Alpine Hotel - adding glamour to N' Eliya

Wins prestigious 'Eco-Friendly Award'

LESTER JANSZ

NUWARA ELIYA: Alpine Hotel Nuwara Eliya has won the prestigious Eco-Friendly award for the "Field Ornithology Group" of Sri Lanka recently and recognised as a partner in the "Bird Friendly Concept" network. The Hotel, surrounded by Nuwara Eliya's ever-green mountains, is committed to providing an eco-friendly atmosphere.

The plus point for Alpine Hotel is that it has been built overlooking Nuwara Eliya's two main tourist attractions - the famous race course and Gregory's Lake.

The cottage type hotel has 25 spacious and luxurious guest rooms with all modern facilities of a star class hotel. All rooms are equipped with hot/cold water, colour TV, modern heaters, telephone facilities etc.

The added beauty of the luxury property owned by young, energetic D. G. Mahinda Kumara, a member of the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council, who won the prestigious "Eco-Friendly Award", the first in Nuwara Eliya, is that all electrical fittings and furniture are of Italian origin.

"I wanted to make my hotel the best in Nuwara Eliya. During the construction period every "stone" was supervised by me and all fittings and interior decor were selected by me to make 'Alpine' a truly luxury and eco-friendly hotel in 'Little England'," Mahinda Kumara said.

He said that four permanent ecologists have been recruited to the Eco-Adventure Travel section of Alpine Hotel after winning the Eco-Friendly Award, to offer tourists, both foreign and local, the very best in Eco-Tourism in and around Nuwara Eliya.

The food offered by Executive Chef Gunaratne Banda, who has over 30 years experience in food and beverage, is star class and nothing but the very best is offered in Sri Lankan, Western and Chinese cuisine at the hotel's main restaurant and room service.

Alpine Hotel is flanked by two beautiful mountains - Mount Pedro and Single Tree, and guests are offered a panoramic view of Nuwara Eliya's hill country from their guest rooms.

The hotel offers excursions to mountains, waterfalls, boat rides in Gregory's Lake and safaris to Hakgala Botanical Gardens, Hortain Plains and other places of tourists attraction.

"Alpine Adventure Tours, which is a subsidiary of Alpine Hotel, offers exclusive deluxe wildlife safaris and nature tours including trekking, camping, bird watching, mountaineering, rafting, mountain biking, fishing, adventure sports etc.", chairman Alpine Hotel (Pvt) Ltd D. G. Mahinda Kumara said.

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Leading Italian travel magazine features President on tourism

PROMOTING TOURISM: The popular travel magazine in Italy Trend in its February 2006 issue has published an article about the interest President Mahinda Rajapakse takes in promoting tourism in Sri Lanka.

A translation of the Trend article: "We need politicians that care for tourism. Not only in Italy, where they talk a lot but do not take strong decisions to help tourism, in Sri Lanka for example, it is of great importance to get diplomatic effort to develop tourism further. This is a strategic activity for the country.

"This is the reason we look with hope to the new president Mahinda Rajapakse, who has always supported tourism, may be because he comes from Hambantota, a southern region devoted to tourism. Even on his opening speech, talking of economic strategies, he has detailed the development plans for tourism.

"We wish that the country and its leader will reach a favourable and well-balanced situation to materialise the President's projects, with help from some capable entrepreneurs and the sweet smile of the First Lady. The Tour Operators are there, nice hotels and professional staff are there too... can we add a little trust?"

The magazine also published this picture taken just prior to the Presidential Elections when the Italian journalists visited Sri Lanka.

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Eth Mansala - Holiday bungalow in Habarana

HABARANA: Eth Mansala or Path of the Elephant is a holiday bungalow located off the main road of Dambulla-Habarana and the distance from the Habarana Town is 3.5 km to the bungalow.

The bungalow has three airy bedrooms, a large veranda and three toilets with basic facilities such as hot and cold water, fans and refrigerator. This holiday home is built in a grassy scrub and the Yan Oya flows adjoining the bungalow.

The jungle around Eth Mansala is connected to Minneriya, a land which is a pathway of the wild elephants. Very often they come to the stream to drink water and on some days you may be able to see them from your bedroom.

However, after dusk visitors are strictly advised not to go out as there are wild elephants roaming in the vicinity.

Bird lovers will find Eth Mansala an interesting place, since there are over 80 varieties of birds, sited in and around the bungalow.

While staying at Eth Mansala it is possible to visit most of Sri Lanka's historic monuments such as Sigiriya Rock, Minneriya National Park both just 15 minutes drive from the bungalow.

The rock temple in Dambulla (20 minutes drive) Ritigala (an amazing mountain with varying climatic zones) are just 25 minutes from Eth Mansala.

Also day trips could be arranged to Polonnaruwa (40 minutes drive) and Trincomalee (80 minutes drive).

