Tag: Feb-Mar 19

Senses Spa at The Kingsbury: A Luxurious Experience

What comes to mind when we think of the word ‘spa’? An indulgent 2-3 hours of a relaxing massage to soothe and loosen those tense muscles, saying bye to dead skin cells via an exfoliating body scrub, then saying hi to the silky skin beneath, and just being pampered in general, right? When it’s over, you step out of the place feeling like nothing short of a queen or maybe even an empress. You almost expect everyone to curtsey to you, but they don’t and you wonder why…I’m kidding!

Thanks to the Senses Spa at The Kingsbury, all of us lovely ladies who crave divine spa treatments are promised a fantastic and invigorating experience. They offer you pure indulgence and you will never want your session to end! Do take yourself down to Kingsbury and experience blissful pampering like never before. Their signature treatments and spa packages let your worries ease away as your senses awaken to a new realm of relaxation.

When I say sweet spa experience, I mean it literally as this is the Chocolate (yes, you read it right!) Full Body Treatment, but before I get to that, let me tell you about their Black Pepper Foot Ritual. There is something wickedly sensual in having your feet scrubbed, massaged and nurtured in such a manner. Our feet are exposed to so much grime and impurities and this soothing foot treatment really improves the skin texture and appearance of your feet; trust me, they will thank you for this.

Next is the star attraction: the Chocolate Full Body Treatment. The scrub smells deliciously sensual and removes all dead skin cells to reveal young, glowing, delightfully pampered skin beneath. I’m sure most of you are aware that chocolate contains super powerful antioxidants and as some people get the same burst of euphoria from chocolate body treatments as they do from eating chocolate, having this decadent body treatment is the perfect way to bring out its benefits.

The massage that follows is nothing short of bliss. Just lie back and relax while a massage therapist applies pure cocoa to your skin using a blend of essential oils, which immediately goes to work flushing out impurities while encouraging the regeneration of fresh, new skin cells. Talk about divine! The treatment concludes with a head massage that adds the perfect finishing touch to a fantastic experience and I walked away feeling, as I said before, like royalty.

As a premier Sri Lankan spa, holidaymakers from all over the world are promised an extensive variety of massage and beauty treatment selections, making Senses Spa one of the most comprehensive wellness centres in Colombo city. They have a range of body massages such as the ‘Traditional Thai Massage’ which is designed to relax tight muscles and encourage blood circulation, the ‘Thai Herbal Massage’ which relaxes weary muscles and improves blood circulation by stimulating acupressure points using hot herbal compresses.

Many travellers will appreciate the ‘Jet Lag Treatment’, which concentrates on the back and shoulders to relieve tension and ease away strain, using an age-old technique.

The body wraps are also a popular favourite like the ‘Thai Herbal Body Wrap’ which uses Thai herbs and white mud to deep-cleanse and detoxify while ridding skin of excess oils. The ‘Green Tea Body Mask’ consists of a hydrating and cleansing body treatment using ‘dosha’ (one of three substances that are present in a person’s body according to Ayurveda) oils and masks to stimulate self-healing. It is complete with a soothing head, neck and scalp massage.

Of the body scrubs, I’m told that the chocolate treatment is the most popular with the ‘Sea Salt Body Scrub’ coming in as a close second. This skin-exfoliating body scrub removes dull, dead skin cells using aromatic oils enriched with mineral salts and leaves your skin radiant and hydrated.

If you’d like to have your SO (significant other) along for your spa experience, Senses has a range of couple’s spa packages for you to choose from. The ‘Romeo & Juliet’ is a soothing, fragrant flower petal bath coming with the choice of body scrub and an aromatherapy massage. ‘Serenity at Senses Spa’ is a lavish couple’s package offering a variety of treatments including a Jacuzzi bath, a choice of three massage techniques and anti-stress skin therapy. There are also separate spa experiences for both men and women; ‘Just for Him’ has treatments from deep-cleansing facial care to exfoliating body scrubs that will provide you gentlemen with royal comfort and radiance. ‘Just for Her’ promises experiences that are a lavish indulgence fit for a queen and will leave you ladies radiant and relaxed.

