LEISURE

Indian Flavours at Aitken Spence Hotels

Indian food has always been intriguing, the aroma of spices and various ingredients used to create the magic of its taste, explains its appeal.

Diners at Heritance Ahungalla, Heritance Kandalama and The Sands by Aitken Spence Hotels were treated to scrumptious Indian delicacies prepared by a connoisseur of Indian food and global culinary expert - Chef Vishal Singh Kunwar.

With more than two decades of experience in authentic Indian food, Chef Vishal is presently the Master Chef at Hotel Sahara Star- a five star deluxe hotel situated at the heart of the city Mumbai.

Having mastered the art of Indian food quite early in his career, Chef Vishal has an extensive work experience in leading hotels of India and abroad.

He has worked with major players like Hotel Sheraton- Dubai, Hotel Al-Aktham-Muscat, Hotel Taj Palace- Nairobi, JW Marriot- Mumbai, The Club -Mumbai, Copper Chimney- Mumbai and The Sea Princess- Mumbai to name few.

Chef Vishal believes that India having a rich and diverse culture means that there is so much to explore in cuisine.

A perfect amalgamation of patience and hard work, Chef Vishal’s persona has made him a leader as he trains and manages his team with great acumen.

Chef Vishal was assisted by Chef Rohit Kene and Chef Dhanpal Singh Negi, both possessing extensive experience in preparing authentic Indian cuisine.

Chefs from Heritance Resorts will be visiting Hotel Sahara Star in mid November and will tantalize guests in Mumbai with Heritance cuisine.

Heritance cuisine showcases a unique gastronomy. It is built on authentic Sri Lankan cuisine developed not only through generations of tradition but by using the latest scientific advancements and outstanding culinary skills of the brands internationally award winning chefs.

Sri Lankan cuisine, which we have inherited, is based on local ingredients and enriched by the history of influences the island nation has faced over its long history.

Elephant Corridor wins award in Kuala Lampur

Opened in 2003, the one of a kind Elephant Corridor all suite hotel which pioneered many firsts in Sri Lanka such as plunge pools in every suite, electric cars, no fences, no buffets, private gardens, no motorized traffic in the vast natures caped grounds and a series of other concepts was built on land owned by PJ Group Chairman Prasanna W. Jayewardene who recently won the Tourism Pioneer award and who conceptualized, developed and managed the hotel now owned by Sierra.

Almost a decade later the hotel is still a fo-runner in Sri Lanka’s tourism Industry and has won the award for the best Luxury Family hotel in the Indian Ocean region.

OEL celebrates 20 years

Hosts guests to a gala evening on Jet Liner:

Sarath Malalasekera

With over 325 guests on board which mainly consisted of the shipping fraternity in Sri Lanka the Jet Liner took a voyage into sea as Orient Express Lines (OEL) hosted them to celebrate their 20th anniversary after commencing operations in Sri Lanka , said OEL Vice President Marius Gomez.

Shortly before the liner casted OEL Vice President Marius Gomez opened proceedings by addressing the gathering thanking all stake holders for their unconditional support which has helped the OEL to become one of the major feeder operators serving Sri Lanka, accounting to an annual throughput over the Port of Colombo of over 225,000 teus.

OEL Chairman S Ramakrishnan also addressed the guest and particularly thanked the Sri Lanka Ports Authority for their whole hearted support, During the proceeding OEL Chairman presented a special memento to the SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath Wickrama, to mark the 20 years of association. OEL which commenced operation in Sri Lanka in 1992 is now considered as one of the premier feeder operators in Sri Lanka with five of their services calling the Port of Colombo.

OEL being a ship owner as well has the ability to be one step above the rest in their field, as they are in a position to deploy their own vessels if and when required.

As part of their exapnsion plans to coincide with their parent company th Trans world Group celebrating 35 years after commencement, they have recently acquired two more vessels both calling Colombo with their maiden voyages and the third being taken during the latter part of September 2012.

The SLPA Chairman and SLPA Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppitipola thanked the OEL for patronizing the Port of Colombo for their commitment to JCT.

New Zealand out to mine tourist magic from Hobbit movies

From a giant, bug-eyed Gollum sculpture looming over passengers at Wellington Airport to promotional banners covering the facades of entire office blocks, the upcoming “The Hobbit” movie is impossible to ignore in New Zealand.

Tourism chiefs, hoping to recreate the surge in visitors inspired by the original “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, have launched a massive marketing campaign around director Peter Jackson’s latest Middle Earth three-parter. Like the first trilogy, “The Hobbit” movies use New Zealand’s mountainous scenery as a backdrop, amounting to what some tourism insiders gleefully describe as a nine-hour long advertisement for the country’s rugged charms. Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler does not go that far, but says the films offer the country invaluable global exposure that can be converted into increased visitor arrivals.

“We aim to show potential travellers that the fantasy of Middle Earth is in fact the reality of New Zealand,” he said. But behind the hype, official figures show the first of the new movies “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” cannot come soon enough for an industry struggling for momentum almost a decade on from the original Middle Earth saga.

AFP

The number of Foreign Tourist visiting Sri Lanka has increased considerally. Some foreign tourist pose for a photo with local tourists.

Picture by: I.L.M.Rizan, Addalaichenai Central Correspondent