The bungalow has well-experienced two cooks who could cater any dish either Eastern or Western and has facilities for a BBQ night with Cadjan Torches around the BBQ area as to protect from the wild elephants that may roam in the vicinity.

Recreation facilities are also aplenty at Eth Mansala.

This is an ideal place for wildlife lovers and anyone who wants to experience something different and a memorable holiday.

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Coffee evening and cookery demonstration

COLOMBO: On Sunday, March 12, Alpasha Restaurant hosted a presentation - "using basic ingredients to create food-fare in an effortless manner!" Main participant in the promotion was Singer with sponsors - Edinborough Foods (Pvt) Ltd and DXN Sri Lanka.

Singer cutting edge technology of blenders, food processors, beaters, microwave ovens and refrigerators were utilized for food preparation as well as were on display.

"Present technology in food-fare is easy to use with most equipment inbuilt with internal straining systems, and apparatus that is noiseless and simple to handle" said Executive chef of Alpasha Pradeep Krishantha.

Food that was produced on location at the Alpasha promotion, and served to guests included a mouthwatering menu of tandoori chicken, mock-tails and strawberry cheesecake.

This event was enjoyed by Alpasha's regular clients, mostly women who account for the majority of the restaurants consumers enjoying small, intimate gatherings they choose for reasons that speak to enhancing an experience.

Crishan Perera, General Manager Alpasha Restaurant stated, "We are totally committed to offering our guests the highest standard of food quality in a welcoming and friendly atmosphere".

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'The Look' at Hilton Colombo opens today

COLOMBO: 'Hilton Colombo's The Bridal Fair in association with Ramani Fernando and Michael Wijesuriya will be held today from 10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.

Hilton Colombo's The Bridal Fair is an event for those with the most discerning taste featuring a range of speciality categories important to catering all facets of that perfect wedding.

Whether it is the bridal event itself or fabulous accoutrements such as jewellery, clothing, floral, cakes - in fact, all the ingredients for the most successful wedding endeavour.

"In the pursuit of the best available options, Hilton will also be showcasing specialist fields such as wedding consultants; photography and even videography to show you what can be achieved with the right level of expertise," said Gigi de Silva, Marketing Communications Manager of the hotel.

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City's first ever Noodle Bar at Cinnamon Grand

COLOMBO: You can order by the bowl or by the plate. Whatever your preference, there's no bar to having noodles in a bar and commencing this week (March 23) Cinnamon Grand Colombo provides a unique way to wind down with the City's first ever noodle bar experience.

The novel, dinner only promotion promises to delight the palate of both the ardent noodle lover and the skeptic, whatever your taste! The promotion, on till April 2, at the Breeze Bar, offers diners an opportunity to savour twenty five noodle based preparations-Soups, main dishes and even desserts!

Different types of noodles - egg noodles, rice noodles, glass noodles, vermicelli, potato glass noodles, sour noodles and even our very own Kurakkan noodles are on the menu, in this cross cultural noodle feast.

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Aristocracy and Royalty at 'Elephant Corridor'

DAMBULLA: The Cousin of the Queen of England and sister of the Kuwaiti Ruler and sister of the Omani Ruler enlivened the luxurious ambience of "Elephant Corridor" with their presence recently.

The comments made during their stay emphasized the allure that "Elephant Corridor" provides to the Aristocracy of the West and the Royalty of the Arab world.

The noble Lady from Oman, President of Oman's Environmental Society, was so impressed with the environmentally friendly atmosphere of "Elephant Corridor", that she asserts she will be promoting the hotel amongst the Omanis.

This is undoubtedly a great achievement for a hotel which is celebrating its 4th anniversary this month, besides guests who rate the hotel 6 star plus.

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Sizzling at GWR from March 24-31

COLOMBO: Great Wall Restaurant (GWR) at Galle Raod, Colombo 3, will host a week of sizzlers from March 24 to 31.

"Our expert Chinese Chef Meng Gueng and Sri Lankan Chefs Siri and Grashen with loads of experience in the back end, creating and dishing out authentic Chinese cuisine using the finest ingredients for over 14 years in the kitchen, have guaranteed that you are in for a week of sizzling fun with almost anything that can be sizzled towards your craving," said Restaurant Manager Adrian Gomez.

Be it seefod, lamb, beef, mutton, chicken, beancurd or vegetable, it can be sizzled on a bed of onions banana leaf or even on curry/'rampe' leaves to enhance the flavours, Gomez said.

The GWR Chefs have carefully planned and selected the perfect recipe in cookery to be sizzled at your table. We have got the ideal setting in town for your family get-together in specially designed private dining rooms for a bit of Tittle-Tattle whilst your delicious food sizzles from March 24 to 31 at the Great Wall says Gomez.