Retreat into the relaxing environs of the Senses Spa at Kingsbury and experience rejuvenating therapies and treatments. You will experience heavenly pampering like never before, which will definitely have you coming back for more.

By Michelle Alles

I emphasize on the natural beauty, the flowers- Pramoda Boyas

With many weddings happening every now and then, flowers play a huge part. A bouquet is an essential party of the bridal attire. No stranger to the wedding scene, florist Pramoda Boyas, the founder of Pramoda Flowers, opens up to how much it takes to craft the perfect bouquet.

What made you get into floral bouquet making?

Since my childhood I was in to creating new things and making my own designs. By the time I identified myself as a unique person who thinks out of the box, I was recognized in the school, temple and the society as a creative person. After completing my education, I chose my career path to be in the field of floral arrangements. Within a few years, I was able to identify my speciality in making bridal bouquets. From that point onwards I started my profession as a bridal bouquet designer.

Within a short time, you are a household name in the florist market?

It’s a combination of various factors which drove me to where I am today. I never gave up on my dream and was encouraged to face all the challenges from the industry. Quality of the work and customer satisfaction are the most important to me.

How and what goes into crafting a beautiful bouquet?

Flowers are the loveliest thing that God has given to the world and bridal bouquets bring luck to the bride. There are several factors that I consider before crafting a bouquet. First of all, I give a lot of thought to the bride and the ideas to develop the concept. Then I go through the details such as dress type, colours, beautician, location and time to deliver the best to my customer. Significant factors that I keep in mind are the freshness of the flower, quality and variety of flowers to craft a beautiful bouquet.

Tell us about the wedding season, from where do you get the flowers and how prepared are you?

I get most of the flowers from Nuwara Eliya. Apart from that other trusted local and international supplier. Usually, I get weddings throughout the year and the peak months are January, May, August, October and December. Nowadays people tend to take weddings whenever they are comfortable and ready. Before the season starts I search for new trends in the international market and new flowers and leaves available locally to offer creative bridal bouquets to my customers.  Apart from that I always coordinate with beauticians so as to make a perfect outcome.

Which flowers are the most in demand and why?

Roses are the most in demand in the market and among brides. A rose is a symbol of love and purity. There are different types of roses, with varying colours and sizes, available year-round making this flower ideal for any bride or wedding season. Apart from that Lisianthus, Cattleya, baby’s breath, snapdragons and Lilies are also widely used to make a stunning bouquet.

What is the most complicated bouquet done so far?

It was in 2014, when I decided to make a bridal bouquet using crepe jasmine buds (commonly known as Wathusudda) for a competition. I was bit stressed in the beginning but managed to end up with a lovely bridal bouquet securing the first place in the contest.

What inspires your creations?

I got much inspiration from local industry leaders as well as international creations. I learned a lot from them as a beginner and gradually was able to make it as a passion and come up with my own creations and designs. I emphasize on the natural beauty the flowers which allows me to make a unique bridal bouquet to each and every customer who walks into “Deco Line” by Pramoda. My ultimate goal is to make my customer happy.

Ultimate dessert fix: Hyve Dessert Bar

Sweet baked goods are always on top of my list. It’s a bit hard to sometimes find a truly well-constructed cake, one with the perfect balance of flavours and textures, not too heavy or sweet and made with intuitive hands.

Walking down Thimbirigasyaya Road, Colombo, Hyve is the trendiest dessert bar grabbing all the attention of dessert lovers out there. It’s one of Colombo’s dedicated dessert bars and serves up wholesome, delectable baked goods, cakes, pies, coffee and an assortment of desserts.

