Travel

Safari Village Wasgomuwa ... a peaceful retreat
 

BY PRASAD Abu Bakr

ITS SURROUNDINGS are designed to relax guests from the minute they drive into Safari Village Wasgomuwa. The management has held itself back from turning the property into an ultra luxury unit simply to maintain the eco-friendly holiday image.

Most of the singular cabana style units are built facing the large lake lined with a splendid view of the knuckles range of mountains. One can sit out by the lake at sunset and rewind with the cool breeze serenading your thoughts.

The lake is a water source also for the farming work that goes on in the adjoining villages. At times it is not uncommon to see an elephant or two visiting this watering hole at sunset.

If you arrive late Friday evening it is best to sit out by the waters on the wooden benches permanently fixed on the rock surface adjoins your room.Your surroundings are lined by trees and shrubs beside the water lilies and foliage floating on the surface of the tank.

Dinner will be an a'la carte treat. Soup of the house followed by your choice of grilled or roast meats with chips and coleslaw wound up by a dessert of tropical fruit platter. Local food fare is also available and is made in real Sri Lanka style.

Besides the 'Bath-curry' for lunch with fried tank fish as an extra dishes the breakfast menu can be mouth watering.

String hoppers or kiribath with accompaniments such as ambulthial, potato curry, lunumiris and pol sambol. Fruits are a plenty and a cup of tea that smells good can start your day for you.

The rooms are single units, fully galvanised enclosures with overhead ceilings to seal the heat away, with doors and windows that lock-up for total safety, attached toilets with hot and cold water, comfortable beds with mosquito nets and fans to keep you cool add up to your facilities that spell out a real safari hideout.

All room units have a front deck with comfortable chairs in case you want to sit out reading your favourite novel.

If you are in a mood to look around you can take an early morning drive to Mahiyanganaya, Dambulla or Matale all which can be reached under a two hour's drive and all of which has historical and archaeological monuments to visit.

There is also the ancient Maha Vihare in Nalanda, on the Dambulla Road. The vihara has an adjoining devale that is patronised by many devotees for its miraculous effects that has proven to cure even hereditary diseases on vows made by devotees.

Saturday early evening is ideal for you to set out on your safari mission to the famous game park which is only five minutes drive from the hotel.

In addition to the large herds of elephants that roam within its territory the park has a vast number of other animals such as crocodiles, deer and many varieties of birds.

A three to four hour roaming ride can bring you face to face with nature and its vivid creatures which can enhance your weekend and make it a memorable one for some time to come.

During your drive to Wasgomuwa an unmistakable site that you will witness as you approach it is the vast expansions of the countryside, acres and acres of paddy fields, lakes, river ways and lagoons are a common sight.

It almost becomes a once in a lifetime experience automatically as you pack your bags and leave back to face the hum-drum life of the city that we have all grown-up to tolerate.

If you ever choose to visit Wasgomuwa one weekend and stay at The Safari Village you will find that the entire experience has made this tolerance much more simpler than before.

Safari Village Wasgomuwa is owned and managed by the Kinjou Group of companies.

Michelin Chef at Spoons

COLOMBO Hilton announced that their casual restaurant 'Spoons' is well equipped for this festive season with French born 1 Star Michelin Chef Stephane Gaborieau who will take centre stage from November 3 to 12 during dinner.

Chef Gaborieau is a master chef of fine dining food and has worked at the famous Villa Florentine in Lyon, France and is currently running the Le Pergolese Restaurant in Paris.

"Chef Gaborieau has the Meilleur Ouvrier de France award to his credit, which means Best Workman of France on the grounds of professional experience and is also Cuisenaire Consultant," said Marketing Communications Manager Colombo Hilton Gigi de Silva.

Among the delicacies on offer are during the promotion Crispy cardinals with mozzarella in three ways served with gaspacho & balsamic chantilly, White asparagus with honey in papillote, salad of crayfish with nust butter, coriander flavoured, Sauteed scallops with espelette piment chilled tomato fondue & eggplant crisps, lobster oil, Snapper half cooked on rhubarb tart with crispy vegetables vinaigrette with almond oil, Saddle of lamb with maquis herbs roasted garlic puree with sesame seed & yellow pepper jus with oregano.

Stephane Gaborieau is flown in courtesy Qatar Airways and is co-sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank.

- Anjalie