Coral Rock and hidden beauties

Demi HEWAMANNA

To many tourists and locals travellers, down South is the place that is marked on their map when they want to go unwind, do something crazy and basically call it the little Las Vegas of Sri Lanka.

With so many tourists flocking over there during the holiday season, the accommodation becomes an issue. Which is why lots of people in that area open their doors to accommodate guests, but usually it ends up being a total disappointment. Thinking of all these reasons, Amaya Resorts stepped forward to help the tourists looking for a classy yet affordable vacation.

The Coral Rock by Amaya, just one month after the whole refurbishing and fresh look is already doing well with the guests. The hotel which is designed by Manomi de Silva who studied under the renowned architect Channa Daswatte - now stands out as one of the modern chic hotels in Hikkaduwa.

The state of the hotel before the new management was truly not a pretty site. It looked liked one of the places you would call a 'cheap motel' and it did not give a friendly or homely feeling.

The construction company that took the contract to make this far better from what it was had never worked on a hotel before. So together with Manomi they did finish a hotel that met all the needs of the management and of course the guests.

As you enter Hikkaduwa, Coral Rock is the first hotel you would see located on the seaside. The hotel occupies 32 rooms. There are 10 Superior and four connecting rooms facing the land and 12 balconies, four terraces and two large Super Deluxe family rooms facing the sea which are a must take.

The rooms as you enter (beach view) open to a very serene and calm atmosphere and a view of the golden sandy beach. The beds are soft to the touch and one jump on the bed does send someone to a very nice doze.

The floors have all been given a wooden tiling and the bathroom comes with a rain shower and sliding doors. Each room is equipped with a LCD TV, tea and coffee making facilities, mini bar and of course 24 hours room service. For the mums and dads who really want to unwind can always keep their children in the playroom with a professional nanny

On a clear cloudless day one can see how the night comes to life as the sun bows goodbye to the day with radiant colours of orange, red and yellow. In the night - guests can sit outside and stare out to the ocean and listen to the waves crashing gently on to the shore and the busy noise of the city dying down slowly.

The Restaurant can accommodate a maximum of 80 pax caters to western and Sri Lankan cuisine buffet prepared by Chef Sudharshan Weerasinghe who also specializes in Thai food. If guests prefer they can order from the a-la-carte menu as well. Coral Rock will also be having High Tea everyday which will be a first in the coastal region.

There is no better place to have high tea with friends with an amazing view of the ocean and see how the sea gives so much happiness to some people.

Those who are not yet ready to face the sea can always have a great swim in the pool which is always a great place to start when you are learning to swim. The poolside piu also went through thorough renovation. All the tiles were removed and replaced with rough and stony looking tiles. Pool chairs have been put on either side for ones wanting to get a tan or sit under the hood and enjoy a good book or drink.

There are plenty of activities for all the people who are in the adventure spirit. There is scuba diving, rafting, snorkeling, boat rides with glass at the bottom to get a closer look at the marine life. Guests also have the chance to feed the turtles that come to shore in the morning. And they are a beauty to see.

It was my first time to ever get so close to these beautiful gentle and snappy creatures. The one I was feeding was an 85 year old female who loved the attention of the people. She is tagged by the authorities involved to keep a track of her movements and status. The other adventure I did really enjoy was going on the glass boat to see the hidden beauties found under the sea. As I put my hand in the water with some bread...a swarm of fish just came swimming through for some breakfast. Even though these fish are not dangerous, my advice for you is not to try it. The hotel which is being overlooked by Amaya Resorts will be buying the land in front which is 40 perches to increase the parking facilities along with drivers quarters. All the staff members are provided with uniforms, meals and accommodation.

Around 80 percent of the staff are from the area and some are from Colombo. The staff have a three storey place with a kitchen with junior executives having attached bathrooms. Altogether they can accommodate up to 25 people.

The General Manager Manilal Wijesekera always wanted to take on a venture like this and this being his first he says he was immediately up for it. He joined in late July this year. He has worked in international hotels such as Regent, Ritz Carlton and Star City casino in Australia.

Dilrukshi Perera is an investor to the hotel. Her speciality anyway is in apparel merchandising as she has studied fashion designing at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Bangalore and is slowly taking an interest in the hospitality trade.

With the guidance of Amaya Resorts, the hotel that once was just known for a place to stay over is now a hotel that is very much living and giving the outlook to the standards of a hotel that has been created by Amaya Resorts.