The interior is attractive with comfortable seating for about 30 people. Plaques along with colourful cushions and comfy chairs; highlighting the colours of yellow and orange. While the predominantly white-themed interior is complemented nicely by the chairs, light bulbs hung around and the subtle pastels from the assorted ornaments offered a pleasant contrast. One of my favourite parts of this place is the kid’s play area; they have dainty corner arranged with toys which are perfect for all the mothers to keep their kids occupied. They also have enough parking spaces and are available on Uber Eats.

Hyve has not failed to keep up their quality, setting the sweet tooth of Colombo abuzz. It’s a family-owned business by two sisters and a brother. The three siblings Rukshika, Chanika and Minura have synergized to create a dedicated dessert bar, which highlights a wide variety of ingenious goodies. The perfect balance between a high-end uppity dessert place offering some great dishes for a reasonable price; it’s delightfully quaint and the desserts are to die for. They don’t have a standard menu, the available cakes are displayed and you can go for your pick. They do have a menu for the drinks that you can choose from. I was told their best selling dishes are almost always available. The staff are friendly and warm.

Crème brûlée

Starting off with their signature Crème Brûlée, it’s torched theatrically in front of us making it visually pleasing and interesting. Cracking the sugar coat and the sound it makes, already tells us it’s a good one. It’s difficult to find a crème brûlée that isn’t overly eggy and or sweet. They appear to have cracked the formula. The crispy top layer of hard caramel combined with the creamy, vanilla centre and crumbly base struck a perfect balance in terms of both texture and flavour.

Blazed Butter

Next I opted for their Blazed Butter which is another popular dish from their cakes. This dessert was pretty interesting to me. The slice had different layers of ingredients which included caramel and chocolate chips at the base with an all-round strong sense of butter. The caramel cake and hard chocolate chip base was a bit crunchy and the strong butter flavour combined it together. I like how it tasted and kept going for more.

Milo Coffee

Made with a generous proportion of milo, the drink was good and not overly sweet. It was well balanced and came in quite a big quantity.

All in all, there’s something absolutely charming about Hyve. The ambience is vibrant and wants you to keep going back. Another worthy mention is their Chocolate Cloud Cake which has been recently introduced and is super delicious! I have heard some good reviews about their Chocolate Caramel Tart and Raspberry Heaven, which I have added to my ‘must try’ list for when I drop by next time. I also found out they will be expanding to a wider range of desserts in the future. They undertake custom cake orders. I would recommend Hyve for any sweet lovers out there and to everyone looking for a sweet fix!

Written by Shafiya Nawzer

Camping on the Beach

If you love the ocean as much as we do, then you definitely have wanted to live by the sea where the ocean touches your feet, the wind gets in your hair, that salty taste in your mouth and there’s tons of seafood. Not all of us though can afford to buy a villa on the beaches of the now dubbed “Best Country in the World to Visit in 2019”. Option 2 therefore would be to find such a tranquil place and unwind.

While traversing down south we were introduced to a quaint little place that does all of the above right and adds the element of adventure to their offering. The Scallops Beach Camp in Rathgama, is Sri Lanka’s first camp site on the beach!

Somewhere between Hikkaduwa and Galle, the easiest way to get to this place if you are not driving is to take the Expressway bus to Galle and then hop a tuk for a 15 minute picturesque ride along the coast. Once you get there though it’s all about relaxing, unwinding and just letting go.

Anton and Shani along with their team have been running The Scallops for around 6 months now and have garnered quite a following on social media. The concept is to have tents set up on the beach which can sleep either 1 person, 2 people or even family tents. The tents are set up among the screw pine (Wetakeiya if you want to be local!) and are literally on the sand itself. Air mattresses are then put in depending on the number of guests. Falling asleep to the lullaby of the waves has never been this literal!

Since you can’t really spend hot tropical afternoons in a tent on the beach, The Scallops have an amazing seafood restaurant that can easily seat 100+ people. The venue can be used for parties and even destination weddings but it is the food that is the talk of the town. Prepared from the freshest catch and local ingredients much of the recipes are their own and also prepared sometimes by Anton and Shani.

