in Dubai that you should go to if looking for gold jewellery.

Unlike at the souk, there's no sweat, no big crowds and no hassle. Just walk in, feast your eyes on row upon row of breathtaking gold, platinum and diamond jewellery in the shops all around you and take your pick. It is that easy.

While there are thousands of designs to choose from, the Park hasn't forgotten that a buyer could have another design in mind.

Nothing could be easier, as there are 118 jewellery manufacturing units at the Park. It is simply a matter of giving the design and they will even invite you to watch as master craftsmen loving turn sheet gold into an exquisite piece of jewellery.

Each shop will take a few hours to explore fully and even the most avid shoppers will find it difficult to go through the wares at all of them.

Even window shopping could be demanding at the Park, so the management has thoughtfully provided a rest area for having a soft drink or Arabic coffee with dates.

The Gold and Diamond, a unique venture that attracts jewellery manufacturers from around the world.

One can also while away some time at the small Arabic jewellery museum in the lobby and learn more about gold mining at the Mini Refinery. There's also an Australian Gold Mine Office. Back to shopping, the Park will not let you worry about its 18 K, 19 K, 21 K, 22 K and 24 K gold jewellery, diamonds and other precious stones. Purple Gold and saltwater sea pearls are also on sale, in addition to gold bars and biscuits. A peace of mind guarantee comes with every product.

In case a customer has any doubts on the quality of a product, in-house Alex Stewart gold purity tests are available.

The Park is easily accessible from all Dubai hotels, some of which have shuttle services that include a stop there. It has become a tourist attraction in itself, with many visitors hopping in just to see the glistening array of goldware.

Remember to drop by at the Park on your next visit to Dubai and who knows, your investment there will hopefully be worth its weight in gold.

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