We are not really sure where to begin with the overdose of seafood that we had during our two-night stay. As soon as we got to the place, there was a spread of Seafood Fried Rice, Tuna Salad and Batter Fried Calamari waiting to be devoured. That night we opted to stay in one of the A/C rooms which are also available at The Scallops. Falling asleep was a breeze after stuffing ourselves with Coconut Prawns with Mango Salsa, the namesake Scallop Salad and a massive Seafood Platter. Now we must tell you that the scallops are the only seafood that is imported from New Zealand while everything else is sourced locally. The soft, succulent scallops had our mouth-watering while the seafood platter was enough for 3-4 people and super reasonably priced.

After a good ol’ traditional String Hoppers and Milk Rice breakfast, we went on a snorkeling expedition which The Scallops can arrange for you among a host of other activities like Lagoon Safaris, Diving, Fishing and Foodie Walks that take you to local homes to talk about traditional Sri Lankan food. After catching great glimpses of Sri Lanka’s abundant marine life, we returned to Chicken Fried Rice, Prawn Salad, Grilled & tempura Fried Vegetables and a Cheesy Omelette.

You would think by now that we’d had our fill of seafood but as the sun set and the local and foreign guests streamed in we had Grilled Fish and Lobster and a classic Fish n’ Chips served up before bed.

Sleeping in a tent on the beach was a new experience for us and here we must add that we had our own bodyguard a.k.a The Scallop’s mascot Bulbul or Bully the Rottweiler guard our tent all night. In fact this place is pet friendly and encourages you to bring your pet on vacation. Bully happily prances around the property and considering that his a rotty no one really messes with him. But we know him to be a softy!

One of the best parts about The Scallops is affordability. The tents and rooms cost minimal and the menu despite its amazing dishes is not pricey either. The staff including Amila the chef, Lal, Chanaka and Sameera make you feel so much like home that you just don’t want to leave. And did we mention Bully?

Not too far from The Scallops is a 4-double room villa with a garden and water deck that can also be rented out for larger families and private gatherings. Take our word for it though and sleep on the beach!

Written by Nishu Gunawardana

Photographs by Sanura Gunawardana

A Q&A With The De Lanerolle Brothers

Anyone who is into the art of listening to music and appreciating music would definitely be aware of who the De Lanerolle Brothers are. Esteem was thrilled to have secured an interesting Q&A with the De Lanerolle Brothers taking into consideration their very busy schedule. Anyone who knows these two personally would be aware of the fact that they are so different and yet so alike. The one thing that unifies them both is their shared love for music and also that ethereal art of singing.

Yet as anyone knows nothing in life comes very easily. However, it is practicing patience and investing in the profession of hard work that really helps you become truly great in what you choose to do with life: This really is the legacy of the De Lanerolle Brothers. It is a bold statement that can honestly be seen in their effortless singing and also in their versatility. For instance, anyone who has been part of the audience when the brothers perform would witness how they are able to sing contemporary music, opera, and even some truly classical Sinhala music.

While it would be very interesting and quite easy to give a long and rambling introduction it is not necessary rather let’s hear from the brothers themselves. Without any further ado, let’s look at some of the interesting answers that they had to a few questions we asked them.

1. Can you tell us a bit about your family background and how you both actually got into music? 

Rohan: Actually both our parents and their families have been musical. Our Mother was 1st in the island twice under age in piano, and her brother was a good singer who was also an entertainer. So was our mother’s sister who also had a good voice not forgetting our maternal grandmother, too. From our father’s side, I would say that our father has a very good ear and to-date remains our best critic. Our paternal grandfather also had a good bass voice and was always welcomed in church choirs. 

2. It is amazing how you guys can sing a wide range of songs and a wide range of genres, but what exactly is your favourite genre? 

Ishan: I would say Broadway and Pop would be the standouts.

Rohan: Classical and sacred music would be my pick.

3. I’m sure each of you has a favourite song. Would you like to tell our readers what particular track is your favourite and why? 

Ishan: I would say, “I dreamed a dream” from Les Misérables simply because there is so much meaning and emotion when one considers the lyrics.

Rohan: For me every track gives you a different perspective, meaning and emotion, and it’s all about the lyrics and how you bring that out to touch people’s hearts; so unfortunately I am unable to pick one song as a stand out. 

4. What are the things that annoy you? 

Ishan: When things don’t go as planned, and when each person doesn’t deliver and shirks responsibilities.

Rohan: Time and time again I have said this – it is jealousy and copying. This is a BIG problem in this country in any field let alone singing. People act as if nothing has happened and are not straightforward and have loads of hidden agendas and are two-faced AND wish for your downfall. There are others who just love to copy and cannot be original. An example of this is people who have to copy the exact layout of a publicity material.

5. Aside from music and singing, what are your other hobbies? 

Ishan: Teaching children, which gives you immense satisfaction when they perform to people.

Rohan: Annoying everyone. My late maternal grand uncle used to call me “The great annoyer!”

6. What are your future plans?

Ishan: Plans are many; what we are concentrating on right now is to see how we can evolve into different areas.

Rohan: We will keep that a secret, if not people will want to copy that, too.

Inspiration certainly needs to come from somewhere, and for this incredible duo nothing inspires them more than music itself. There are a great many singers and artists who are truly unique, but it would be suffice to say that it is performers like Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotti, Mario Lanza, and Beniamino Gigli who are the most inspirational for this duo. With the local music industry evolving quite a bit, it needs to be stated that there really is a requirement for unique artistry. The De Lanerolle Brothers definitely are a benchmark for the rest of the music industry; each and every single brand new performance is an absolute sell-out and is also incredibly unique in its presentation and delivery. As Rohan said there will be quite a few future plans, which are sure to be incredible and heartwarming albeit under wraps.

Written by Rohitha Perera

Yudhanjaya Wijeratne: An Alchemist Of Worlds

Nobody wants their drunken conversation written down somewhere. Being a photographer is different. People come to you. They smile. They flirt. They make sure you see only their best side. Nobody wants to upset the camera.

— Numbercaste

The only instance when Yudhanjaya emanated a radiant and effulgent smile was when we spoke about books, writing, and his fascination with new and fantastic worlds. The only time I mirrored that same look of glee was after downing 1/4 of a bottle of Halmilla Old Arrack, which he ordered.

He downed the other 1/4, and by that time, I was swimming in a sea of similes, metaphors, analogies, allegories and other figures of speech (the names of which have slowly gathered cobwebs and dust in the corners of my brain) — luckily I took notes otherwise this enthralling interview would have dissipated like autumn gossamer in the wind.

As most of Colombo’s work-weary denizens would know, Mintage offers an eerie ambiance, and the yellow lamps limned Yudanjaya’s grin as we spoke about his ‘other worlds’. Quite the storyteller he is, and my mind was fresh from a reading of the Messenger, which is his collaboration with R. R. Virdi. His sentences are short bursts of creativity quite like the laser cannons used by the robotic Hindu deities in Messenger.

The mind of a fiction writer is a scary place to be in, and the civilizations that are waiting to be scribbled down into a clean white A4 paper is a violent labor of love. What’s even more enthralling is how he has managed to combine his passion of writing fiction and his enthusiasm for his day job as a Researcher at LIRNEasia — a pro-poor, pro-market think tank.

Gimlet-eyed, the main protagonist of this article spoke of the importance of data and dataism. There was so much of Yuval Noah Harari in him, and the symphony of monologues moved onto centrist politics, and the utopia that’s awaiting us in possibly a century or so. If we won’t be alive to see it, you might as well dream about it, right? We both shared a rueful glance at that shared thought — What IF we were living in 2075 right now? What would the world be like really? — and drank some more.

We spoke a lot. One interesting subject was of the evolution of wealth. Harari at one point speaks of the transition of wealth: we are at a transition where wealth, which is regarded as the ownership of land, is transforming into a knowledge economy, where knowledge will be the new-age definition of riches. And we agreed that the democratization of information will lead to less poverty and better opportunities for people in future.

Here is a homegrown author who is at the apex of his appeal, or, dare I say — yet to reach his apex. Some of his creative and eloquent prose is bound to offer post-coital feels for those who treasure the adroit navigation of the English language. We spoke at length about Sylvia Plath, J. K. Rowling, Stephen King, and Indian and Sri Lankan cultural nuances. The massive assimilation of knowledge Yudhanjaya possessed and disseminated was an exercise in intellectual stimulation.

With motifs of cigarette smoke swirling lazily and making quasi-symbols not unlike that of some badly-scripted sci-fi movie seemed apt as the conversation segued into another different topic and one hundred more — Think gender fluidity. Contemplate transphobia.  Care for an existential crisis? Anyone?

At times I disagree that fiction is actually fiction. Once you meet the author you realize that there is so much of him in the sentences and paragraphs that make up his novels. Channel your attention to the quote from Numbercaste at the beginning of this feature article.

Anyone who does know this bespectacled Alchemist (a nickname from his old gaming days) knows that he really is a chum. Luckily, there were no cameras that night to capture a celebrity in a flattering light, and although it was a drunken conversation — I did manage to chip at that eclectic and confusing mosaic uniquely named Yudhanjaya Wijeratne  and felt that it was I who turned out richer and more enlightened.

Written by Rohitha Perera

AMAARA FOREST SIGIRIYA WINS 2019 TRIPADVISOR TRAVELERS’ CHOICE AWARD FOR HOTELS

Ranks 17 out of 25 in the Top Hotels Category in Sri Lanka

The Amaara Forest Hotel Sigiriya today announced it has been recognized as a winner in the Top Hotels category of the 2019 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice® awards for Hotels, ranking 17th out of 25. Travelers’ Choice award winners were determined based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from TripAdvisor travelers worldwide. In the 17th year of the awards, TripAdvisor has recognized hotel from eight regions worldwide.

‘’We are very proud of this achievement, the team at Amaara Forest are always dedicated to serving our guests and ensuring they enjoy every moment spent at our hotel. This award is really dedicated to them, from our General Manager to our gardeners and the security officer who always welcomes every guest with a smile’’ said Danukh Amerasinghe, Director Sales & Marketing for Amaara Hotels. ‘’ We are a local brand with a lot of family values instilled in how we run our properties, it is quite humbling to be recognized among some of the big hotel chains and global brands’’

This year, the awards celebrate hotel winners in nine categories, including Top Hotels Overall, Luxury, Bargain, Small, Best Service, B&Bs and Inns, Romance, Family and All-Inclusive. The hallmarks of Travelers’ Choice hotels winners are remarkable service, value and quality. Winners of these awards are considered to be among the Top 1% on TripAdvisor. “We congratulate the properties around the world recognized as the best hotels, which receive our highest honor – Travelers’ Choice Hotel awards,” said Desirée Fish, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor. “Winners should be proud of their award as millions of travelers will consider this list when picking the perfect hotel for their needs this year.”

The Moot Society of Sri Lanka

The Moot Society of Sri Lanka Law college will be organizing the Victors Moot for the second time anticipating to fill a long-standing vacuum of international exposure to the enthusiastic law student community of Sri Lanka. The competition titled “ H V Perera QC Memorial Moot Court Competition” is scheduled to be hosted from March 22-24, 2019. The Victor’s Moot is the only Moot competition organized and hosted by Sri Lanka on an international level. The Chairperson of the competition Mr. Haritha Ranasinghe expressing his views of the moot stated participants representing universities and law schools from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand and Hong-Kong are looking forward to participate in the competition this year.

The Moot will be based on a very timely up and coming development of law in the island, which is – International Commercial Arbitration. Arbitration, much more than Court Litigation, is a significant development in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) today and it will be critical for in-house counsel in commercial entities to be completely aware and be trained in arbitration skills. Thus, it is our vision to make this Moot Court competition a platform for law students to develop these skills which will eventually benefit the wholesome growth of this area of alternative dispute resolution in the island as well.

Looking back at the Victor’s Moot 2018, the Moot Society of Sri Lanka Law College had the gratification in hosting eight Local teams and eight International teams from prominent universities of India, Pakistan and Thailand.  The final round was between Rajiv Gandhi University of India and Royal Institute Colombo, in which Rajiv Gandhi University won the prestigious title. The competition was adjudicated by a distinguished panel of Arbitrators which included Dr. Kanag-Isvaran PC (President of the Tribunal), Dr. Harsha Cabral PC, Mr. Faiz Musthapha, Professor Srilal Perera and Professor Romesh Weeramantry.

The overall vision of the Victor’s Moot, is that it hopes to become a vital gateway to the law student community, to not only tone their skills of arbitration in practice but also of legal research, analysis, writing and oral advocacy. The simulation of a mock court atmosphere while arguing on a hypothetical matter of law, gives them the firsthand experience of functioning under pressure and with the intellectual flexibility required to be successful advocates in the future. Therefore this international mooting arena is organised with the aim of exposing the budding legal minds of the country to global factors and healthy competition, creating the next generation of legal academics and professionals in Sri Lanka.

Serendivi: Explore, Experience, Transcend.

Serene turquoise waters, beautiful pristine sands, bountiful coconut plantations and lush greenery mixed in with an abundance of soul-stirring sunsets. All these breathtaking elements are what make Serendivi an ideal and relaxing getaway.

Serendivi Resort Villa in Tangalle is enriched with the facilities of a resort combined with the cozy and familiar nature of a modern villa making Serendivi truly one of a kind. Serendivi is a dream come true for every traveler that yearns for new adventures. Serendivi doesn’t just meet expectations, the experience is truly transcendent.

The meaning of the name Serendivi is “a place that one happens to come across during a journey and falls hopelessly in love with” and even the logo is designed with immaculate attention to detail. The logo consists of vivid colours that represent the elements that make the resort truly special; the turquoise oceans, golden sands and the sun that dawns in the horizon. The uniqueness of the geographical location of Kahandamodara beach is such that the travelers get to revel in the breathtakingly beautiful views of both, the sunrise and sunset alike at the very same place.

Words cannot do justice to some places in the world, and Serendivi is one of them. The architecture itself allows you to be one with nature. The column-less construction was a creative leap by the architect, Arosha Perera, who did not want to obstruct the stunning views of the Indian Ocean. This design in architecture allows guests the freedom to experience the majestic beauty of Serendivi’s surroundings. The post-modern and luxurious rooms, coupled with great hospitality and food ensure that guests have a truly relaxing, unparalleled experience that soothes their soul.

Ample space in this beautiful destination allows children to run around and enjoy themselves immensely. Serendivi understands that your pets are family, and they too deserve to be taken on new adventures with you so your little friends are also welcome at the pet-friendly resort villa. The Serendivi team is immaculate and precise in the care they provide their guests. Whether it’s providing transport, food or organizing a tour, the team caters to ensure that guests are happy and feel right at home.

Serendivi also provides some exciting recreational activities to keep guests entertained, inclusive of a luxurious pool under the coconut trees to bask in the warmth of the sun, a fully equipped gym and a game room.

For those who can never have too much of the beach can enjoy private access to the pristine Kahandamodara beach right from the property for a long stroll, yoga, a game of badminton or volleyball, along with exciting quad bike rides.

Another aspect that makes Serendivi the perfect getaway is the fact that it is located in an area with so many landmarks and must-visit locations. Guests can enjoy the turtle hatcheries at Rekawa, a wildlife tour of Yala and Udawalawe, take in the colorful culture in Katharagama or go on a whale watching expedition in Mirissa.

The mastermind behind this masterful work of art, Dr. Nishantha Gunasekera had this to say regarding Serendivi: “Being an avid traveler myself, it has been a dream to launch a quiet, yet luxurious retreat such as Serendivi. Serendivi is truly an escape from the fast-paced life we lead and the perfect place to wind down and be one with nature. I hope Serendivi brings an experience unlike any other to the people who stay with us”.

All this and more is what makes Serendivi stay true to its motto; Explore. Experience. Transcend. For more information please visit www.serendivi.lk

HAIR WIZARD GERALD SOLOMONS ON 2019 AND THE LOOKS THAT SIZZLE

Master Stylist and Hair Wizard Gerald Solomons owner of Colombo’s most elite salon Chagall spoke of the upcoming trends for the year 2019. In Gerald’s opinion, though following a trend is important and obviously most people want to keep up with all that is current, he emphasizes the fact that no matter how trendy or in vogue a look may be, it has to suit you! Gerald gives us his very own take on the trends for 2019 and what he thinks will suit Sri Lankans best!

Be it short or long, hair up or hair down, guys or gals, Gerald has the look for everyone.

According to Gerald, hair trends for 2019 are definitely veering towards short rather than long, “however it’s feminine short as opposed to boyish short emphasizes Gerald. “Short Bobs, Waves, Curls, with a lot of bounce are very much in fashion while the perennial Bob has definitely made a comeback and we can expect to see a whole range of Bobs in varying lengths being sported this year”. As for colour, Gerald says that Chocolate Brown and all its varying hues are very much the ‘in’ shade for 2019, and of course the eternal favourite Blonde! “However the Grey blonde is now a bit boring and tends to age people prematurely” he says.

With regards to up do’s, it’s Braids all the way says Gerald. “Braids pulled back, to the side, coiled low at the back, as well as Buns which are slightly untidy. Hair ornaments have made a comeback with diamante clips, ornaments, glitter streaks, etc being very much in vogue. Even short hair will see hair ornaments being used to enhance the wearer and the style”.

With regards to long hair being worn down, Gerald says Scrunch drying, with luxurious waves and braids will be very much in fashion so keep those curling tongs handy!

Make up trends will continue to see a preference for the natural look, says Gerald while eyebrows are key to the 2019 look! “In the case of make up once again Glitter will play a huge role, while lips will go from one extreme to the other being either very pale or very bright”. With regards to eyes, the mirrors of our soul, Gerald says Wing Tips are making a comeback, while smoky eyes are still a favourite. “Most people think that the smoky look can only be achieved by using shades of Grey. This is not so as the smoky effect can be achieved using any colour”.

Foundation will continue to be Natural, veering towards Pale. “However the white, white look is definitely out though a lot of Sri Lankans as well as Japanese favour this look”.

Clothes will be very glittery with bare shoulders and hems of varying lengths being the trend. “Body hugging silhouettes as well as loose and flowing outlines – the Ethnic look will continue to be in fashion, while my personal preference for a woman has always been dresses and skirts as opposed to pants”. Gerald also says that Tie & Dye is making a comeback and this is good for Sri Lanka vis a vis garment exports.

“Jewellery continues to range from big and chunky to the delicate and intricate, while killer heels as well as flats, thick and chunky heels, loads of embellishments on shoes and slippers, will dominate”.

With regards to Gerald’s ideal look for men and women; ‘Elegance and Simplicity are the keywords” says Gerald. “Beautiful shoes and bags are a must, while for the evening I always prefer Black or Red. My personal preference for a woman with regards to evening wear is for something long and flowing”.

Where men are concerned, Gerald says the 20’s and 40’s look is very much in vogue with partings cut into the hair. “A modern version of the James Dean look is very trendy while Hats too will make their mark this year. The overall trend for men is more glittery than for women, but I personally favour the Classic look. However when it comes to my own personal style, its Bling all the way. Fun and glitzy and quirky is my personal fashion look”, says this style icon, while Chagall will continue to be the Salon of the elite for 2019 as well!